IHB is celebrating

Black History Month!

Visit our display in the State House to learn about the historical marker process and find a marker to an African American topic near you. While you’re at the capitol, check out the recently installed busts of James Hinton, Indiana’s first African American legislator, and Julia Carson, an influential African American legislator and congress woman.  Learn more about this project. 

You can always visit our website to learn more about Indiana’s African American history through state historical markers and downloadable issues of the Indiana Historian.  Also, IHB recently dedicated a historical marker to Stewart Settlement House, organized in 1921 to provide social services for African Americans in Gary.  Visit our blog, Marking Hoosier History, to see photos and learn more. Our blog also features several relevant posts: a small web exhibit on African American markers, a fun Madame C. J. Walker graphic, and an article on the Leora Brown School (Corydon) and segregation in Indiana's school system.

The IHB Book Shop is also stocked full of titles on topics ranging from the underground railroad to African American women authors. In addition, African American studies books are 20% off throughout February. 

In Case you Missed It

Plans for Indiana's Lincoln Funeral Train 150th Anniversary commemoration are coming together.  Learn more about what is going on around the state in our January News Roundup, and dig into a primary source in the latest installment on the blog.  This week features the Indianapolis Daily Gazette's May 1, 1865 coverage of the funeral ceremony at Indianapolis.  The article notes details about the decorations, the casket, the music played, and the changing of the guards.  Most interestingly though, it mentions the reactions of the people.

Save the Date

IHB is accepting event submissions for the interactive Lincoln Funeral Train Commemoration map.  Please consider sending us the details of your exhibits or programs.  Save the date for these upcoming activities:

April 6-10, 2015.  A reproduction of Lincoln's casket on loan from the Batesville Casket Co. will be on display in the Indiana State House along with Lincoln-related artifacts from local history institutions.

April 29, 2015.  A replica of the Lincoln Funeral Train will stop in Richmond, IN and pass through Centerville and Cambridge City en route to Indianapolis.

April 30, 2015.  A program commemorating the Funeral Train's stop in Indianapolis will take place at the Indiana State House.

Shop @ IHB

The Book Shop also has new gift and souvenir items, including a fresh batch of blown glass flowers and heart paperweights from Hot Blown Glass and Honest to Goodness Indiana logo merchandise.  Check out New Items.

Don't forget to take advantage of this month's 20% off sale on African American Studies titles.

Events of Interest

IAH Conference

Don't miss the 35th Annual Meeting of the Indiana Association of Historians. The event will be held on the campus of IUPUI in Indianapolis on Saturday, February 28, 2015 and boasts an impressive lineup of sessions.

11th annual

Historic Preservation Month

Photo Contest

The Indiana Division of Historic Preservation and Archaeology (DHPA) is celebrating Historic Preservation Month by holding its annual Historic Preservation Month photo contest.

Do you have a favorite building—the church your grandparents got married in, your grade school, that old bridge that was the last landmark before you got to your regular vacation destination? Take a picture (or three) of your favorite historic resource—building, bridge, cemetery, landscape-- and send it in. It doesn’t matter what it is as long as it is at least 50 years old and in Indiana.

For a complete list of guidelines and the registration form, go to http://www.in.gov/dnr/historic/3994.htm

Educators' Corner

Indiana Historical Society launched its new Destination Indiana website at the end of January.  Aimee had a chance to preview the site in the Fall.  It is sure to be one of your new favorite resources for building presentations.

If you are looking for content for Apple or Android tablets Crossroads Connect is a full 4th grade social studies text delivered to your students on their 1 to 1 device.