IHS Celebrates Black History Month with Collection Pieces, Special Performances

Indianapolis—The Indiana Historical Society (IHS) is celebrating Black History Month by using both the written and spoken word to share stories of Indiana’s African-American communities. The month-long tribute includes a free night of special performances on Thursday, Feb. 25.

Speak: Voices in Indianapolis Black History will run from 7 to 9 p.m., inside the Stardust Terrace Café, at the Eugene and Marilyn Glick Indiana History Center, located at 450 W. Ohio St. in downtown Indianapolis. The event will showcase the talents of three spoken-word artists. Gabrielle Patterson, Theon Lee and Januarie York will use poetry to delve into Indianapolis’ rich traditions and heritage.

Speak: Voices in Indianapolis Black History is presented by Franciscan St. Francis Health. Light refreshments will be provided, as well as a cash bar in partnership with Sun King Brewing. Parking will be free on a first-come, first-served basis.

Another highlight at the History Center, is a special display of original materials from IHS’s collections. All month long, guests to the William Henry Smith Memorial Library can view treasures such as a rare image of baseball wizard C.I. Taylor and the 1876 final examination record of Mary Rann, the first black student to attend Indianapolis High School, which later became Shortridge High School.

The library is free and open to the public during the History Center’s regular operating hours of 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesdays through Saturdays. Cost of admission for the Indiana Experience, which includes award-winning offerings such as the You Are There series and Destination Indiana, is $7 for adults, $6.50 for seniors and $5 for kids (ages 5 to 17). IHS members and children under five are free.

For more information on IHS’s Black History Month offerings and other programs, call (317) 232-1882 or visit IHS online at www.indianahistory.org.

About the Indiana Historical Society

Since 1830, the Indiana Historical Society has been Indiana’s Storyteller, connecting people to the past by collecting, preserving, interpreting and sharing the state’s history. A private, nonprofit membership organization and an Affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution, IHS maintains the nation’s premier research library and archives on the history of Indiana and the Old Northwest and presents a unique set of visitor exhibitions called the Indiana Experience. IHS provides support and assistance to local museums and historical groups, publishes books and periodicals; sponsors teacher workshops; produces and hosts art exhibitions, museum theater and outside performance groups; and provides youth, adult and family programming.

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For more information or to set up an interview, contact Rachel Hill Ponko, IHS director of public relations, at (317) 233-8814 or by email at rhillponko@indianahistory.org.

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