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Communique Online
June 5, 2009
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Table of Contents:

Training Opportunities and Conferences
AAM Webinar: Understanding Life Stages of the Museum Visitor
Multicultural Indiana: Teaching About Hoosier Diversity Workshop
Indiana Library Federation Reference Division Reference Unconference 2009
NCPH Accepting Proposals for the 2010 Annual Meeting: Currents of Change

Programs
Summer at the Museum
at the Carnegie Museum of Montgomery County
Historic Monument Dedication by Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church at Crown Hill Cemetery
Sheridan Fireside Tales
Free Lecture on Fort Wayne’s Germans in World War I at the History Center in Fort Wayne
Programs at the Indiana State Library
ArchiCamp for Kids in New Carlisle
Greentown Historical Society Rummage Sale
Sizzlin’ Summer Plaza Music Series at the Honeywell Center
Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Plaza Dedication Event
GenFest 2009 in Shelby County
Tribute and Tales of the Greentown Historical Society
A Lincoln Highway Adventure to South Bend from Monroeville and Fort Wayne
6th Annual Story-Telling Day and Band Concert in Gosport
Sheridan Historical Society President Lincoln Tour to Springfield, Ill.
Indiana Genealogy and Local History Fair

Funding Opportunities
Fellowship Available to the 3rd Annual Registrars Symposium

IHS News
Concerts on the Canal: Cabaret on the Canal

Awards and Nominations
DNR-DHPA Awarded Grants to Preserve History Across the Indiana

Exhibits
Lincoln: The Man You Didn’t Know at the Center for History in South Bend

Traveling Exhibits
The Faces of Lincoln
at the Merrillville/Ross Township Historical Society and Museum
Auto Indiana: Celebrating the Automobile in Indiana at the Goshen Historical Society

Organizations in the News
Thousanth School Group Enjoys Fort Wayne History Center Courtesy of Heritage 
      Education Fund

Job Opportunities
National:
Object Cataloger (Summer Project) with History Associates Incorporated in Rockville, Md.

On the Internet
New Online Portal for Volunteers

Training Opportunities and Conferences

AAM Webinar: Understanding Life Stages of the Museum Visitor
This Webinar will be held on June 24 from 2 to 3:30 p.m.

Why are seven-year-olds especially important to museums? What are Museum Advocates, and how do they differ from Core Visitors to museums? And what is going on with ultra-wired Generation Y and museums? Delve into these questions and more as Susie Wilkening and James Chung share their research from over 30,000 Core Visitors to museums, just published in their new book from The AAM Press, Life Stages of the Museum Visitor: Building Engagement Over a Lifetime. This Webinar will help you understand your museum’s audiences, their needs and how to better meet their expectations.

The cost is $25 for AAM members and $189 for nonmembers.

For more information or to register, please visit http://www.aam-us.org/getinvolved/learn/understandingmuseumaudience.cfm.


Multicultural Indiana: Teaching About Hoosier Diversity Workshop
This workshop will be held on Friday, June 26, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Indiana State Museum located at 650 W. Washington St. in Indianapolis.

Indiana history has been shaped by the presence and dedication of racially, economically and culturally diverse groups of men and women. This workshop will introduce educators to the state’s diverse history and its impact on Indiana’s development and architecture. Representatives from schools that have developed and implemented multicultural curricula will discuss ways to use such information in the classroom.

Educators may receive CRU credit through Indiana University School of Education in Bloomington. This workshop is presented by the Indiana Division of Historic Preservation and Archaeology, the Indiana Historical Bureau and the Indiana State Museum.

The cost is $20 per person. To register, please call (317) 232-1637. Register by June 12.

For more information, please contact Joanna Hahn at the Indiana State Museum at (317) 232-8293 or Jeannie Regan-Dinius at the Division for Historic Preservation and Archaeology at (317) 234-1268.


Indiana Library Federation Reference Division Reference Unconference 2009
This program will be held on Friday, Aug 7 at Ball State University's Bracken Library in Muncie.

Are you familiar with "create your own adventure" books? How about a "create your own library conference?" The Indiana Library Federation Reference Division is doing just that with Reference Unconference 2009.

What makes an unconference is special is the ability for everyone to be actively involved from determining the topics to giving presentations and contributing to the discussions. Everyone is a teacher and everyone is a learner! It is a format becoming popular throughout the library world!

The first step is to visit the unconference wiki at http://www.ilfreference2009.pbwiki.com/. There you can read more about the unconference and answer one of these two questions:

  • What do you want to learn?
  • What would you like to teach or facilitate? 

In a couple months, we will then take all of those proposed topics and have participants vote on them. Sessions with the most interest will be offered during the unconference. We will then finalize the agenda and submit the unconference for continuing education credits.


NCPH Accepting Proposals for the 2010 Annual Meeting: Currents of Change
The NCPH 2010 Annual Meeting will be held simultaneously with the Annual Meeting of the American Society for Environmental History March 10 through 14 in Portland, Ore.

Several plenary events, all the field trips, and the exhibits hall will be organized jointly by NCPH and ASEH. 

Registration for either allows participation in both.  This is an opportunity to participate in an international event covering the best in public history, environmental history, and their many intersections. It is also NCPH’s 30th Anniversary conference.

Proposals are currently being accepted through June 30. Working groups, panels, roundtables, individual proposals, poster proposals, workshops or alternative formats are encouraged.

For details, visit http://www.ncph.org/.

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Programs

Please confim event specifics with sponsoring organization, especially if traveling any distance.

Summer at the Museum at the Carnegie Museum of Montgomery County
This program for children is currently in progress and will continue through Saturday, Aug. 1.

The program is open to children in preschool through middle school.

Participation is free. Complete activities when you visit the museum and earn prizes.

The Carnegie Museum is located in downtown Crawfordsville at 222 S. Washington St.

For more information, call (765) 362-4618 or e-mail carnegie@cdpl.lib.in.us. The Carnegie Museum of Montgomery County is an interdisciplinary museum of History, Science and Art.


Historic Monument Dedication by Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church at Crown Hill Cemetery
This event will take place on Saturday, June 6, at 9:30 a.m. at the Crown Hill Cemetery in Indianapolis.  A reception will follow the dedication in the Gothic Chapel located on the cemetery grounds.

The monument is dedicated to the memory of the pioneers of the Greek Orthodox community who immigrated to this country as young men and women and established Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church and the Greek community.  The Church will celebrate the one hundred year anniversary next year. The monument is located in the Greek section of the Crown Hill Cemetery – the final resting place for these pioneers and their families.  They truly came with a dream for a better life and left a legacy which continues to thrive today.


Sheridan Fireside Tales
This event from the Sheridan Historical Society will be held on Saturday, June 6, beginning at 5:30 p.m. in Biddle Memorial Park in Sheridan.

There will an on-demand and expanded kitchen band making quaint folk music, a rabbit pulled out of the hat by a magician and wild stories told near a campfire at Sheridan Fireside Tales, preceded by a hog roast barbeque at 5:30 p.m. The program line-up is as follows: 

  • 5:30 to 9 p.m., Hog Roast
  • 6 to 7 p.m., Music and Picnic with homespun fun, games and songs featuring Bob and Joyce Seymour
  • 7 to 7:45 p.m. CR Ryan, magician
  • 8 to 9 p.m. Bob Sander, Sandertales

Admission is free.

For more information, please contact the Sheridan Historical Society at (317) 758-5054 or SheridanHistorical@sbcglobal.net.


Free Lecture on Fort Wayne’s Germans in World War I at the History Center in Fort Wayne
This lecture by Jim Sack, founder of Fort Wayne’s Germanfest, will be held on Sunday, June 7, at 2 p.m. at the History Center located at 302 E. Berry St. in Fort Wayne.

After America declared war on Germany in 1917, many residents of Allen County were officially designated “enemy aliens.” They were arrested, interrogated and jailed. Some were nuns, some were farmers, some were respected businessmen, some were teachers, some were housewives—none posed any threat to America. It was a shameful episode in American history, and in the way some Fort Wayne residents treated their neighbors, co-workers and colleagues.

Jim Sack founded Germanfest in 1981, and the following year he formed an organization made up of the three existing local German clubs to manage the festival and served as president for 12 years. Sack was a founder of the German Heritage Society and the Gera-Fort Wayne Sister Cities relationship. 

For more information, call (260) 426-2882.


Programs at the Indiana State Library
These programs will be held at the Indiana State Library located at 140 N. Senate Ave. in Indianapolis.

  • Unconventional Federal Documents
    Federal documents are more than just legislation and declarations. This programs looks at some unique documents published by the Government Printing Office like how to grow tomatoes, feed an army and why not all books are kept out on display. This program will be held on June 8 from noon to 1 p.m. in the Indiana Author’s Room.

  • From Cradle to Grave
    Church records are important resources that can provide a wealth of information about your ancestors. This program will discuss the many church records and related sources available in the collections of the Indiana State Library on June 11, from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. in the Indiana Author’s Room.

  • Judging Books by Their Covers
    Hand cut stamps were used to emboss cloth book covers in the 19th century. These stamps had many changing styles and can shed light on the social and artistic history of the time. This program will be held on June 13 from 11 a.m. to noon in the History Reference Room.

The programs are free to the public and do not require registration. For more information, call (317) 232-3675 or visit http://www.in.gov/library/events.htm.


ArchiCamp for Kids in New Carlisle
This award-winning day camp for kids from Historic Landmarks Foundation focuses on landmarks and history and will be held on Tuesday, June 9, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Old Republic located at 304 E. Michigan St. in New Carlisle.

The camp is for children ages eight to 12.

ArchiCamp, an award-winning program, encourages children to use their imaginations and powers of observation while teaching them about history, architecture, and renovation. Participants in ArchiCamp spend the day discovering the architecture and landmarks – history in 3D – of New Carlisle.

Campers will tour the Old Republic and downtown New Carlisle, play architecture bingo and build a model of a downtown building. They’ll also meet and speak with a local architect who has worked on some of the buildings they will see on their tour.

Historic Landmarks Foundation, developer of ArchiCamp, won a prestigious award from the American Association of State and Local History for the program.  ArchiCamps have been offered in cities throughout the state.

The cost of the camp is $20 per child ($15 per child whose parent is a member of either of the sponsor groups) and includes refreshments, educational materials and souvenirs. Participants should bring a sack lunch.

To ensure personal attention, enrollment for the camp is limited to 20 children.

For reservations, contact Dana Groves at Historic New Carlisle at (574) 654-3897 or historicnc@townofnewcarlisle.com. Reservations are required by June 5.


Greentown Historical Society Rummage Sale
This event will be held on Wednesday, June 10, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the corner of Main and Indiana streets in Greentown.

The rummage sale will feature a large assortment of perennials and vegetable plants and a bonanza of various items to numerous to mention. First come, first served

Watch for the OPEN sign throughout the summer!

For more information or to drop off donations, call (765) 628-7674.


Sizzlin’ Summer Plaza Music Series at the Honeywell Center
This series features free musical entertainment from 5 to 7 p.m. each Thursday in June and July on the Honeywell Center outdoor plaza in Wabash.

The 2009 Sizzlin’ Summer Plaza Series includes:

  • June 11: Prime Time, country, jazz and today's hits
  • June 18: Shakin' Bake, five seasoned and award-winning country musicians
  • June 25: Cathy Morris, high energy "party jazz" on the electric violin
  • July 2: The John Kirkwood Band, an energetic band playing R&B, pop and dance hits from all eras
  • July 9: Blue Luster, an original hard rock band…with attitude!
  • July 16: Michael Kelsey, a variety of sounds using acoustic guitar, technology, and anything within reach!   
  • July 23: Steel, four-piece band playing hits from the 1970's, 80's and 90's
  • July 30: Tuxedo Junction, one of the region’s best swing and jazz bands

In addition to the concerts, Eugenia's Plaza Grille will be open during all performances and be offering grilled food, beverages and desserts.

For a complete program listing, visit the Honeywell Center Web site at http://www.honeywellcenter.org/ or call (260) 563-1102.


Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Plaza Dedication Event
This event will be held on June 12 beginning at 10:30 a.m. at Lincoln State Park in Lincoln City.

A new monument in honor of Abraham Lincoln’s Hoosier youth will be dedicated and unveiled in Lincoln State Park. The dedication ceremony anchors a day of celebration and family fun that includes music, activities, period demonstrations and the world premiere of LINCOLN, the new theatrical experience.

The public is invited to attend the Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Plaza dedication ceremony. Admission to the state park is free before 10:30 a.m.

At the ceremony, visitors will enjoy Civil War-era music by a brass quintet from the Evansville Philharmonic Orchestra, a performance by the Evansville Children’s Choir, President Lincoln’s second inaugural performed by LINCOLN cast member, and remarks from Secretary of State Todd Rokita and the artist and designer who created the work of art. 

A variety of free events will be available, including:

  • 10:30 a.m.: Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Plaza dedication ceremony
  • 11:30 a.m.:  Lincoln neighborhood walk
  • 11:45 a.m.:  A talk with the plaza’s artist and designer
  • 1 p.m.:  Backstage tour of the Lincoln Amphitheatre and set of LINCOLN
  • 3 p.m.: Tour of the Colonel William Jones home

Food and drinks will be available at the plaza site. Parking will be available as well in adjacent parking areas with van and bus transportation for those who have difficulty walking. Seating will be limited for the dedication and unveiling ceremony, so spectators are encouraged to bring lawn chairs.

The new LINCOLN theatrical experience will begin at 5:30 p.m. with an Amish family-style meal and the show at 7:30 p.m. Tickets for the LINCOLN theatrical experience include the meal, children’s pioneer games, artisan demonstrations, the Lincoln exhibit and free unlimited soft drinks and popcorn during intermission.  Presidential Section ticket prices are $42.95 for adults, $40.95 for seniors, $38.95 for ages seven to 21, and free for children ages six and under.  RailSplitter section ticket prices are $39.95 for adults, $37.95 for seniors, and $35.95 for ages seven to 21. Visit http://www.lincolnamphitheatre.com/ for more information.

For more information about the event or the Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission, please visit http://www.in.gov/lincoln/.


GenFest 2009 in Shelby County
This annual Indiana Genealogy Convention is hosted by the Shelby County Genealogy Society and will be held June 12 through 14 at various sites in Shelbyville.

Highlights for year’s convention:

  • Meet and Greet at the Strand Theatre
  • A performance open to the public by James Whitcomb Riley impersonator Danny Russell
  • Vendors will be selling genealogy material and maps at the Grover Museum, the
  • Genealogy Society office at the Town Hall Building, and the Shelbyville-Shelby County Public Library Genealogy and History House.
  • A guided walking tour of historic Forest Hill Cemetery
  • Wilderness Plots, an evening of songs and stories inspired by the history of settling the American wilderness in the time between the Revolution and the Civil War
  • Guided walking tour of the downtown area called “Empty Places”

Many of the events are free, although some have admission fees. Registration is requested for the event, which is open to the public.

For more information about GenFest 2009 or to donate goody bag material such as pens, pencils and other trade fair items, call the Shelby County Historical Society at (317) 398-8773 or visit www.sscpl.lib.in.us/library2005/genfest_2009.htm.


Tribute and Tales of the Greentown Historical Society
This dinner and program will be held on Saturday, June 13 beginning with a social hour at 6 p.m. at Jerome Christian Church located at 9535 E. County Road 100 S. in Greentown.

This event will celebrate the 10th Anniversary of the Greentown Historical Society and will honor the Founder, Organizers, Contributors and the many participants who have made the organization possible as the community points with pride to their record and growth.

The cost for the dinner is $20 per person. The free program follows the dinner at 7:30 p.m.

For more information or to make a reservation, contact Sally Imbler at (765) 628-7174.


A Lincoln Highway Adventure to South Bend from Monroeville and Fort Wayne
This event with Two Ladies Bus Co. will be held on Thursday, June 18.

Noted historian Steve Nagy has volunteered to serve as narrator/interpreter along the route of the Lincoln Highway. Bottled water and snacks will be distributed as you get on the bus.

The schedule for the day is:

  • 8 a.m.: Depart Monroeville (115 Main St.) w/passengers
  • 8:30 a.m.: Stop at The History Center in Fort Wayne to pick up passengers. Take 33 out of Fort Wayne and stop at IGA in Churubusco to pick up additional passengers.
  • 9:30 to 10:30 a.m.: Stop in Goshen and stretch at The Old Bag Factory in Goshen’s historic bag factory filled with artists and antiques. Photograph the iron through-truss bridge, and shop!
  • 11:30 a.m.: The final destination will be the Century Center in South Bend for an afternoon of free activities at the 17th Annual Lincoln Highway’s National Conference. Enjoy lunch, an artists and authors reception, and a Lincoln Highway stamp cancellation.
  • 1:30 p.m.: Enjoy the afternoon that includes keynote speaker and highway traveler, Rick Sebak, talking about his PBS documentary A Ride Along The Lincoln Highway. The Tin Can Tourist complete the afternoon on a history about America’s favorite pastime in the 1920s – auto camping!
  • 4:30 p.m.: The bus departs, with box suppers served on the way home.

The total cost for the day is $50. Seats must be reserved by June 11.

Tickets and additional information are available from Jan Shupert-Arick, Todd Pelfrey or Lois Ternet at (260) 623-3316 or (260) 623-3017.

This trip is a collaborative project of 4 Presidents Corners Historical Society, Monroeville; The History Center, Fort Wayne; ARCH, Fort Wayne; Whitley County Historical Society and the Indiana Lincoln Highway Association.

For more LHA National Conference information, please visit http://www.indianalincolnhighway.com/.


6th Annual Story-Telling Day and Band Concert in Gosport
This event from the Gosport Museum Society will be held on June 27 beginning at noon in the Gosport Town Park.

A performance will be given by the Jackson Community Band of Clay County. Matt Huber, Music Director of the Brazil Concert Band, is also the leader of this band.

Because of Gosport’s unique position on the Ten O’Clock Line, this year’s storytelling program will commemorate the 200th year of the treaty of Fort Wayne of 1809. Dark Rain Thom, Shawnee Clan Mother of the Water Panther Clan, spiritual teacher and main historian for the East of the River Shawnee Tribe, will tell stories of the native women’s lives in the early 1800s.

Chris Headdy, also known as Dreaming Eagle, is a descendant of the Miami. For many years, he has had a strong interest in the religion and root culture of his heritage. Dreaming Eagle will tell how the warriors were armed and their ways of protecting their interests.

Dennis Latta is the executive director of Grouseland, William Henry Harrison’s historic home in Vincennes. He is a William Henry Harrison presenter and will tell the Territorial Governor’s story as it led to the Fort Wayne Treaty of 1809.

Following the band concert, fourth grade students of GES will read the three top prize-winning essays titled What Gosport Means to Me.

David Black will act as Master of Ceremonies. Food and drinks (including buffalo burgers) will be made available by the Kappa Kappa Sigma Sororoity starting at 11:30 a.m.

Attendees are asked to bring folding chairs for seating. In case of rain, the event will be held inside the Gosport Community Shelter behind the park.

For more information contact the Ten O’Clock Treaty Line Museum at Gosport at (812) 879-4873. 


Sheridan Historical Society President Lincoln Tour to Springfield, Ill.
The tour will depart Sheridan at 7 a.m. on Sept. 19 and will return at around 6:30 p.m. on Sept. 20.

The tour will include:

  • The Lincoln/Herndon Law Office where Lincoln practiced
  • The Old State Capitol which served as the Illinois statehouse from 1839 to 1876
  • The New Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum
  • Oak Ridge Cemetery and Lincoln’s Tomb
  • The Home of Abraham Lincoln
  • New Salem Historical Village, the pioneer village where Lincoln lived as a young adult.

The tour includes all attractions, four meals (two breakfasts, one lunch and one dinner), lodging at Drury Inn and Suites and travel via motor coach.

The cost is $253 per person for double, $235 for triple, $226 for quad or $309 for single. Register by Aug. 19.

For more information, contact Connie Mossburg at (317) 758-4790.


Indiana Genealogy and Local History Fair
This event featuring book signings with Indiana authors/illustrator will be held on Oct. 24 from noon to 1:30 p.m. at the Indiana Historical Bureau.

Book signings will be held by the following authors/illustrator:

  • Dr. James Madison
    Slinging Doughnuts for the Boys; Heartland; Bloomington Past to Present; Eli Lilly: a Life

  • Dr. Nicole Etcheson
    The Emerging Midwest; Bleeding Kansas

  • Jeannie Regan-Dinius
    Underground Railroad Research in Select Indiana Counties; Finding Indiana Ancestors: a Guide to Historical Research

  • Teresa Baer
    Finding Indiana Ancestors: a Guide to Historical Research

  • Brian Hasler, Author, and Angela Gouge, Illustrator
    Casper and Catherine Move to America: an Immigrant Family’s Adventure, 1849-1850

  • Lucy Jane King
    Madame President: 1901-1905 Nellie Fairbanks, Path Finder to Politics for American Women

  • Connie Rendfeld
    Peopling Indiana: the Ethnic Experience

  • Ashley Ransburg
    Evie Finds Her Family Tree

Dr. James Madison, Dr. Nicole Etcheson and Jeannie Regan-Dinius will also be speaking during the event, and will sign books after their presentations.

For a complete schedule of events for the Indiana Genealogy and Local History Fair, please contact the Indiana State Library, Genealogy Division, at (317) 232-3689.

For more information on the book signing, please contact the Indiana Historical Bureau at (317) 232-2535 or ihb@history.in.gov.

Advance orders of the books listed above are encouraged.

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Funding Opportunities

Fellowship Available to the 3rd Annual Registrars Symposium
The Small Museum Administrators' Committee of the American Association of Museums is offering one fellowship to the 3rd International Registrars Symposium that will be held in Chicago Nov. 6 through 8, 2009.

The award will include registration plus $300 to assist with the cost of travel and hotel plus the cost of registration, which has been graciously underwritten by Atelier 4 Inc.

Applicants must be current SMAC-AAM members and be a full-time paid or unpaid employee of a museum with a budget of $350,000 or less.

To apply, submit a letter (no more than two pages) discussing your current responsibilities, activities (previous workshops, conferences, professional service) and career goals. Please indicate how attendance at the IRS3 conference will benefit you and your museum, as well as how you will share what you learn with other small museums in your area. Please include a resume, proof of museum's budget size and a letter of support from your institution (i.e. board member, executive director). Make sure your letter includes a contact address, e-mail and telephone number.

Mail your application postmarked by July 15, 2009 to Janice Klein, 1103 East Redondo Circle, Tempe, AZ 85282. Faxed applications will not be accepted.

The fellowship award will be announced and notification sent out by Aug. 15, 2009.

For more information contact Janice Klein, SMAC-AAM Fellowship Chair, at jkhm@mindspring.com.

For additional information about the Symposium visit the Registrar’s Committee Web site at http://www.rcaam.org/ and click on "IRS3".

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IHS News

Concerts on the Canal: Cabaret on the Canal
This concert is held in partnership with the American College of Sports Medicine and will be held on Thursday, June 11, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Fitness Park, American College of Sports Medicine, located at 401 W. Michigan St.

The feature for this concert is Cabaret on the Canal with American Cabaret Theatre featuring Shannon Forsell.

An outdoor grill and cash bar will be on-site, and free seating is available on the Canal walk area behind the reserved tables. As always, attendees may bring their own food and nonalcoholic beverages to the concert – but all alcohol must be purchased on site. No pets and no smoking are allowed at Fitness Park.

Tables are on the grass and in the shade. The cost is $40 for a table of eight for nonmembers and $35 for members. Half-tables are available for $30 or $25 for members.

For additional information, visit http://www.indianahistory.org/. For reservations, call the IHS Welcome Center at (317) 232-1882. The 2009 Concerts on the Canal Series is sponsored by Lewis Wagner, LLP. The 2009 Concerts on the Canal media partner is WFYI.

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Awards and Nominations

DNR-DHPA Awarded Grants to Preserve History Across the Indiana
This year, the DNR Division of Historic Preservation and Archaeology has awarded 16 federal grants for historic preservation and archaeology in Indiana communities. The grants, totaling $494,793, provide a match of $473,756 in local and state funds, for a total projected investment of $968,549.

The funds come from the National Park Service, a part of the U.S. Department of the Interior, which distributes federal funds to the states through the Historic Preservation Fund Program. Since 1974, the state has awarded more than $16.5 million to Indiana communities through this program.

The projects for the 2009 funding cycle are:

  • Allen and Hamilton Counties: The Archaeological Survey of IPFW received a $48,939 grant to conduct an archaeological investigation of three sites in Allen County. All three sites represent large and important elements of the Late Prehistoric Western Basin settlement system.

  • Adams County: ARCH, Inc. received a $27,472 award for a countywide survey to document historic sites, structures and landscapes throughout Adams County.

  • Carroll County: Historic Landmarks Foundation of Indiana received a $26,719 award for a countywide survey to document historic sites, structures and landscapes throughout Carroll County.

  • Clark County: The Archaeological Survey of IPFW received a $43,730 grant to conduct archaeological investigations in Clark County, including two major Mississippian sites.

  • Fort Wayne: The City of Fort Wayne Community Development received a $27,929 grant to prepare a nomination to the National Register of Historic Places for the Brookview-Irvington Historic District, which will include approximately 315 contributing properties, and to design and print a brochure about the district and its history and architecture. The project will also prepare a nomination to the National Register for approximately 41 parks and 12 boulevards/parkways in the historic Fort Wayne Park and Boulevard System.

  • Franklin County: Historic Landmarks Foundation of Indiana received a $26,735 award for a countywide survey to document historic sites, structures and landscapes throughout Franklin County.

  • Hancock County: The American Military Heritage Foundation received a $50,000 grant for the replacement of the right engine on the PV-2 Harpoon aircraft, also known as “Hot Stuff.”

  • Huntington: The Huntington Historic Preservation Review Board received a $50,000 grant to rehabilitate several masonry features at the 1923 Sunken Gardens in Huntington.

  • Indianapolis: Footlite Musicals, Inc., received a $36,750 grant to rehabilitate the exterior masonry, including 12 chimneys and the roof parapet, and the four iron balconies and fire escape on the Hedback Community Arts Center.

  • New Albany: The City of New Albany received a $3,500 grant to prepare a nomination to the National Register of Historic Places for the Hedden Park/Hedden Court Historic District, which includes approximately 45 contributing properties; and to prepare an individual National Register nomination for the William Young House.

  • Parke, Tipton and Union counties: Historic Landmarks Foundation of Indiana received $15,829 to publish the results of the countywide historic sites and structures survey of Parke, Tipton and Union counties conducted in 2008 and 2009.

  • Petersburg: The Pike County Commissioners received a $46,050 grant to stabilize and restore the stained glass dome of the Pike County Courthouse. The stained glass panels are deteriorated, the dome has structural flaws, and metal fatigue has weakened the supports, all of which were exacerbated by an earthquake in the area last year.

  • Posey County: Indiana University’s Department of Anthropology received a $24,751 grant to conduct investigations at two reported but uninvestigated Yankeetown phase archaeological sites: Dead Man’s Curve and the Squirrel Hunter Site, and will also conduct reconnaissance survey in the area.

  • Spencer County: The DNR Division of State Parks and Reservoirs was awarded $9,974 to conduct archaeological research at Lincoln State Park in Spencer County.

  • Wells County: ARCH, Inc. received a $6,415 award to publish the results of the countywide historic sites and structures survey of Wells County conducted in 2008-2009.

  • Whiting: The City of Whiting Parks and Recreation Department received a $50,000 grant to update the obsolete and unsafe electrical systems in the 1923 Whiting Community Center.

For more information on the DNR Division of Historic Preservation and Archaeology and the Historic Preservation Fund Program, please visit http://www.IN.gov/dnr/historic/.

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Exhibits

Lincoln: The Man You Didn’t Know at the Center for History in South Bend
The Museums at Washington and Chapin, comprising the Center for History and Studebaker National Museum, are presenting Lincoln: The Man You Didn’t Know to commemorate the bicentennial of Abraham Lincoln’s birth. The exhibit opens June 13, 2009.

This exhibit explores Lincoln’s boyhood in Indiana, his connections to Indiana as an adult, Indiana’s reactions to his presidency, the conspiracy concerning his assassination, and the funeral train which brought his body through Indiana on the way to its final resting place in Illinois.

In Lincoln: The Man You Didn’t Know, visitors can learn about Lincoln’s life in Indiana from his own personal observations as well as from those who knew him. Firsthand accounts weave stories which reveal a side of Lincoln many never knew. From Nathaniel Grigsby, an Indiana neighbor and playmate of Lincoln, to Dennis F. Hanks, Lincoln’s cousin, to William Herndon, Lincoln’s last law partner, revelations of Lincoln’s life in Indiana offer a fascinating glimpse of one of America’s greatest – yet most enigmatic – presidents.

During the course of Lincoln: The Man You Didn’t Know, several special artifacts will have a limited showing, including a copy of the Emancipation Proclamation, hand-signed by Abraham Lincoln, on loan from the Lilly Library at Indiana University, Bloomington, from September through December.

Objects on display will include:

  • An exact reproduction of Lincoln’s coffin, an original mourning ribbon, a mourning card from Lincoln’s funeral, and a glove worn by one of his pallbearers.
  • An original wooden cabinet made by Lincoln’s father.
  • A scale-model replica of Lincoln’s home in Springfield.
  • Lincoln campaign flags and a "Wide Awake" banner, a painting of Lincoln by artist Joseph Dille that was once used as a campaign poster.
  • An original invitation to Lincoln’s inaugural.
  • A plaster replica of an 1860 Volk casting of Lincoln’s face and hands,
  • Several images and photographs of Lincoln.
  • The carriage that took President and Mrs. Lincoln to Ford’s Theatre that fateful Good Friday in 1865.

The guest curator for Lincoln: The Man You Didn’t Know is Bryon C. Andreasen, Research Historian at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum in Springfield, Ill. Serving as guest curator for the exhibit area that focuses on Lincoln’s assassination is Jan Shupert-Arick, who is a graduate of Indiana University and author of the recently-published book, The Lincoln Highway Across Indiana.

A series of Lincoln-related lectures, films and theatrical performances are planned throughout the period the exhibit is on view.

The Center for History and Studebaker National Museum are open Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 5 p.m.

Admission is $12 for adults, $10 for seniors, $7 for youth ages six to 17 and free for children ages 5 and under and members.

For more information, call the Center for History at (574) 235-9664 or Studebaker National Museum at (574) 235-9714 or visit http://www.centerforhistory.org/ or http://www.studebakermuseum.org/.

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Traveling Exhibits

The Faces of Lincoln at the Merrillville/Ross Township Historical Society and Museum
The Faces of Lincoln traveling exhibit is comprised of three independent parts, Developing the Image, Creating the Image and Idealizing the Image, each an exhibit unto itself.

  • Developing the Image:
    This section of the exhibit takes a look at the history of photography using some of the best and most well-known images of Abraham Lincoln. Abraham Lincoln’s was the first photograph of a president seen by most Americans. Before the mid-19th century, images of our presidents were created in portraits, etchings and political cartoons; these formats continued to be popular in Lincoln’s time. But recent technological breakthroughs in photography also made it possible to create a “real” image on glass or paper and copy it in large numbers. Although other presidents had been photographed, most of those images were made on daguerreotypes that were not reproducible.
  • Creating the Image:
    This section investigates the ways that photographers, printmakers and cartoonists tried to influence public opinion about Lincoln by altering his appearance and by placing him in make-believe situations.
  • Idealizing the Image:
    Lincoln’s assassination instantly elevated him from man to myth. The nation was thrown into mourning and his face became a symbol of sacrifice and saintly public service. African Americans revered him as the “great emancipator” and voted the party of Lincoln for many decades. Schoolchildren studied him as an example of honesty, service to nation and sacrifice for right. His birthday, along with George Washington’s, became a national holiday, a time to celebrate the virtues associated with his name. Lincoln’s image came to represent American ideals. The federal government used Lincoln’s face on money, and others employed his name to make money for their commercial enterprises by trading on the virtues associated with Lincoln’s name and image. Today, it is difficult to separate the man from the myth.


Auto Indiana: Celebrating the Automobile in Indiana at the Goshen Historical Society
From Elwood Hayne’s early machine to today’s numerous parts manufacturers, the automobile and its role in the Hoosier state is examined in the Indiana Historical Society exhibition, Auto Indiana: Celebrating the Automobile in Indiana.

Featuring photographs and other images from the Elwood Haynes Museum, Indiana Department of Transportation and the Society’s collection, the exhibition explores the state’s prominent role in the formative stages of the automotive industry since Hayne’s first horseless carriage trip on the Pumpkinvine Pike (now Boulevard Street) in Kokomo on July 4, 1894.

Indiana has been regarded as one of the nation’s leaders in automobile production until Detroit emerged as the technological and industrial giant in the 1930s. Eighty-eight Indiana cities and towns have either had automobiles manufactured or assembled in their communities. Indianapolis is the leader in this category with more than 100 different types. Approximately 523 automobiles, trucks, motorcycles and cyclecars claimed Indiana production or assemblage.

The IHS automobile exhibition focuses on such topics as Hayne’s life and career as an inventor in Kokomo, including a look at the Haynes-Apperson Motor Wagon Works; an early effort at creating an assembly line at the Revere Motor Car Corporation plan in Logansport, Ind.; samples of the Studebaker Corporation’s advertising literature, showing the different approaches it took to sell its products; and the automobile’s effect – both positive and negative – on society.


These traveling exhibits are on loan from the Indiana Historical Society. For more information about the IHS traveling exhibit program, go to www.indianahistory.org/LHS and click on "Traveling Exhibition."

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Organizations in the News

Thousanth School Group Enjoys Fort Wayne History Center Courtesy of Heritage Education Fund
On Monday, May 26, the History Center in Fort Wayne reached an incredible milestone in its Heritage Education Fund when classes from Harrison Hill Elementary marked the 1,000th school group to enjoy the museum’s hands-on educational programs and interactive exhibits completely free of charge.

The annual Heritage Education Fund Drive was launched in 2003 when Fort Wayne Community Schools withdrew its longstanding financial support for the History Center’s school group visitation program. In the past six years, the Heritage Education fund has raised over $500,000 entirely from private sources to fully underwrite school group visitations for all K-12 public, private, parochial and home school groups from Allen, DeKalb, LaGrange, Noble and Steuben Counties in Indiana and offer significantly reduced admission fees for all other school groups from across the region.

“Our heartfelt thanks go out to the many donors, foundations, and corporations that have so generously and so frequently supported the Heritage Education Fund,” said Todd Maxwell Pelfrey, executive director of the History Center. “Their contributions have allowed us to freely share the joys of local history education with tens of thousands of children and in the process nurture a rooted, proud and caring citizenry for future generations.” 

Anyone interested in contributing to the History Center’s 2009-2010 Heritage Education Fund should contact Todd Maxwell Pelfrey at (260) 426-2882 x 311.

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Job Opportunities

National:

Object Cataloger (Summer Project) with History Associates Incorporated in Rockville, Md.
History Associates is seeking several individuals for an 11-week project to catalog 18th- and 19th-century domestic goods recovered from various archaeological digs. The work involves determining the object and material type, creating database catalog record for object using information from accession records, and marking the object with catalog number.

Individuals will be paid as temporary employees at $18 per hour. Temporary employees are not eligible for History Associates’ health benefits or paid leave.

The project will begin in mid-June and continue for 11 weeks. Work will be conducted between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday in Rockville, Md.

The ideal candidate has completed course work in archaeology, museum studies or a related field, and has an interest in working with objects. Demonstrated understanding of archaeology and/or collections management principles and experience working with objects is required. Strong organizational and communication skills (oral and written), and the ability to work with a team are preferred.

To apply, submit a letter of interest, resume and three references to:

Doris Miles
History Associates Incorporated
300 N. Stonestreet Ave.
Rockville, MD 20850
Fax: (301) 279-9224
dmiles@historyassociates.com

The deadline to apply is June 19, 2009.

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On the Internet

New Online Portal for Volunteers
This new resource was announced by First Lady Michelle Obama and the Corporation for National and Community Service.

The portal is a place where organizations can list service opportunities and individuals can find openings of interest or develop their own projects.

For more information, visit http://www.serve.gov/.

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Note from the Editor:

Do you know someone who might want to receive Communique Online? Anyone may join the mailing list by e-mailing col@indianahistory.org.

If your historical organization, genealogical society or museum has changed its address or phone number in the past six months, please send the updated information to Coordinator, Local History Services, at the above e-mail, or Eugene and Marilyn Glick Indiana History Center, 450 W. Ohio St., Indianapolis, IN 46202.

Communique Online is provided for the benefit of local historical societies and museums throughout Indiana. It is e-mailed to a subscriber list maintained by the Local History Services department of the Indiana Historical Society.

Anyone may subscribe. This is a free publication.

To be added or removed from the mailing list, simply e-mail col@indianahistory.org or call toll free (800) IHS-1830.

News releases from local societies are welcomed and may be faxed to (317) 234-0427, e-mailed to the above address or mailed to Local History Services, Indiana Historical Society, Eugene and Marilyn Glick Indiana History Center, 450 W. Ohio St., Indianapolis, IN 46202.

Please visit the IHS Local History Services Web site at www.indianahistory.org/LHS.