Author Archives: Charlie McAtee

It’s Time for a Sandwich

At family gatherings, since I was a child, we’ve always had a variety of food. However, when discussing the food being prepared, if someone asks if we will be having sandwich, everyone knows what that means. In my family, there is but one sandwich and it is the one pictured above…three kinds of meat, two […]

Indiana Historical Society Provides More Than $500,000 to Local Historical Organizations through Latest Heritage Support Grants

Through its Heritage Support Grants program, the Indiana Historical Society (IHS) awarded more than $500,000 in the first half of 2023 to 19 local historical societies and organizations representing 14 Indiana counties. The IHS’s Heritage Support Grants program supports local, county and regional historical societies, museums and sites. The grants fund projects that meet high-priority […]

House Hunting Through the Collection

Have you ever spent time casually browsing real estate listings? Me too! There’s nothing better than blissfully scrolling through listings of beautiful mansions, mid-century modern ranches, lake-side cottages, and charming American Tudor-style houses. The fun part of browsing is that there is no need to stick to a budget or even to a location. You […]

Analyzing Amys: Perception of a Name

Growing up I was not a fan of my first name. Amy always came across to me as a preppy, popular, cheerleader name. At least, that was my perspective. As the second most popular name of the 1970s, I also felt like it was a ‘young’ name. It wasn’t until I was in high school […]

A Bit of Bourbon History for Indy’s Premier Bourbon Celebration

Recognized by the U.S. Congress as a “distinctive product of the United States,” Americans have proudly been distilling bourbon since the 18th Century. And while Kentucky is commonly referred to as the birthplace of bourbon, the primary ingredient needed to produce this barrel-aged American whiskey is something Hoosiers know a thing or two about growing […]

Decades of Dresses: Bridal Gowns from 100+ years

Summertime makes me think of weddings. Though spring and fall months have come out on top over time to host the happy events, summer still has its fair share of matrimonial moments. As I was perusing our collections, I couldn’t help but get intrigued by all the wedding photographs we have, particularly the images of […]

Under the Expressway: Lost Barrio of Indianapolis, Part II

In March 2020, I wrote a blog about a story concept that had been brewing for a while, “The Lost Barrio of Indianapolis.” Since that time, I have continued to develop a deeper understanding of what it was like to live in this area. Most importantly, El Barrio’s influence on existing places in downtown Indianapolis, […]

“Attucks was Ours,” the Championship Team that Broke Barriers

Imagine the 1950s — you may fantasize about the sleek cars and dramatic outfits or ponder about how fast life changed post-World War II. Republicans had returned to power and segregation was still practiced in public schools, but as noted in The Indiana Way: A State History, Indiana was not resistant to change, nor would […]