While researching the IHS collections for a new library exhibit on fashion history, I stumbled upon a set of black-and-white photographs from the 1930s to early 1950s. The images show girls at the Indiana State Fair modeling their handmade garments for the 4-H Club’s Dress Revue. Dress categories include summer, winter, wool school, cotton school, […]
In 2021, when I uncovered the lost history of Indiana’s Mexican consulate, with Russell Harrison appointed as its first (honorary) Vice-Consul in 1907, I thought that I put this topic to rest. The Russell B. Harrison papers are here at the Indiana Historical Society and fall short of any mention of his connection to Mexico […]
If you look at the internet or listen to the news you’ve probably heard or seen information about various national day celebrations. Several calendars exist which can be referred to regarding these days, weeks and months. Here at IHS, we’ve decided to focus on nationaldaycalendar.com’s list. There are over 100 celebrations for February, so here […]
For many, the idea of relying on an outhouse/privy for bathroom needs seems less than glamorous, that is, unless you have ever needed to replace your home’s sewer system. When you’re without indoor plumbing and are forced to find creative ways to relieve yourself, an outhouse seems like an oasis. In August, my fiancé and […]
As a college student studying history, I always get the question, “What are you going to do with your degree?” Then I explain that history majors aren’t just left with teaching or staying in academia. There are many other sectors that need history people. This past January I was a reference services intern for IHS. […]
Fans of the IHS blog may remember that last year, I published a blog about Mexico, Indiana and Latin American place names in the state. The research for that blog also piqued my interest to look at places and names that were inspired by the cities and countries of Asia. Examining the time in which […]
I often wonder how the thoughts and perspectives of past writers would differ today. Gene Stratton-Porter (1863-1924) is one such writer, a popular novelist and environmentalist during the Golden Age of Indiana Literature alongside contemporaries like James Whitcomb Riley and Booth Tarkington. She was a Renaissance woman of the early twentieth century (before women even […]
This is the second installment in our new bimonthly blog series “Revisiting Old Questions.” You can find the first article here. In reviewing a new box of correspondence files from the depths of IHS history, I stumbled upon another great question. This one came from a man in Mitchell, Indiana almost 50 years ago, written […]
Unpopular opinion, I am not a huge fan of “A Christmas Story.” The movie adaptation is 40 years old now, but the origin of the story is that of Indiana author Jean Shepherd’s 1966 book, In God We Trust: All Others Pay Cash. This opinion is probably particularly sacrilegious as I grew up in Northwest […]
I’ve decided to expand my surname list by reaching out to my colleagues. Luckily, we’re all a curious sort, so a long list of new surnames and connections to research suddenly appeared. This month’s article features my long-time coworker and friend Susan’s family, the Stanfields. For more than 40 years IHS has had a collection […]
