Bring Your Own Beverage to Indiana Historical Society’s History Happy Hours

INDIANAPOLIS — Stay connected to the stories of the Hoosier state while you’re sheltering at home. Join the Indiana Historical Society (IHS) for History Happy Hours, a series of insightful online conversations with some of Indiana’s most interesting historians.

History Happy Hours are live virtual conversations via Zoom, with the opportunity for a question-and-answer session with the presenters. The programs are recorded and then posted to the IHS website following the live event.

“With the pandemic and having to shut down the building, we wanted to make sure we weren’t depriving people of their history,” said IHS President and CEO Jody Blankenship. “We typically have programs like this happening all the time at the Indiana Historical Society, and so we took the programs we were going to do and also started brand-new programs online.”

“We have this amazing group of scholars who work here in our building and across the state and country, and we wanted to find ways we could still engage with them and all the research they’ve done,” said IHS Manager of Public Programs Callie McCune. “We thought everyone bringing their own beverage and being part of a great conversation online was the way to go.”

The upcoming History Happy Hours are as follows:

Thursday, May 21 at 5:30 p.m.: Underwear Through the Ages — Our unmentionables have changed dramatically over the last two centuries. Peer under the skirts of our past, and explore the intimate relationship between underwear and fashion with fashion historian Karen DePauw. Brought to you by OneAmerica Financial Partners, a national provider in the insurance and financial services marketplace.

Saturday, May 23 at 2:00 p.m.: Racing Rivals and Track Talk — Race fans, join us for a special Firestone Legends Day edition of History Happy Hour. Zoom through the history of the ‘greatest spectacle in racing’ with Indianapolis Motor Speedway Historian Donald Davidson and IMS President Doug Boles. Dig deep into the Speedway’s illustrious history, track culture and the origins of the Indianapolis 500. Presented by the Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

On Thursday, May 28, author and historian Charlie Dehan will be discussing Starr-Gennett Records, early recording studios and the music icons who passed through their doors. And on June 4, Hoosier history extraordinaire James H. Madison will be exploring Indiana’s home front during WWII.

History Happy Hour series is presented by OneAmerica Financial Partners. To register for a History Happy Hour, please visit indianahistory.org. To view past History Happy Hour programs, visit indianahistory.org/virtual-resources/video/.

In addition to History Happy Hours, IHS also has virtual tours available for its exhibit “You Are There 1915: Madam C.J. Walker, Empowering Women” along with the William H. Smith Memorial Library, with millions of items in its collection that you can also access from home.

Each week, IHS sends out a “Virtual High Five,” showcasing five of its online resources. For those interested in receiving the weekly e-newsletter, please subscribe at the bottom of the website at indianahistory.org.

These free virtual resources are available because of donations and support from members and supporters. Please help IHS continue to make resources like these by donating here: https://rb.gy/sacf28.

For more information, visit indianahistory.org or call (317) 232-1882.

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