Ralph J. Satterlee papers and photographs
Scope and Contents
This collection includes correspondence, manuscripts, newspapers and newspaper clippings, publications, photographs and films created or collected by Ralph J. Satterlee in Muncie, Indiana ranging from 1900 to 2000 regarding his life and times, his work with Warner Gear and the Gear-O-Gram magazine, his coverage of the Indianapolis 500, and his career as a freelance writer and photographer.
Dates
- 1900-2000
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is open for research.
Conditions Governing Use
Legal title, copyright, and literary rights reside with Archives and Special Collections, Ball State University Libraries, Muncie, IN. All requests to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted to Archives and Special Collections.
Biographical Note
Ralph J. Satterlee, son of Muncie tailor H. F. Satterlee, was a member of the 1928 Muncie Central High School basketball team that won Muncie's first state championship. After high school, he worked for the Ball Brothers Company in various capacities before joining the workforce of Warner Gear in April 1942. He was appointed editor of the company's Gear-O-Gram magazine approximately two years later. In addition to his editorial work, Satterlee also provided many of the articles and photographs for the publication and regularly covered the Indianapolis 500 which featured the presentation of the Borg-Warner Trophy to the winner. His race coverage became too close for comfort in 1971 when he and other members of the press were injured after the pace car carrying Astronaut John Glenn crashed into the stands. Satterlee retired from the Gear-O-Gram in September 1972 and became a freelance writer and photographer.
Extent
8.1 Cubic Feet (: MSS.220 (5 boxes); OVA.220 (1 box); P.065 (10 boxes); POVA.084 (1 Box); POVB.065 (1 Box); PN.065 (8 Boxes); F.013-F.025 (13 film reels).)
Language of Materials
English
Arrangement
Arranged in the following series and subseries:
Series 1: Satterlee, Ralph correspondence, manuscripts and personal papers, 1908-1912, 1929, 1942-1999
Series 2: Satterlee, Ralph Indianapolis 500 and racing programs, 1961-1973, 1999
Series 3: Satterlee, Ralph newspapers and newspaper clippings, 1928, 1940-1941, 1952-2000
Series 4: Satterlee, Ralph Warner Gear papers, 1945-1972, 1979
Series 5: Satterlee, Ralph oversized papers, 1900-1903, 1928-1937
OVA.220: oversized scrapbooks, sketchbooks, and papers, 1900-1903, 1928-1937
Series 6: Satterlee, Ralph photographs, 1900, 1930-1936, 1947-1972, 1988
P.065: Photographs, 1900, 1949-1972, 1988
P.065: Autographed photographs, 1930-1936, predominant undated
POVA.084: Oversized photographs, circa 1960s
POVB.065: Oversized photographs, Oversized photographs, 1947-1972
Series 7: Satterlee, Ralph films, 1947-1962
Custodial History
This collection was received by Archives and Special Collections as a donation from Louise H. Satterlee on 2002/03/27.
Accruals
No further additions are expected.
Existence and Location of Copies
Digital reproductions of the Gear-O-Gram and photographs related to the Indianapolis 500 are available electronically in the Ball State University Digital Media Repository: http://libx.bsu.edu/.
Gear-O-Gram Magazines:
http://libx.bsu.edu/cdm/landingpage/collection/GoGramNews
Satterlee, Ralph J. Indianapolis 500 Photographs:
http://libx.bsu.edu/cdm/landingpage/collection/SatterleePh
Processing Information
Collection processing completed 2003 March by B. Gordy. Finding aid revised 2005 Dec. by A. Morrison. Arrangement revised and DACS compliant EAD finding aid created 2014/02/21 by Stephen Jones.
- Automobile racing Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Automobile supplies industry Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Borg-Warner Corporation. Warner Gear Division Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Indianapolis Speedway Race Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Journalism Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Photojournalism Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Title
- Ralph J. Satterlee papers and photographs
- Status
- Completed
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- Undetermined
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
Repository Details
Part of the Stoeckel Archives of Local History Repository
Alexander M. Bracken Library
2000 W. University Avenue
Muncie Indiana 47306 USA
libarchives@bsu.edu
