Baskets of Dirt: The Building, Excavation and Interpretation of Angel Mounds

Telling Hoosier History Through Stories

The story of the Works Progress Administration excavation of Angel Mounds in 1939 is more than a tale of 250 men unearthing 2 million -plus artifacts during the depression. It is about Native Americans, nearly 1,000 years ago, who built huge mounds using baskets of dirt. They found that the site along the Ohio River was a good place to settle, as did the modern day family of farmers named Angel. It is also a story of how modern archaeology came to Indiana led by the Indiana Historical Society and Indiana University. Eli Lilly plays his part as mentor and father figure to Glenn Black, Indiana’s first archaeologist. Stephanie Holman, professional storyteller, will tell these stories through the eyes of Ida May Black, first lady of Indiana archaeology, because it’s her story, too. Smart as a whip, a snappy dresser and a good cook, Ida May’s work alongside her husband was important and gives a colorful viewpoint to Indiana history.

This story is told by professional storyteller Stephanie Holman. Her past commissions include Good Night and May God Bless: Red Skelton and Haunting the Aisles: The Ghost of Fowler Theatre. She is a past recipient of the Frank Basile Emerging Stories Fellowship. Stephanie works full time as a community engagement librarian at the Monroe County Public Library and is a member of the Bloomington Storytellers Guild.

$15 members; $20 at the door. IHS Members can get the advanced ticket price at the door.

Our newest exhibit You Are There 1939: Exploring Angel Mounds will be open before the show, from 2:30 to 4 p.m. Reception following the program.

This program is part of Telling Hoosier History Through Stories, a partnership between the Indiana Historical Society and Storytelling Arts of Indiana.