Unbound: A Collection of Indiana Stories

Trigger Warning: Death, War, Gun Violence.
This week Casey and Regan look at Hoosiers’ experiences with war abroad. First, Casey takes you behind the Iron Curtain, in Cold War Russia, with the story of an US Diplomat from Indiana. Then through their letters home, Regan shares the stories of three young Hoosiers who gave their lives for their country in the Korean War.

Casey and Regan are running away with the circus in this episode of Unbound. First, Casey looks at how the Women’s Franchise League of Indiana utilized a circus and their elephants in their fight to gain the right to vote. Then Regan tells us the story of Buckskin Ben Stalker, an Indiana man who traveled the country with the “Biggest Little Wild West Show on Earth”.

Join Casey and Regan on a journey through some Indiana architecture. First Regan explores the life of architect and visionary Avriel Shull. Then Casey looks into the story of our very own building, Eugene and Marilyn Glick Indiana History Center.

Have you read a book written by a ghost, attended a seance (or wanted to), had your palm read? Join Regan, Amy, and Director of Collections Management, Maire Gurevitz, as they discuss some rabbit holes they’ve encountered related to Spiritualism in the IHS collections.

This week on Unbound, Casey and Regan are going off the beaten path with this week’s episode. First, Regan explores the history of Indiana’s first brewers in New Harmony, IN. Casey will then tell you about the rise and fall of the Auburn Rubber Company whose toy empire stretched all over the country.

This week Casey and Regan dive into the stories of two trailblazing women from Indiana. First, Regan looks at the life of pioneer lumberwoman Helen Pike Utter who took over her father’s lumber company and grew it into an empire. Then, Casey explores the career of Valeska Suratt, an alluring vamp and self-proclaimed marginally talented performer.

Welcome back for Season 3 of Unbound! We are excited to be back and to be bringing you brand new stories. This season will also be including new special episodes called, Unbound: Down the Rabbit Hole where members of our collections staff share times where they have fallen down the research rabbit hole.

On this season premiere of Unbound, Casey and Regan explore science in Indiana. First exploring the life of Dr. Albert Beardsley and the building of Ruthmere. Then, Casey looks into the life and career of Hoosier hero Gus Grissom.

Casey and Regan close out Season 2 on a high note by discussing the lives and careers of two Indiana musicians. First, we will discuss pianist and teacher Bertha Jasper Mehrlich. Then we will close out the season with music and film legend Phil Harris.

On this Independence Day, Casey and Regan look at some other celebrations that occur throughout Indiana. First looking at a celebration of Mexican Independence Day called Fiestas Patrias which celebrates its 100th anniversary this year in Northwest Indiana. Then Regan tells us about the Indiana Black Expo which is an annual conference held in Indianapolis.

Join Casey and Regan as they explore two forms of protesting in Indiana. First we will look at Eugene V. Debs rail road union leader, and then we will look at the East Chicago Washington High School walk out.

Happy Pride Month from the Indiana Historical Society. This week we are delving into LGBTQ history in Indiana. Casey and Regan explore the stories of two queer Hoosiers, veteran Gerri Daniels and the Indianapolis icon from the 1980s Kenn E King. You might know him better as Nurse Safe Sexx. We want to thank Gerri and Kenn for telling their stories and allowing us at the Indiana Historical Society to tell them.

We’ve got civics on the brain today; Casey and Regan look at the long history of women practicing law and their fight for the right to practice law in Indiana. Then we look at Harry Truman’s famous whistle-stop campaign, which helped him win the presidency in a race he was predicted to lose.

ALL ABOARD! Casey and Regan explore the story of the expansive interurban network that ran all through Indiana and beyond. Then they will examine a streetcar system which connected Terre Haute and became a source of recreation for those in the community.

The afterlife is explored in this death-defying episode of Unbound, Casey and Regan dive into the story of May Wright Sewall. A famous spiritualist from Indiana who wrote the book on spiritualism and how she used it to speak with her husband who had passed. Then we will look into the evolution of cemeteries to public green spaces.

I hope you’re hungry! In this episode, Regan and Casey are serving up two stories detailing some of Indiana’s food traditions. For the main course we are heading down to Vincennes for a steaming hot bowl of their famous Fricassee, better get it while they’ve got it. Then get ready for a delicious desert of an American classic, donuts. The simple dough rings have a long and interesting history that we will explore together.

Welcome back to Season 2 of Unbound: A Collection of Indiana Stories! Regan and I are excited to be back in the studio. In our kickoff of the season, we will be looking into some of the hobbies that Hoosiers have had throughout our state’s history. Dive into our complicated history with gambling and our less complicated history with quilting.

In the season finale, Casey and Regan take on the bright lights of Hollywood. Recounting the memories of “The King’s” last concert which took place in Indianapolis and what that legacy has meant to those who were in attendance. Then we examine the life and career of Anne Baxter star of stage and screen who was from Northwest Indiana. Check back at the end of March for the season 2 premiere of Unbound: A Collection of Indiana Stories.

Today, Casey and Beth talk about lost neighborhood spaces in Indianapolis. We look at the impact that building the interstate had on community groups. Specifically, how communities continue after their physical home spaces are disrupted.

Casey sits down with Beth Brandon to talk about different immigrant experiences. We look into Moy Key a Chinese immigrant whose work in Indianapolis garnered the attention of Chinese royalty. Then we dig into a fairly well-known community staple Shapiro’s Delicatessen and how this family business got its start and how it has stuck around through the years.

Guest Host Beth Brandon joins Casey in the studio to chat about advancements in the kitchen. Looking into Practical Housekeeping: a Careful Compilation of Tried and Approved Recipes a book published in the 1800s which gave not only recipes but life advice to those who purchased the book. Then we look into the technological advancement that was the Hoosier Kitchen Cabinet which helped to shorten the time women spent in the kitchen.

This episode explores the stories of Frank Dudley and Alice Gray/Diana of the Dunes, two activists and artists who made the Indiana Dunes their homes. Casey and Regan sit down to discuss these mythic Northwest Indiana figures.

This week Casey and Regan take on Indiana Industries. Did you know that Indiana had a booming gravestone industry or that there were several Hoosier car companies? Come learn more with us.

Casey and Regan chat about the history of women’s fashion and the story of Hoosier and fashion legend Norman Norell.

This week, Casey and Regan discuss the legacy of an Indiana tradition: basketball. We begin by looking into the sports history from its invention all the way through 2016. Then we look into the Indiana legend Chuck Taylor whose basketball career has a legacy that has lasted till this day.

Check out more basketball history here:

https://indianahistory.org/events/chuck-taylor-all-star/

https://indianahistory.org/events/going-pro-basketball-origins-in-indiana/

The Indiana Historical Society is excited to bring you Unbound: A Collection of Indiana Stories, a retelling of classic Indiana stories and those that might become classics. We are pulling materials from our Traces and Connections magazines, blogs, and exhibits to build upon one another in an effort to share a more complete and connected Indiana history.

Check back on Thursday, November 16, 2023 and every two weeks after for new episodes.