Author Archives: Charlie McAtee

1945: Indianapolis Women’s Department Club Hosts Academy Awarding Winning Chinese American Film Producer, Li Ling-Ai

The Women’s Department Club was started in Indianapolis in 1912 by Mrs. Luella McWhirter. While still presently active, this club and its members focus their efforts on community service, arts, and education related causes and projects. This club was and still is presently known to host a public lecture series. On October 10, 1945, the […]

Indiana’s Viva Kennedy Campaign

The Viva Kennedy campaign was mostly known to exist in the American southwest, originating in Arizona. It is reported that a low-level Mexican-Irish campaign worker, a Latino member of his senatorial staff, or a well-known progressive Los Angeles politician came up with the idea for the Viva Kennedy campaign, as to which is unclear. What […]

Are We Related?: Roudebush

This month we explore a family name with a common issue…multiple or changing spellings. My colleague, Lauren, is one of the first members of her direct line to leave the family stronghold in Pennsylvania. When she got here and started working with Indiana-related materials, she saw a name similar to another found in her family […]

Celebration Days in July

July’s best-known celebration day is likely Independence Day, which commemorates the founding of the United States of America. But even before the Declaration of Independence was adopted in 1776, the Post Office of the United States (a precursor to the U.S. Postal Service) was established in 1775 with Benjamin Franklin as the first Postmaster General. […]

Color My World*: World Watercolor Month

One of my favorite fine art forms is watercolor. I can’t say why as I am not generally an art connoisseur, the paintings just speak to me more than some of the other mediums. July brings us World Watercolor Month, a celebration as noted in the National Day Calendar, was founded by Charlie O’Shields (Doodlewash […]

From the Milk Pail to the Fridge: National Dairy Month

Another month, another cause to celebrate! In keeping with our National Day Calendar-inspired series of monthly observances, I am pleased to write that this month is National Dairy Month. June bears many important advocacy titles (Pride Month, Men’s Health Month, etc.), but one of the lighter associations is dedicated to the staple American food group. […]

Indiana Historical Society Announces 2024 Indiana Living Legends

The Indiana Historical Society (IHS) is proud to announce Sue Ellspermann, Miriam Acevedo Davis, Gary Reynolds and John Thompson are being recognized as its 2024 Indiana Living Legends. This year’s class of Living Legends will be honored at the annual gala on Friday, Aug. 16 at the Eugene and Marilyn Glick Indiana History Center, located […]

Dr. Richard Feldman – “What Our Patients Have Taught Us”

I am fascinated by the power of narrative in medicine. And what better and enjoyable way to accomplish the goals of this book than by storytelling. After all, everyone loves a good story. Narratives in the medical humanities literature almost always flow in the direction of how physicians enhance the health and wellbeing of their […]