Recently, my husband and I were having a discussion about mission statements. He has served on various boards in our community and most of them have struggled with developing or creating a mission statement. He told me that when the boards he serves on start to talk about mission statements, he zones out or starts […]
As the soon-to-be newest member of the Local History Services, I present to you _ myself! I?m Marianne Sheline, Indiana Historical Society employee of more than eight years. I was hired at IHS right out of college (Go Ball State!) with a degree in history. Due to my supervisor leaving (R.I.P. Margaret! that?s Retire in […]
Indianapolis—Indiana students again excelled at the Kenneth E. Behring National History Day Contest, with four of their projects making the finals of their respective categories—including one medalist. A contingent of 60 Hoosier students participated in the national competition, which took place at University of Maryland June 15-19. Top Finishes from Indiana students included: 3rd Place (medalist), […]
To all of Indiana?s local history organizations, I send greetings! I?m Alan Rowe, coordinator, Local History Partners in Local History Services. Since starting in February, I have had ample time to reflect on my past in museums and my new responsibilities here at the Indiana Historical Society. My personal journey with local history started with […]
Fourth grade was a long time ago, so here’s a refresher course in our state’s history including some things your teacher wouldn’t have taught you. 1. The Indiana Territory, which contained present-day Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin and part of Minnesota, was formed in 1800 from the Northwest Territory. Indiana means “Land of the Indians.” 2. […]
Being a historian is often like being a detective. Rarely do you find that perfect source that tells you everything you need to know. Although, finding that magical diary entry or newspaper article does happen on occasion, causing moments of celebration only acceptable in the deepest recesses of nerd-dom. More typical, one has to get […]
Despite a rich history, very little is known about the African-American experience from the state’s founding to the Civil War era. With the exception of a handful of monographs, graduate papers and journal articles, few publications have been written that focus on this history. Over the past 30 years, various research projects related to early […]
Anyone who knows me well, knows that I really struggle with writing. I freeze when I?m faced with a blank sheet of paper or an empty white box that appears on my computer screen. I have friends who are talented writers. I envy them the way words seem to fly from their fingertips, land on […]
As snow came through Central Indiana once again last Friday afternoon, a core team of History Day staffers departed the warm hearth of the History Center to head to the Great White North of Notre Dame, Ind., for the first district contest of the season. The contest was held at St. Mary’s College on Saturday, […]
Not every place in Indiana has an easily defined connection to Indiana’s Bicentennial. Yes, we are all defined by the state boundaries, but many towns and counties didn’t exist 200 hundred years ago.So where to begin? In Hamilton County, the Convention and Visitors Bureau decided to bring its local history organizations together to take stock […]
