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    The Golden Age  
 
The 19th state's rich literary heritage at the turn of the century is highlighted in this Society exhibition. Drawn from collections at the IHS, Indiana State Library and Indiana University's Lilly Library, the exhibition explores what came to be known as the "Golden Age of Indiana Literature," a time period in which Hoosier authors achieved both national prominence and popular acclaim. Indiana writers in the late 19th and early 20th century catered to readers who preferred writing that idealized traditional values or offered escape from an ever-changing world. A 1947 study found that Hoosier authors ranked second to New York in the number of best-sellers produced in the previous 40 years. The exhibition examines some of the many writers who contributed to the state's literary golden age, but concentrates on the lives and careers of four individuals who loomed large during this period -- George Ade, Meredith Nicholson, Booth Tarkington, and James Whitcomb Riley.

Requires at least 12 feet by 24 feet of floor space.

 

   
© 2009 Indiana Historical Society
Eugene and Marilyn Glick Indiana History Center, 450 West Ohio Street, Indianapolis, IN 46202
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