CARSON COLLECTION AUCTION
ATTRACTS HIGH BIDDERS  

By MARK EDWARDS

Jeff Boston’s heart pounded in his ears as his rapid-fire cadence began to ratchet down a few notches. The Hulman Center crowd was poised for the finish of the most dramatic exchange of bids in the remarkable three-day Carson Collection auction. 

Despite being a veteran of thousands of auctions, Boston had never experienced intensity quite like this.  After a lively exchange of bids on a 19th century primitive face mug from South Carolina, an out-of-town phone bidder had suddenly gone silent. The auctioneer stared intently for some sign from the man holding a cellular phone to his ear.  With a shake of the head, the tense drama slowly wound to its conclusion.

"Fif-teen thousand! Fif-teen thousand once . . . twice . . . Sold!" Boston exclaimed with the appropriate measured flourish. The appreciative crowd erupted with spontaneous applause and excited comments. This was the special moment in a special event.

The sale of the late Harold Carson’s massive collection of 15,000 items of Americana had occupied four auctioneers for three days August 12-14. Ultimately, the largest auction in the city’s history brought in nearly $400,000 to the Indiana State University Foundation.

This event was the last chapter in a story that began more than six decades ago.  Harold Carson’s collection of "human-existence history" was gathered over a lifetime in Terre Haute, beginning in 1928 and continuing for the next 45 years.  The eccentric collector is said to have often foregone food in order to purchase an item he desired.  His burgeoning collection eventually overflowed his modest home on Fourth Avenue. 

In 1969, Carson arranged to donate his life’s work to the Indiana State University Foundation.  By the time of the retired railroad worker’s death in 1974, the sprawling collection was a strange mixture ranging from the priceless to the commonplace. 

"In 20 years of working auctions, this was the largest number of items—unique items—that I have ever seen in one place," said Boston. "About half of the items on sale were things that I’ve never seen in an Indiana auction in recent years. The sheer size was mind-boggling."

 The Sullivan County auctioneer had jumped at the chance of a lifetime at the request of Foundation Managing Director Kevin Hoolehan.  The director had called for bids to handle the enormous undertaking of examining, sorting and selling the bulk of the collection that had been stored in Normal Hall for several years. 

"I was overwhelmed and reluctant at first," Boston admits. "But a good friend sat me down and reminded me this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that should not be wasted." The Boston team proved equal to the task and not one item was left unsold after the 72-hour ordeal at Hulman Center.

"Many professionals were surprised at the prices they paid," Hoolehan said. "There were items rarely seen on the market these days, and many prices paid actually set new benchmarks for certain types of collectible items."

The highest price paid was that of an Ohio bidder who paid $15,000 for the Edgefield face mug. The second most dramatic moment came when a vintage 1912 Coca-Cola calendar went for a whopping $11,700.  The sale of a hand-blown storage jar for nearly $8,000 brought murmurs from the crowd, as did an antique whale oil lamp for $8,700. 

Hoolehan was obviously pleased with the success of ISU’s own version of "Sale of the Century" but is quick to remind the community that the university is retaining the most valuable museum-quality pieces for public display.

"That which is being kept at ISU will have greater value than that which was on the block," Hoolehan said. "A major portion of the sale’s proceeds will be dedicated to restoration and maintenance of the Carson Collection, which will remain on campus to be enjoyed for years to come."

Another important piece of Harold Carson’s original collection will also be staying in the community -- but not at Indiana State. During a special ceremony and fundraiser Aug. 11, the ISU Foundation presented the Vigo County Historical Society with a unique part of the city’s history.  The large, ornate stained-glass canopy that once graced the front entrance of Terre Haute’s most renowned brothel—Madame Brown’s—was presented to the society’s executive director, Marylee Hagan.

September 13, 2000