Leonidas A. Guthrie papers and photographs

Leonidas A. Guthrie was born April 18, 1875, in Liberty Township. After schooling and training in law, he became a licensed attorney in 1896. He took a break from practicing law when he was elected mayor of Muncie in 1906. At age 30, Guthrie remains the youngest person ever elected to that office. He was instrumental in getting the first brick roads built in the city. He was elected judge in the Delaware County Circuit Court for two terms beginning in 1929, and continuing practicing law until his death at age 89 on July 4, 1964. Guthrie was a member of High Street Methodist Church where he taught Sunday school. He was also active in the Muncie Boys Club and served as president of the Delaware Boy Scout Council for five years. Guthrie was also interested in preserving the history of law in Delaware County. He wrote a history of the Delaware County Bar Association from the county’s formation in 1827 until 1960. It includes biographical information on all 233 attorneys who practiced law in the county over this 133 year period.

The collection was originally titled the Lawyers of Delaware County and was recovered from the Delaware County Genealogical Society on December 19, 1975. The name was changed in 1982.