Indiana Historical Society https://indianahistory.org Mon, 13 Mar 2023 16:09:04 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.1.1 https://indianahistory.org/wp-content/uploads/cropped-FaviconIHS-32x32.jpg Indiana Historical Society https://indianahistory.org 32 32 Finalists Announced for National History Day in Indiana Central Region Contest https://indianahistory.org/press-release/finalists-announced-for-national-history-day-in-indiana-central-region-contest-4/ Mon, 13 Mar 2023 16:09:04 +0000 https://indianahistory.org/?p=114056 The Indiana Historical Society (IHS) proudly announces students have been selected to advance to the National History Day in Indiana (NHDI) State Contest after a successful Central region contest on Saturday, March 11. The contest included students from Brown, Hamilton, Hancock, Hendricks, Madison and Marion counties. Approximately 204 students took part in Saturday’s contest, with […]

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The Indiana Historical Society (IHS) proudly announces students have been selected to advance to the National History Day in Indiana (NHDI) State Contest after a successful Central region contest on Saturday, March 11. The contest included students from Brown, Hamilton, Hancock, Hendricks, Madison and Marion counties.

Approximately 204 students took part in Saturday’s contest, with finalists advancing to the 2023 NHDI State Contest on April 22 at Marian University in Indianapolis.

NHDI is a yearlong program dedicated to enhancing history education in Indiana’s schools. Students in grades four through 12 explore a historical subject that fits under the annual theme. This year’s theme is “Frontiers in History: People, Places, Ideas.” Students use their research to create a documentary, exhibit, paper, performance or website. To reach the 2023 NHDI State Contest, to be held at Marian University on April 22, students must qualify at one of six regional contests.

For a list of Central region contest finalists, including student names, school names, project categories and project names, please visit: NHDI Central Region Finalists.

NHDI is a project-based, inquiry-based program which encourages students to explore their own passions by conducting research, developing research questions, and then exhibit their individual learning styles through the creation of exhibits, documentaries, performances, papers and websites.

NHDI is presented by the Rooker Family Foundation with support from the Vigran Family Foundation. For more information, visit www.indianahistory.org/historyday or call (317) 232-1882.

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Finalists Announced for National History Day in Indiana South Region Contest https://indianahistory.org/press-release/finalists-announced-for-national-history-day-in-indiana-south-region-contest-3/ Mon, 06 Mar 2023 19:33:13 +0000 https://indianahistory.org/?p=114022 INDIANAPOLIS (March 6, 2023) — The Indiana Historical Society (IHS) proudly announces students have been selected to advance to the National History Day in Indiana (NHDI) State Contest after a successful South region contest on Saturday, March 4. The contest included students from Brown, Monroe, Perry, Shelby and Washington counties. Approximately 70 students took part in Saturday’s […]

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INDIANAPOLIS (March 6, 2023) — The Indiana Historical Society (IHS) proudly announces students have been selected to advance to the National History Day in Indiana (NHDI) State Contest after a successful South region contest on Saturday, March 4. The contest included students from Brown, Monroe, Perry, Shelby and Washington counties.

Approximately 70 students took part in Saturday’s contest, with finalists advancing to the 2023 NHDI State Contest on April 22 at Marian University in Indianapolis.

NHDI is a yearlong program dedicated to enhancing history education in Indiana’s schools. Students in grades four through 12 explore a historical subject that fits under the annual theme. This year’s theme is “Frontiers in History: People, Places, Ideas.” Students use their research to create a documentary, exhibit, paper, performance or website. To reach the 2023 NHDI State Contest, to be held at Marian University on April 22, students must qualify at one of six regional contests.

For a list of South region contest finalists, including student names, school names, project categories and project names, please visit: NHDI South Region Finalists.

NHDI is a project-based, inquiry-based program which encourages students to explore their own passions by conducting research, developing research questions, and then exhibit their individual learning styles through the creation of exhibits, documentaries, performances, papers and websites.

NHDI is presented by the Rooker Family Foundation with support from the Vigran Family Foundation. For more information, visit www.indianahistory.org/historyday or call (317) 232-1882.

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Finalists Announced for National History Day in Indiana IPS Region Contest https://indianahistory.org/press-release/finalists-announced-for-national-history-day-in-indiana-ips-region-contest-2/ Wed, 01 Mar 2023 21:01:36 +0000 https://indianahistory.org/?p=113984 The Indiana Historical Society (IHS) proudly announces students have been selected to advance to the National History Day in Indiana (NHDI) State Contest after a successful IPS region contest on Wednesday, March 1. The contest included students from Marion County. Approximately 33 students took part in Wednesday’s contest, with finalists advancing to the 2023 NHDI […]

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The Indiana Historical Society (IHS) proudly announces students have been selected to advance to the National History Day in Indiana (NHDI) State Contest after a successful IPS region contest on Wednesday, March 1. The contest included students from Marion County.

Approximately 33 students took part in Wednesday’s contest, with finalists advancing to the 2023 NHDI State Contest on April 22 at Marian University in Indianapolis.

NHDI is a yearlong program dedicated to enhancing history education in Indiana’s schools. Students in grades four through 12 explore a historical subject that fits under the annual theme. This year’s theme is “Frontiers in History: People, Places, Ideas.” Students use their research to create a documentary, exhibit, paper, performance or website. To reach the 2023 NHDI State Contest, to be held at Marian University on April 22, students must qualify at one of six regional contests.

For a list of IPS region contest finalists, including student names, school names, project categories and project names, please visit: NHDI IPS Region Finalists.

NHDI is a project-based, inquiry-based program which encourages students to explore their own passions by conducting research, developing research questions, and then exhibit their individual learning styles through the creation of exhibits, documentaries, performances, papers and websites.

NHDI is presented by the Rooker Family Foundation with support from the Vigran Family Foundation. For more information, visit www.indianahistory.org/historyday or call (317) 232-1882.

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New Exhibit at Indiana Historical Society Explores Hoosier Chuck Taylor and His Iconic Converse All Star Shoes https://indianahistory.org/press-release/new-exhibit-at-indiana-historical-society-explores-hoosier-chuck-taylor-and-his-iconic-converse-all-star-shoes/ Tue, 28 Feb 2023 15:34:36 +0000 https://indianahistory.org/?p=113972 The Indiana Historical Society (IHS)’s newest exhibit, Chuck Taylor All Star, opens March 4 at the Eugene and Marilyn Glick Indiana History Center, located at 450 W. Ohio St. in downtown Indianapolis. The exhibit explores the story of the man, Charles Hollis Taylor — better known as “Chuck” Taylor — and his iconic Converse All […]

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The Indiana Historical Society (IHS)’s newest exhibit, Chuck Taylor All Star, opens March 4 at the Eugene and Marilyn Glick Indiana History Center, located at 450 W. Ohio St. in downtown Indianapolis.

The exhibit explores the story of the man, Charles Hollis Taylor — better known as “Chuck” Taylor — and his iconic Converse All Star shoe through a variety of immersive experiences and remarkable artifacts and images, some of which have never been exhibited before.

Chuck Taylor was born on June 24, 1901, near Nashville, Indiana. He grew up in the nearby small community of Azalia and went to high school in Columbus. Taylor had a short career as a player and some success as a coach, but he made a name for himself traveling around the nation and beyond, teaching clinics on basketball fundamentals and selling a new basketball shoe — the Converse All Star.

By 1934, the company had adopted his name for its shoe, giving Taylor a more lasting legacy than anyone could have predicted. Taylor’s work with Converse helped to grow and spread the “gospel” of basketball around the nation during the sport’s infancy. This led to his induction into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in 1969.

Unique Virtual Reality Experience

Opening March 4, Chuck Taylor All Star includes a cutting-edge virtual reality (VR) experience that allows visitors to travel back to 1952, meet Chuck Taylor and even participate in one of his famous basketball clinics.

“This experience lets you surround yourself in history,” said Daniel Gonzales, IHS director of exhibitions curation. “You can engage with historical figures, touch artifacts and stand in historic spaces. All things that are impossible to do in real life.”

Using Oculus headsets, visitors will take a journey to a 1952 Hoosier gymnasium, making several stops and interacting with Chuck Taylor as well as historical artifacts along the way. A key component to the VR experience is participating in a Chuck Taylor basketball clinic. Guests will learn proper shooting techniques from Harold “Bunny” Levitt, who held a national record for the most free throws made in a row. The clinic also includes a lesson from Sam Richardson, the 11th-leading scorer in Indiana State University basketball history.

“Even in a virtual reality platform, the basketball skills taught by Bunny Levitt and Sam Richardson tell us something important about how the game developed that is valuable for players at any skill level,” Gonzales said. “We think anyone with an interest in basketball or Chuck Taylor will love this experience.”

The Chuck Taylor All Star exhibit opens March 4, 2023 and runs through January 27, 2025. The virtual reality experience is included with general admission to the Indiana Historical Society. The exhibit is presented by Converse, Pacers Sports & Entertainment and the Herbert Simon Family Foundation.

For more information about other IHS offerings, call (317) 232-1882 or visit www.indianahistory.org.

About the Indiana Historical Society (IHS)
The Indiana Historical Society collects and preserves Indiana’s unique stories; brings Hoosiers together in remembering and sharing the past; and inspires a future grounded in our state’s uniting values and principles. IHS is a Smithsonian Affiliate and a member of the International Coalition of Sites of Conscience.

About Converse Inc.
Converse Inc., based in Boston, Massachusetts, is a wholly owned subsidiary of NIKE, Inc. Established in 1908 as a rubber company, the introduction of its first canvas basketball sneaker propelled a legacy as the original brand of youth culture around the world. Today, Converse is a socially progressive and highly inventive footwear and apparel brand for and powered by All Stars, a global community of emerging creatives who champion progress in sport and culture. The interpretation and adoption of its iconic sneakers, including the Chuck Taylor All Star, the Pro Leather, the One Star and Jack Purcell continue to enable expression in the basketball, skateboarding and creative communities while inspiring the new lines of its design. Follow @Converse and on Converse.com.

About Pacers Sports & Entertainment
Pacers Sports & Entertainment (PS&E) is the corporate identity exemplified by the Indiana Pacers, Indiana Fever, Fort Wayne Mad Ants, Pacers Gaming, Pacers Foundation, Inc., and Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Its team of inspired and dedicated employees promises to deliver quality entertainment and unparalleled service. Find PS&E on social media with @pacerssportsent.

About Herbert Simon Family Foundation
Herbert Simon Family Foundation is a private non-operating foundation. Established in 1999, the foundation has been providing support for organizations in hopes of creating more equitable, sustainable and vibrant communities with an emphasis on Central Indiana. In 2011, Herbert Simon Family Foundation expanded its board to include the second generation of the family and engaged CICF’s philanthropic services, including strategic charitable advising and grant-making counsel. The foundation grants to organizations in Central Indiana in the areas of: Arts & Culture, Basic Needs, Environment, and Social Justice.

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Finalists Announced for National History Day in Indiana West Region Contest https://indianahistory.org/press-release/finalists-announced-for-national-history-day-in-indiana-west-region-contest-2/ Mon, 27 Feb 2023 17:19:15 +0000 https://indianahistory.org/?p=113968 The Indiana Historical Society (IHS) proudly announces students have been selected to advance to the National History Day in Indiana (NHDI) State Contest after a successful West region contest on Saturday, February 25. The contest included students from Parke and Sullivan counties. Approximately 43 students took part in Saturday’s contest, with finalists advancing to the […]

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The Indiana Historical Society (IHS) proudly announces students have been selected to advance to the National History Day in Indiana (NHDI) State Contest after a successful West region contest on Saturday, February 25. The contest included students from Parke and Sullivan counties.

Approximately 43 students took part in Saturday’s contest, with finalists advancing to the 2023 NHDI State Contest on April 22 at Marian University in Indianapolis.

NHDI is a yearlong program dedicated to enhancing history education in Indiana’s schools. Students in grades four through 12 explore a historical subject that fits under the annual theme. This year’s theme is “Frontiers in History: People, Places, Ideas.” Students use their research to create a documentary, exhibit, paper, performance or website. To reach the 2023 NHDI State Contest, to be held at Marian University on April 22, students must qualify at one of six regional contests.

For a list of West region contest finalists, including student names, school names, project categories and project names, please visit: NHDI West Region Finalists.

NHDI is a project-based, inquiry-based program which encourages students to explore their own passions by conducting research, developing research questions, and then exhibit their individual learning styles through the creation of exhibits, documentaries, performances, papers and websites.

NHDI is presented by the Rooker Family Foundation with support from the Vigran Family Foundation. For more information, visit www.indianahistory.org/historyday or call (317) 232-1882.

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Talking Tarkington https://indianahistory.org/blog/talking-tarkington/ Fri, 24 Feb 2023 13:40:07 +0000 https://indianahistory.org/?p=113959 Though I am quite familiar with the person that is Newton Booth Tarkington (1869-1946), I have sadly not read any of his works, at least not within my recollection. I say that because I recently went through some of my OLD college notebooks and found the following notation: “Newton Booth Tarcanton [Apparently, I could not […]

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Though I am quite familiar with the person that is Newton Booth Tarkington (1869-1946), I have sadly not read any of his works, at least not within my recollection. I say that because I recently went through some of my OLD college notebooks and found the following notation:

  • “Newton Booth Tarcanton [Apparently, I could not spell Tarkington by ear.]
  • Southern roots in Indiana [What does this even really mean?]
  • attended many colleges [Not really—I hardly consider Purdue and Princeton ‘many’.]
  • 1899–The Gentleman from Indiana–hit [This is true, The Gentleman from Indiana was well-received.]”

Sadly, I have no recollection of which class I was taking when these notes were scribbled and whether I was encouraged or required to read even a sampling of his work. I was a student at an Indiana college, although one in the, somewhat separated, Northwest corner of the state, and yet, my knowledge of Tarkington was lacking.

As you can see from my modern, bracketed annotations provided within my 20+-year-old notes above, I look back and realize how minimal this passing mention of Tarkington is compared to his true legacy. Though The Gentleman from Indiana was indeed well-known, it was not, by any stretch, the pinnacle of his career. Tarkington is one of only four authors that have won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction twice, sharing that honor with William Faulkner, John Updike and Colson Whitehead.

George Ade’s Praise of the Penrod Series,
Indiana Historical Society

Booth Tarkington was also well-known for his best-selling Penrod series of books for boys. Tarkington’s contemporary and fellow author, George Ade, stated the following about him in praise of the release of another title in the Penrod series:

“…the same literary clubs that get the head-ache working on Bernard Shaw and Dunsany and Ipskovitz (there is no such person but he may appear at any moment) must not overlook the luminous fact that we have right here in our own bailiwick an expert literary craftsman who has taken the husk off of boyhood and shown us the entrancing process of the most inward section of the juvenile soul.”

In reviews and critiques of Tarkington’s books, racial stereotyping and insensitivity is noted as an underlying tone difficult to get past. Though Tarkington didn’t shy away from including Black characters in his works, he did rely on unkind and racist characteristics and language patterns. This is especially noted in his Penrod series but is found in his other works as well. Perhaps this is part of the reason his popularity has not been as enduring as other authors. However, another possibility is that Tarkington didn’t provide enough focus to draw the attention of readers and keep it as his writing styles and genres varied across time.

Last, but not least, I share a well-known picture of Tarkington and his dog, Figaro, because dogs are cute.

Booth Tarkington with his poodle, Figaro, ca. 1940, Indiana Historical Society

Visit the Library between now and May 4 to see our Translating Tarkington exhibit. It features many works by Tarkington that were translated into different languages, including Urdu, Chinese, Danish, Polish and more. These translations highlight Tarkington’s prominence and popularity throughout the world in his time.

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Our Favorite Things https://indianahistory.org/blog/our-favorite-things/ Mon, 20 Feb 2023 18:51:02 +0000 https://indianahistory.org/?p=113936 Late last year I gave staff across the institution the opportunity to let us know what their favorite item in our collection was. For me, this is an ever-changing item, that requires I make a different selection from every part of our collection: manuscripts, photographs, maps, books, and more. I can’t pick just one! I […]

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Late last year I gave staff across the institution the opportunity to let us know what their favorite item in our collection was. For me, this is an ever-changing item, that requires I make a different selection from every part of our collection: manuscripts, photographs, maps, books, and more. I can’t pick just one!

I understood when I tasked our staff with this that their reasoning behind why an item was their favorite would be varied. With a physical exhibit of these items in our library preparing to close, I wanted to give more people an opportunity to see our staff’s selections and why each staff member selected them.

Please vote for your favorite, by sharing that item’s number in the comment section below or on our Social Media post for this blog. Enjoy!

1. “This letter is from Indianapolis native Ernest Reiman Steeg’s World War II correspondence, almost all written to his mother. … His letters are often poignant, showcasing a talent he began to nurture as a writer for the Shortridge Daily Echo. Upon reading … one of his letters, I paused for a moment to mourn the loss of a person who might have become a brilliant writer if he had survived the war. … Steeg’s writing survives in this collection of his letters and in the Echo archives.”
Letter, 18 April 1944, Ernest ‘Rei’ Steeg to ‘Dearest Mother’ Indiana Historical Society, M1041
Mikayla Knight Kinley, Assistant Reference Librarian

2. “My favorite [item] is this picture of Mariah Mendenhall from Jay County. She traveled on horseback to deliver babies… Mariah fascinates me because my grandmother, Lizzie Mae DuBois, was a midwife in Crawford County for the first part of the twentieth century. My dad, her youngest, used to go on visits with her. … I am so proud of my grandmother for doing this much needed, brave work in the hills and forests of southern Indiana…”
Mariah Mendenhall, ca. 1890, Indiana Historical Society, P0411
Teresa Baer, Managing Editor, IHS Press

3. “Hands down, the most terrifying Santa I’ve ever seen – and the kids don’t seem thrilled about the encounter either!”
Annual Yule Party at Marion County Courthouse, Indiana Historical Society, P0569
Jeannette Rooney, Assistant Director, Local History Services

4. “While we don’t know the story behind this photo, it appears to be two men, wearing what was traditionally seen as women’s clothing, taken nearly 100 years ago. So, one of the things I like about this photo is that it exists at all. As evidence of LGBTQ+ existence was often erased by family or the person themselves, finding items like this is like uncovering a rare gem. And while these gentlemen may not have fit under any of those capital letters above, it still shows men in clothing not meant for the male gender in their time. While we may not agree with all people, everyone’s history deserves to be preserved.”
Mr. Estebrooks and Bayfield Dressed in Evening Gowns at Root’s Party, Martin Collection, Indiana Historical Society
Dan Shockley, Creative Director, Exhibitions and Audience Experience

5. “My husband and I adopted our beagle in 2017, Beags, for our first anniversary. Beags was a tubby beagle, and we spent a lot of time helping him get healthy. He was a senior dog when we adopted him, so Covid was a blessing for us as it meant that we got to spend much more time with him than we would have normally. He passed away in August 2022. … Seeing images in the collection of people with their dogs warms my heart …”
Hopeful Contestants Preparing for the 1932 Indiana State Fair Dog Show, Indiana Historical Society, P0490
Bethany Hrachovec, Director, Education and Engagement

6. “I believe [the letter from William Bonney, aka Billy the Kid] is an amazing piece of American, Western, and Hoosier, given Lew Wallace’s ties, History. It has major American significance and would be an excellent item from our collections to do more with at the Society.”
Letter, 12 December 1880, William Bonney to Lew Wallace, Indiana Historical Society, M0292
Katie Berndt, Actor/Facilitator

7. “I’ve loved this image of the intersection of Illinois and Washington Streets for years. I even have a copy of it on my office wall. It transports me to a different way people experienced the city I live in. Looking at it, I imagine the sounds, the smells, and the bustle of Indianapolis… It’s fascinating to think about the lives of the people in the picture and what they knew that I don’t. They built the world we live in just as we build for future generations.”
Washington Street, 1906, Bass Photo Co Collection, Indiana Historical Society
Susan Sutton, Director, Access & Preservation

8. “This photo is my favorite thing because, simply put, it’s so cool! I suppose a major part of why I like it is the mystery around how the photo was able to be taken. It also reminds me that even though I thought underwater photography was a newer pursuit, it wasn’t! Humans have always been searching for interesting ways to capture moments in time.”
Swimmer Underwater, 1937, Bass Photo Co Collection, Indiana Historical Society
Regan Steimel, Reference Librarian

9. “My favorite items are our Magic Lantern slides of the Dunes! I find them interesting because I love both Magic Lanterns (and their beautiful, hand-painted slides that provided entertainment and education from the 1700s on) and Lake Michigan. Our collection manages to combine a place I love with an incredible, but little-remembered media I love.”
Trees and Dunes [#54], Glass Lantern Slide, ca. 1925, William F. Gingrich, Indiana Historical Society, P0305
Marianne Sheline, Director, External Engagement and Special Initiatives

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Finalists Announced for National History Day in Indiana Northwest Region Contest https://indianahistory.org/press-release/finalists-announced-for-national-history-day-in-indiana-northwest-region-contest-3/ Mon, 20 Feb 2023 15:51:22 +0000 https://indianahistory.org/?p=113927 The Indiana Historical Society (IHS) proudly announces students have been selected to advance to the National History Day in Indiana (NHDI) State Contest after a successful Northwest region contest on Saturday, February 18. The contest included students from Elkhart, Kosciusko, Marshall and St. Joseph counties. Approximately 173 students took part in Saturday’s contest, with finalists […]

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The Indiana Historical Society (IHS) proudly announces students have been selected to advance to the National History Day in Indiana (NHDI) State Contest after a successful Northwest region contest on Saturday, February 18. The contest included students from Elkhart, Kosciusko, Marshall and St. Joseph counties.

Approximately 173 students took part in Saturday’s contest, with finalists advancing to the 2023 NHDI State Contest on April 22 at Marian University in Indianapolis.

NHDI is a yearlong program dedicated to enhancing history education in Indiana’s schools. Students in grades four through 12 explore a historical subject that fits under the annual theme. This year’s theme is “Frontiers in History: People, Places, Ideas.” Students use their research to create a documentary, exhibit, paper, performance or website. To reach the 2023 NHDI State Contest, to be held at Marian University on April 22, students must qualify at one of six regional contests.

For a list of Northwest region contest finalists, including student names, school names, project categories and project names, please visit: NHDI Northwest Region Finalists.

NHDI is a project-based, inquiry-based program which encourages students to explore their own passions by conducting research, developing research questions, and then exhibit their individual learning styles through the creation of exhibits, documentaries, performances, papers and websites.

NHDI is presented by the Rooker Family Foundation with support from the Vigran Family Foundation. For more information, visit www.indianahistory.org/historyday or call (317) 232-1882.

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Finalists Announced for National History Day in Indiana Northeast Region Contest https://indianahistory.org/press-release/finalists-announced-for-national-history-day-in-indiana-northeast-region-contest-3/ Mon, 13 Feb 2023 19:29:47 +0000 https://indianahistory.org/?p=113906 The Indiana Historical Society (IHS) proudly announces students have been selected to advance to the National History Day in Indiana (NHDI) State Contest after a successful Northeast region contest on Saturday, February 11. The contest included students from DeKalb, Kosciusko, Marion and Whitley counties. Approximately 120 students took part in Saturday’s contest, with finalists advancing […]

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The Indiana Historical Society (IHS) proudly announces students have been selected to advance to the National History Day in Indiana (NHDI) State Contest after a successful Northeast region contest on Saturday, February 11. The contest included students from DeKalb, Kosciusko, Marion and Whitley counties.

Approximately 120 students took part in Saturday’s contest, with finalists advancing to the 2023 NHDI State Contest on April 22 at Marian University in Indianapolis.

NHDI is a yearlong program dedicated to enhancing history education in Indiana’s schools. Students in grades four through 12 explore a historical subject that fits under the annual theme. This year’s theme is “Frontiers in History: People, Places, Ideas.” Students use their research to create a documentary, exhibit, paper, performance or website. To reach the 2023 NHDI State Contest, to be held at Marian University on April 22, students must qualify at one of six regional contests.

For a list of Northeast region contest finalists, including student names, school names, project categories and project names, please visit: NHDI Northeast Region Finalists.

NHDI is a project-based, inquiry-based program that encourages students to explore their own passions by conducting research, developing research questions, and then exhibit their individual learning styles through the creation of exhibits, documentaries, performances, papers and websites.

NHDI is presented by the Rooker Family Foundation with support from the Vigran Family Foundation. For more information, visit www.indianahistory.org/historyday or call (317) 232-1882.

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New Indiana County Historians Appointed in DeKalb and Washington Counties https://indianahistory.org/press-release/new-indiana-county-historians-appointed-in-dekalb-and-washington-counties/ Tue, 31 Jan 2023 17:03:13 +0000 https://indianahistory.org/?p=113864 Two new Indiana county historians have been appointed in both DeKalb and Washington counties, with their terms beginning January 1, 2023. New DeKalb County Historian Mary Hollabaugh-Diehl lives in northeast Indiana with her husband of 28 years and two children. She obtained her associate’s degree in dental hygiene in 2001 from Indiana University-Purdue University Fort […]

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Two new Indiana county historians have been appointed in both DeKalb and Washington counties, with their terms beginning January 1, 2023.

New DeKalb County Historian Mary Hollabaugh-Diehl lives in northeast Indiana with her husband of 28 years and two children. She obtained her associate’s degree in dental hygiene in 2001 from Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne and has been a practicing clinical dental hygienist for more than 22 years.

Hollabaugh-Diehl has a deep passion for DeKalb County history and played a crucial role in raising community support and funding to repair and reopen the Spencerville Covered Bridge. She is an advocate for advancing the understanding of the county’s history and is constantly retrieving artifacts that are part of the historical narrative. She enjoys meeting people and connecting them to resources to bring them a better understanding of their own families or the community they live in. She said she is excited and honored to be DeKalb County’s first woman historian, and she looks forward to the opportunity to contribute to Indiana’s rich history and be a part of preserving it for future generations.

New Washington County Historian Stephanie Vines has never known a time when she didn’t love history. Born to a family of storytellers who celebrated their centuries-old involvement in founding this nation, she felt as though she’s always had one foot in the past. After attending Salem High School in Salem, Indiana, she carried her love of history to Northern Kentucky University, where she majored in museum science and served her fellow students in several civic organizations and clubs, including student government.

Vines currently works for the Depot Railroad Museum and Washington County Historical Society and has done so since 2008. She enjoys giving tours and creating programs for the community, thriving in a field that utilizes two natural gifts — her creativity and her love of people. She has more than two decades of experience in the field, including with other nonprofits and the National Park Service. This appointment perfectly joins all of what she loves best about her chosen profession — education, community and preservation. She currently serves as a board member-at-large on the Washington County Tourism Commission. When she’s not at the John Hay Center, she can be found talking about her son Steven, who currently resides in Norfolk, Virginia; watching Cincinnati Reds baseball or Cyclones hockey; driving miles and miles of neglected backroads; or talking to her cat, Rasputin.

In addition, at the close of 2022, the Indiana Historical Society and Indiana Historical Bureau reappointed 26 county historians to new three-year terms. County historians reappointed to new three-year terms are as follows:

  • Allen County: Thomas Castaldi
  • Bartholomew County: Tamara Iorio
  • Blackford County: Joseph Castelo
  • Boone County: Eric Spall
  • Carroll County: Mark Smith
  • Cass County: Bryan Looker
  • Clark County: Jeanne Burke
  • Clay County: Jeffrey Koehler
  • Crawford County: Roberta Toby
  • Elkhart County: Marcia Brenneman
  • Fayette County: Donna Schroeder
  • Floyd County: David Barksdale
  • Fountain County: Carol Freese
  • Franklin County: Julie Schlesselman
  • Gibson County: Greg Wright
  • Greene County: Marsha Cline
  • Hamilton County: David Heighway
  • Hancock County: Joseph Skvarenina
  • Harrison County: Daniel Bays
  • Hendricks County: John Parsons
  • Henry County: Darrel Radford
  • Howard County: Jonathan Russell
  • Huntington County: B. Joan Keefer
  • Jackson County: Bill Day
  • Jasper County: Judith Kanne
  • Jay County: Jane Spencer

The Indiana Historical Society and the Indiana Historical Bureau are currently seeking nominations for county historians in these counties: Adams, Benton, Daviess, Jennings, Spencer, Tipton and Wayne. Local historical organizations and libraries in each county nominate county historians to renewable three-year terms. If you know an individual who would be a good fit for county historian, please contact your local historical society and/or public library to discuss submitting a nomination. For questions, email localhistoryservices@indianahistory.org.

In 1981, through an effort to improve the historical communication network in the state, the Indiana Historical Society and the Indiana Historical Bureau established the Indiana County Historian Program. County historians serve as volunteers appointed by the Indiana Historical Society and Indiana Historical Bureau to promote local history in their counties, connect individuals and groups with history resources, promote collaboration between local history organizations and maintain connections with the Indiana Historical Society and Indiana Historical Bureau.

The post New Indiana County Historians Appointed in DeKalb and Washington Counties appeared first on Indiana Historical Society.

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