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*          INDIANA HISTORICAL SOCIETY            *

*              COMMUNIQUE ONLINE                 *

*                  07/13/2007                    *

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Table of Contents:

 

1. TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES AND CONFERENCES        

    Incorporating Youth into Your Volunteer Programs

    Genealogical Research Online: Introductory Computer Lab

    Finding the Perfect Donors Who Love Your Mission and Stay With You for Life

2. PROGRAMS

    Mrs. Lincoln’s Strawberry Party and Civil War Style Show

    Free Vintage Base Ball Game

    Indiana & the Civil War Educator Workshop 

    Best Books of Indiana Competition Awards Ceremony

    Andrew Ferguson to Speak about "Land of Lincoln"

    Fashionable First Lady, The Victorian Wardrobe of Mary Lincoln

    Civil War Day

    Center for History Hosts Family Day at the Cabin Festival

    Danny Lerman Featured at TGIF: Music in the Gardens

    Civil War, On the Home Front

3. IHS NEWS

    2007 Indiana Living Legends Gala

4. HELP

    Center for History Seeks Material Elements of Local Hispanic Heritage

5. AWARDS

    AASLH Recognizes Seven Indiana Organizations, Individuals for Excellence in State and Local History

6. EXHIBITS

    Exhibit at Fisher’s Train Station

7. TRAVELING EXHIBITS

    "The Golden Age: Indiana Literature (1880–1920)" at Indiana Business College

    TCHA Features "One Shot: The WWII Photography of John A. Bushemi"

8. ORGANIZATIONS IN THE NEWS

    Indianapolis Museum of Contemporary Art Reopens

9. JOB OPPORTUNITIES

    Director, Putnam County Museum- Greencastle, Indiana

    Museum Administrator, Huddleston Farmhouse Museum- Cambridge City, Indiana

    Museum Education Assistant, Lake County Forest Preserves/Lake County Discovery Museum- Wauconda, Illinois

10. SAVE THE DATE

    O’Brien Preservation & Indiana Main Street Conference

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1. TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES AND CONFERENCES        

 

Incorporating Youth into Your Volunteer Programs

 

Come to Lafayette for a two-hour workshop on Incorporating Youth into Your Volunteer Programs July 17, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Location TBA.

 

For more information, contact Jillian Miller at 765-413-6049 or go to http://www.inrn.org/calendar/calendardetail.aspx?qryIDNum=-1821039665. Sponsored by the Greater Lafayette Volunteer Bureau.

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Genealogical Research Online: Introductory Computer Lab

 

The Internet is a wonderful tool for genealogy. You can find things from digitized original records to pictures of ancestral hometowns. It can also help you connect with distant cousins with whom you can share the joy of your research.

 

Learn research strategies, search techniques and methods of evaluating what you find. Attendees will discover ways to use the Internet to help with "traditional" research. Participants will have a live connection to the Internet and should have a basic knowledge of Microsoft Internet Explorer.

 

The workshop will be held at the Indiana Historical Society July 20, 10 a.m.–3 p.m.

 

This lab is presented by Amy Johnson Crow, certified genealogist. She is an author, editor, lecturer, creator of DeafBiographies.com and the co-author of “Online Roots.” She serves as third vice president and webmaster of the Ohio Genealogical Society, president of International Society of Family History Writers and Editors and is a member of APG and numerous state and county societies.

 

Only a few spots remain. Registration fee is $60; $50 IHS Members. Call 317-232-1882 or 800-447-1830 for more information.

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Finding the Perfect Donors Who Love Your Mission and Stay With You for Life

 

Stop suffering on the annual fundraising treadmill. Learn a tested and proven system to rapidly identify and cultivate the perfect major donors who love your mission—donors who will give for operations, capital and endowment. Learn how other organizations have grown their major gifts programs year after year. Engage your board without requiring that they ask for money.

 

Led by Tammy Zonker on August 8, 10 a.m.–12 p.m., at the Arthur M. Glick Jewish Community Center in Indianapolis, this session is designed for board members, executive directors, CEOs and fund development professionals. By the end of this session, you will have learned:

  • A proven system for generating a steady stream of mission-focused major donors
  • A method for converting existing donors into major donors
  • To engage your board in the fundraising process without requiring that they ask for money

 

Register soon; space is limited. You must register if you plan to attend so they can notify you if there are any changes to the session (date, time, location). Participation is free. The Arthur M. Glick Jewish Community Center is located at 6701 Hoover Road, Indianapolis.

 

To register go to http://sforce.benevon.com/intros/midwest.htm and fill out the registration form.

 

For more information, contact Alaina Szlachta at 206-709-9400 ext. 132 or alaina.szlachta@benevon.com <mailto:alaina.szlachta@benevon.com>. View the free online video, “Seventeen Minutes to Sustainable Funding,” at http://sforce.benevon.com/free_online_video.html.

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2. PROGRAMS

 

Mrs. Lincoln’s Strawberry Party and Civil War Style Show

 

First lady, Mary Todd Lincoln, was a charming and gracious hostess in her home in Springfield, Il. It was her custom to have “social” evenings when she served tea, cakes and strawberries in season. Her favorite was strawberries and cream. Mrs. Lincoln was also known for her sense of fashion during her Springfield years and especially while serving as hostess at the White House. Her socials kills were a great asset to her husband, Abraham Lincoln.

 

In keeping with the theme of the 2007 Pioneer Harvest Festival “The Civil War—On the Home Front” in August, the Wayne County Historical Museum is presenting Mrs. Lincoln’s Strawberry Party and Civil War Style Show in the museum gallery July 15 at 2 p.m.

 

Adult admission is $5; children $2.50. The Wayne County Historical Museum is located at  1150 North A St. in Richmond. For more information, call 765-962-5756.

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Free Vintage Base Ball Game

 

The Ohio County Historical Society is presenting a free 1869 vintage base ball game between the Cincinnati Buckeyes and the Cincinnati Red Stockings July 14 at 1 p.m. The game will be played on the soccer field behind the Rising Sun Ohio County Elementary-Middle School at 436 South Mulberry Street.

 

See and learn about base ball (two words in the nineteenth century) as it was played in its formative years. At the vintage game you will see gentlemanly conduct from the players (sometimes called “ballists”). Both teams will introduce themselves to the spectators before the game and will formally congratulate each other after the game.  You may see both teams shout “Huzzah” for a fine defensive play by a fielder. You may see the umpire ask a spectator, or even a player, for assistance in making a close call. You will not see players wearing gloves; they had not become popular yet.

 

It promises to be a good time for all who love the game of baseball to see how it was once played; a time before salaries went out of sight. 1869 was the year that the Cincinnati Reds became the first paid base ball team. For more information on vintage base ball check http://www.cincyvbb.com.

 

Bring your lawn chairs or blankets. The day’s game is free and is sponsored by the Ohio County Community Foundation. Proceeds from the refreshment stand benefit the Ohio County Historical Society. Food and drinks will be sold before, during and after the game. Come join us for some good old fashion summer time fun.

 

The Ohio County Historical Museum (212 S. Walnut Street, Rising Sun, Indiana, 47040) is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is located along the Ohio River Scenic By-way. Museum hours are 11 a.m.–4 p.m. Monday–Saturday, 1:30–4:30 p.m. Sunday and closed Wednesdays. Admission to the museum only is $2.50 for adults, $2.00 for senior citizens, $1 for high school students and free for members and children 12 and under. For more information about the event or museum please call Bill Dichtl at 812-438-4915.

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Indiana & the Civil War Educator Workshop 

 

Discover methods and uncover resources for teaching Indiana’s role in the Civil War at the educator's workshop on July 18, 8:30 a.m.–4 p.m. at the Indiana History Center. This workshop will feature original materials from the IHS Civil War Collections.

 

Participate in sessions covering slavery, Indiana battle flags and using historical interpreters in the classroom. Hear keynote speaker Dr. George C. Rable, winner of the Lincoln, Davis and Freeman Prizes for Civil War writing, and enjoy a performance from a living history interpreter.

 

This workshop is designed for educators of grades 8 through 12; however, all teachers are welcome.

 

The cost* for participating in the workshop is $40 for in-service educators, $25 for pre-service educators. The cost for the keynote address only is $10. To register, please call 317-233-5659 or e-mail programs@indianahistory.org <mailto:programs@indianahistory.org>.

 

*Workshop cost includes lunch, keynote address and a copy of the new IHS “Indiana & the Civil War” educator curriculum packet ($29.99 retail value).

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Best Books of Indiana Competition Awards Ceremony

 

On July 19, the Indiana Center for the Book will host the third annual Best Books of Indiana competition awards ceremony. The ceremony includes presentation of awards, announcement of the "Best Book" in each category, reception with light refreshments and book signings/sales. The Indiana Historical Bureau is handling sales for the event and will offer special pricing (cash and checks only).

 

Best Books of Indiana is a state book awards competition begun by the Indiana Center for the Book to renew interest in Indiana's strong literary heritage and to highlight Indiana's ongoing literary successes. Books by Indiana authors or about Indiana, published between January 1 and December 31 of the previous year, are eligible. The 2007 ceremony honors books published in 2006.

 

This year's finalists are (in alphabetical order by title within category):

 

FICTION

"Love in a Small Town," by Betty Jo Schuler (Hard Shell Word Factory)

"Tainted," by JD Phillips (Art in the Heartland)

"Triple Cross," by Kit Ehrman (Poisoned Pen Press)

 

NON-FICTION

"Getting Open: The Unknown Story of Bill Garrett and the Integration of College Basketball," by Tom Graham and Rachel Graham Cody (Atria Books)

"The Nature Conservancy's Guide to Indiana Preserves." Photographs by Christopher Jordan and Ron Leonetti (Quarry Books)

"Painting Indiana II: The Changing Face of Agriculture," by Indiana Plein Air Painters Association, Inc. and Center for Agricultural Science & Heritage, Inc. (Quarry Books)

 

POETRY

"Cross this Bridge at a Wall," by Jared Carter (Wind Publications)

 

CHILDREN/YOUNG ADULT

"Evie Finds Her Family Tree," by Ashley B. Ransburg (Indiana Historical Society Press)

"Georgie's Moon," by Chris Woodworth (Farrar, Straus, and Giroux)

"The Soldier's Friend: A Life of Ernie Pyle," by Ray E. Boomhower (Indiana Historical Society Press)

 

The ceremony will be held July 19 from 3 p.m.–4:30 p.m., at the Indiana State Library, 2nd Floor Indiana Authors Room, 140 N. Senate Ave. Indianapolis, IN 46202

 

The State Library is located at the corner of Ohio St. and Senate Ave. in downtown Indianapolis. Visitors may enter at either the 140 N. Senate Ave. entrance or at the 315 W. Ohio St. entrance.

 

Free parking is available until 5 p.m. in the Indiana Historical Society parking lot just west and north of the library. The lot is on the south side of New York Street, and the exit code will be available at the ceremony. The ceremony is free and open to the public. RSVP to Martha Ringel at mringel@library.in.gov <mailto:mringel@library.in.gov> or 317-232-3696 is appreciated.

 

The Indiana Center for the Book is a program of the Indiana State Library and an affiliate of the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress. The Indiana Center for the Book promotes interest in reading, writing, literacy, libraries and Indiana's literary heritage by sponsoring events and serving as an information resource at the state and local level. The Center supports both the professional endeavors and the popular pursuits of Indiana's residents toward reading and writing. To learn more, visit us online at: www.statelib.lib.in.us/www/isl/incb/icb.html.  

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Andrew Ferguson to Speak about "Land of Lincoln"

 

A respected Washington reporter and editor, Andrew Ferguson recently embarked on a coast-to-coast tour of America to understand how we commemorate, adore and sometimes loathe Abraham Lincoln. His resulting book, "Land of Lincoln: Adventures in Abe’s America," is a hilarious yet poignant look at Lincoln's place in America and the surprising ways in which his personality, philosophy and mythology pervade our culture.

 

Ferguson will make his presentation July 25, 6:30–8:30 p.m. in the Mary O'Brien Gibson Board Room of the Indiana History Center. The event is free. Walk-ins are welcome, but reservations are requested. Call 317-232-1882 or 800-447-1830 to reserve a seat.

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Fashionable First Lady, The Victorian Wardrobe of Mary Lincoln

 

First lady, Mary Todd Lincoln, was praised by some for her stylish wardrobe and criticized by others for its expense. Donna McCreary, friend of The Lincoln Museum and Mary Lincoln presenter, has authored a new book, "Fashionable First Lady, The Victorian Wardrobe of Mary Lincoln." She will discuss the book and offer a visual presentation at the museum on July 26 at 7 p.m. McCreary is also the author of "Lincoln’s Table," a cookbook about the Lincolns.

 

A book signing will follow the presentation. "Fashionable First Lady, The Victorian Wardrobe of Mary Lincoln" may be purchased at The Lincoln Museum Store or on line at http://www.TheLincolnMuseum.org. If you are unable to attend the lecture, you may order a signed copy of the book on line in advance.

 

Members of The Lincoln Museum are admitted free of charge. General admission is $4.99; seniors $3.99. Sponsored by The Friends of The Lincoln Museum and the Boscia Family Foundation.

 

The Lincoln Museum will also be featuring "First Ladies and Fashion: Featuring the Work of Arnold Scaasi." This celebration of the style of Scaasi, favorite 20th-century designer for numerous first ladies, opens November 19 and continues through February 18, 2008.

 

The Lincoln Museum is located at the corner of Clinton and Berry Streets in downtown Fort Wayne. The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m.–5 p.m., and Sunday, 1 p.m.–5 p.m. General admission is $4.99, seniors and children (5–12 years old) $3.99.  The Lincoln Museum also features one of the largest museum stores in northeastern Indiana. Shop online at http://www.TheLincolnMuseum.org. Call 260-455-3864 for additional information.

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Civil War Day

 

Come to the Indiana History Center for an exciting line-up of Civil War activities July 27, 10 a.m.–3 p.m. Muster in and be drilled by a Civil War re-enactor on the Canal, view a first-person interpretation of “Billy Yank: A Hoosier Soldier” by Kevin Stonerock, design your own regimental flag to take home, vote for your favorite Civil War officer and create your own Civil War monument.

 

Cost is $2 per participant with advance registration; $3 per walk-in participant. For more information or to register, please call 317-232-1882.

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Center for History Hosts Family Day at the Cabin Festival

 

A look at the interior of the Navarre Cabin is offered to the public at Family Day at the Cabin, being presented by the Northern Indiana Center for History from noon–4 p.m. on July 29. This year, Family Day at the Cabin has been selected to be part of South Bend City Celebration 2007, a year-long festival of events and programs held on the 29th of every month to showcase all that our community has to enjoy. The Navarre Cabin, located in Leeper Park, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It was built c.1820 by Pierre Navarre, considered to be the first European to permanently settle in St. Joseph County. Suggested donation is $3.

 

During Family Day at the Cabin, participants can visit with "Pierre Navarre" and learn about crafts, cooking, recreation, trades and period dress in the early 1800s. Costumed interpreters will give a guided tour of the Navarre Cabin and talk about Pierre Navarre, his wife Angelique and their children. Visitors can purchase items at the "trading post."

 

Pierre Navarre was an educated man of French descent who came from Monroe, MI, in 1820 as an agent of the American Fur Company. Begun in 1808 by John Jacob Astor, the company competed with the great fur trading companies in Canada. Navarre’s arrival in South Bend and the establishment of the first trading post on the St. Joseph River prepared the way for the founding of Southhold, later to become South Bend. Navarre married a Potawatomi woman named Angelique Kechoueckouay. The couple had ten children, all of whom lived in the cabin.

 

In conjunction with the Potawatomi Greenhouses and Conservatories, the Historic Preservation Commission has restored the Herb Garden in Leeper Park East, in close proximity to the Navarre Cabin. The garden has been planted with herbs such as dill, marjoram, sage, thyme and others that would have appropriate for the pioneer period. Herbs raised in the 1820s would have been used in food preparation and preservation, and will be interpreted as a kitchen garden at Family Day at the Cabin.

 

For more information, call 574-235-9664 or visit http://www.centerforhistory.org. For information about other South Bend City Celebration events, call 235-9798 or 235-9951 or visit http://www.SBCityCelebration.com.

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Danny Lerman Featured at TGIF: Music in the Gardens

 

Danny Lerman takes center stage at TGIF: Music in the Gardens, 5–8:30 p.m. on August 3. The summertime event is co-hosted by the Center for History and 88.1 WVPE Public Radio. Admission is $5, and tickets may be purchased at the gate. Sponsors are Barnes & Thornburg, the Center for Hospice and Palliative Care and NIPSCO.

 

Danny Lerman’s music is infused with rap rhythms, vocal spice and world-beat flavoring all merging into a Lermanesque panache. He has toured extensively throughout the United States, including Sweet Basil’s in New York’s Greenwich Village, Chicago’s legendary Backroom and the Baked Potato in Los Angeles. In the USA Danny’s CD, "Danny’s Island," reached the top 30 on the Contemporary Jazz R&R chart, and the single, "You Take My Breath Away," reached #1 on Chicago’s largest urban music station WGCI.

 

TGIF guests are invited to bring lawn chairs or blankets. Food and beverages will be sold. No carry-in foods or beverages are permitted. The event will be held rain or shine.

 

Corporate tables are available for $350 and include eight tickets, seating under tent, a cheese and fruit tray, plus four bottles of wine. Reservations are required for tables. For information, contact Karen Shirk at 574-235-9664, ext. 230.

 

The lush grounds of Copshaholm provide a perfect setting for TGIF. Copshaholm is the 1896 home built for industrialist J. D. Oliver and his family. The mansion’s surrounding 2 ½ acres of gardens, in full bloom at this time of year, offer a fragrant backdrop to the evening of music.

 

For information, contact the Center for History at 574-235-9664 or WVPE 88.1 Radio at 574-674-9873 or visit http://www.centerforhistory.org or http://www.wvpe.org.

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Civil War, On the Home Front

 

For three years, the Pioneer Days Festival in Wayne County has had a different theme for its entertainment and exhibits. This year the events of the Civil War, 1861-65, especially in Wayne County and Indiana, will be commemorated August 24–26.

 

The events will begin August 24 at 5:30 p.m. with the annual Chuck Wagon dinner featuring Civil War-era food. The Ohio River Minstrels will provide entertainment for the evening with music of the time period, and participants will also hear interesting stories of Civil War people.

 

The Festival days are August 25-26. New exhibits in the museum and interpreters in historic areas, interesting vendors, children’s games and activities, rides in the Tally Ho party wagon, musical entertainment, speakers and more are among the activities of the festival. On the morning of August 26, a religious service will be held in the tent. Rev. James Orr will lead the service, and songs and spirituals of the period will be sung.

 

For more information, contact the Wayne County Historical Museum at 765-962-5756.

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3. IHS NEWS

 

2007 Indiana Living Legends Gala

 

Each year, the Indiana Historical Society honors extraordinary Hoosiers for their statewide and national accomplishments in a variety of areas and disciplines. The Living Legends event also serves as a fundraising event that assists the Indiana Historical Society in fulfilling its mission to be Indiana’s Storyteller™ by providing programs and resources throughout the state. In addition to generous corporate sponsorship from partners OneAmerica Financial Partners, Inc. and Fifth Third Bank, individuals and companies are invited to support the IHS mission by attending the event.  This year's event will be held July 20 at 6 p.m. (5:30 p.m. patron reception).

 

This year’s honorees were selected in October 2006 from more than 150 nominations by a committee of civic and corporate leaders, volunteers and IHS trustees. Brent Eckhart, an IHS trustee, and Rob Wynne, a partner with Baker & Daniels LLP, are the co-chairs of the Indiana Living Legends 2007 event.

 

Honorees for 2007 include Kenneth “Babyface” Edmonds, Anton H. “Tony” George, Sandi Patty and Randall Tobias.

 

Cost to attend the Gala is $250 per person/$2,500 table of 10; patron reception $350 per person/$3,500 table of 10. For additional information or to receive an invitation, please contact the IHS Development Department at 317-233-6578.

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4. HELP

 

Center for History Seeks Material Elements of Local Hispanic Heritage

 

The Center for History, in partnership with the Hispanic Heritage Initiative (HHI) Committee, is seeking clothing, photographs, household objects, recipes, tools, newspaper clippings, publications, photographs, art, crafts and other items that will help tell the story of the local Hispanic heritage. The items will be used for an exhibit that will open at the museum on September 15, in celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month. Following the exhibit, the artifacts will be preserved with the Center for History collections and used for education and research. Individuals who would like additional information or have items that would like to give or loan to the Center for History for the exhibit may call 574-235-9664, ext. 264.

 

The initiative to systematically record and preserve the history of the Hispanic culture in the St. Joseph River Valley region was officially launched at the Center for History on June 28. The Center for History has long recognized the importance of preserving and celebrating the community’s diverse ethnic heritage—a heritage that includes the history, traditions and customs of many cultures. The Hispanic Heritage Initiative was created to collect and preserve the unique history of the local Hispanic community.

 

The story of the St. Joseph River Valley is one of vibrant cultures and heritages which, together, have cultivated its land, worked in its industries, provided leadership to its institutions and given texture to its daily life. As thousands of immigrants settled in this region over the decades, they simultaneously learned the language and customs of their new community while proudly holding fast to the traditions of their own homelands. The history of the area is indeed one of the people who have lived here, whether for one year or for one hundred years. As keeper of the community’s memory and its main source for preserving the past, the Center for History celebrates the community’s diverse ethnic heritage. Through its efforts to collect, preserve, interpret, exhibit and teach, the museum is dedicated to the study of the myriad cultures comprising the community. The Center for History sees itself as the community’s gathering place for the collections, activities and traditions of these cultures.

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5. AWARDS

 

AASLH Recognizes Seven Indiana Organizations, Individuals for Excellence in State and Local History

 

The American Association for State and Local History recognized seven Indiana organizations or individuals for their contributions to state and local history in its 2006 Leadership in History Awards.

 

Among the recipients was the Carroll County Wabash and Erie Canal Association, which was given the Albert B. Corey Award for excellence by a volunteer-operated historical organization. The Albert B. Corey Award recognizes primarily volunteer-operated historical organizations that best display the qualities of vigor, scholarship and imagination in their work. For more than three decades, the

Canal Association has worked to preserve the story of the Wabash and Erie Canal by purchasing land for the Canal Park, relocating and restoring historic buildings, creating walking trails and dredging the canal. The Canal Conference and Interpretive Center opened in 2003 offering meetings space, exhibits and interactive programs. The center is free and open to the public.

 

Other recipients include Conner Prairie Museum for the Opening Doors Visitor Engagement Initiative; Historic Landmarks Foundation of Indiana for the public program, Archicamp; The Honorable Randall T. Shepard for outstanding contributions for the preservation and promotion of the history of Indiana; the Indiana Historical Society for the exhibit, "Soul and Funk: The Naptown Sound"; the Indiana Historical Society Press for "The Hoosier Genealogist"; and the Indiana Supreme Court for the program, Courts in the Classroom: Antebellum Slave Cases.

 

To learn more about the Corey Award or AASLH's Awards Program, go to http://www.aaslh.org.

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6. EXHIBITS

 

Exhibit at Fisher’s Train Station

 

A new permanent exhibit detailing the history of Indiana rail travel has been installed in the Fisher's Train Station's welcome center. The exhibit features photographs from the Indiana Historical Society and information about Fisher's railroad history. The train station is located at 11601 Municipal Drive in the Fishers town center complex.

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7. TRAVELING EXHIBITS

 

"The Golden Age: Indiana Literature (1880–1920)" at Indiana Business College

 

The Indiana Business College, 8150 Brookville Road in Indianapolis, is playing host  to the traveling exhibit "The Golden Age: Indiana Literature (1880–1920)." Drawn from collections at the Indiana Historical Society, Indiana State Library and Indiana University's Lilly Library, the exhibition explores what came to be known as the "Golden Age of Indiana Literature," a time period in which Hoosier authors achieved both national prominence and popular acclaim. Indiana writers in the late-19th and early-20th centuries catered to readers who preferred writing that idealized traditional values or offered escape from an ever-changing world. A 1947 study found that Hoosier authors ranked second to New York in the number of best-sellers produced in the previous 40 years. The exhibition examines some of the many writers who contributed to the state's literary golden age, but concentrates on the lives and careers of four individuals who loomed large during this period—George Ade, Meredith Nicholson, Booth Tarkington and James Whitcomb Riley.

 

This traveling exhibit is on loan from the Indiana Historical Society and will be on display at IBC through August 6. For more information about the IHS traveling exhibit program, go to http://www.indianahistory.org/LHS and click on “Traveling Exhibition.”

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TCHA Features "One Shot: The WWII Photography of John A. Bushemi"

 

The Tippecanoe County Historical Society will open the traveling exhibit "One Shot: The WWII Photography of John A. Bushemi" next week. John A. Bushemi was a good-natured, talented photographer from Gary who covered several of the island invasions during World War II in the Pacific. This traveling exhibit features reproductions of Bushemi’s photographs “from a rifle’s length vantage point,” according to his colleague and fellow war correspondent Merle Miller. Among the magazine covers and personal photographs from Bushemi’s assignment to “YANK,” the weekly magazine written by and for enlisted men, are images of soldiers training at Fort Braggs, soldiers on the beach of Entiwok Island in the Marshalls awaiting the order to attack and close-up portraits of soldiers who were featured in a “YANK” article about the battle for New Georgia.

 

Bushemi died February 19, 1944, when shrapnel from Japanese knee-mortar shells hit and mortally wounded the photographer. As navy surgeons frantically attempted to save Bushemi’s life, the photographer gave his epitaph, telling Miller “Be sure to get those pictures back to the office.” Images of both his battleship funeral service and his funeral service back home in Gary are included in the exhibit.

 

This traveling exhibit is on loan from the Indiana Historical Society and will be on display at the TCHA from July 16 through August 15. For more information about the IHS traveling exhibit program, go to www.indianahistory.org/LHS and click on “Traveling Exhibition.”

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8. ORGANIZATIONS IN THE NEWS

 

Indianapolis Museum of Contemporary Art Reopens

 

The Indianapolis Museum of Contemporary Art will reopen July 13 after the conclusion of three-months of work. During the museum's closing, walls were built to block light coming in from the front windows. Plans for continued improvements include replacing the fluorescent lighting and adding offices in the gallery. These changes are part of Executive Director Kathy Nagler's plans for the organization to meet museum standards.

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9. JOB OPPORTUNITIES

 

Director, Putnam County MuseumGreencastle, Indiana

 

The Putnam County Museum of Greencastle seeks a dynamic leader to guide the museum through its next phase of growth. The Putnam County Museum collects, preserves and interprets the natural, historical and cultural heritage of the county and its people through education, exhibits and programming. The museum was founded in 2000, opened in 2003 and moved to a 7,000-square-foot facility in 2006 with an annual attendance of 3,000. The museum currently hosts several changing exhibits: one history, three art and four community-curated exhibits each year. Visit www.co.putnam.in.us/Museum <www.co.putnam.in.us/Museum> for more information.

 

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Director plans and directs all museum activities and operations; is responsible for the museum’s educational direction, collections, interpretation, exhibition, acquisitions and donations and attendant programs in accordance with the museum’s mission; supports all fundraising activities, i.e. capital campaigns; endowment campaigns; writes grant; manages museum financial planning and recordkeeping, including the gift shop; supervises staff and volunteers; recommends policies for board approval and administers approved policies; maintains ethical and legal compliance with applicable laws and regulations; serves as a museum spokesperson in public venues by authoring press releases and newsletter articles, and providing updated content for the museum website; endeavors to comply with established museum best practices and standards; staffs all committees and chairs the exhibits committee; and other duties and responsibilities as needed.

 

Education, Experience and Qualifications:

  • Bachelor’s degree required, master’s preferred, in museum studies, public history, history, art history, anthropology or a related field. 
  • Comparable years of direct experience considered. 
  • Knowledge of Putnam County and American history is a plus.
  • Good written and oral communication skills a must. 
  • Capability in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook and PastPerfect computer programs are a plus. 
  • Willingness to maintain and build community support for the museum through public speaking and volunteer recruitment

 

Benefits:

  • Part-time to full-time position, depending on availability and qualifications.
  • Other benefits include personal time, holidays and paid opportunities for professional development such as attendance at annual meetings and workshops of related professional associations.

 

How to Apply: 

Send cover letter, resume and three professional references to Putnam County Museum—Hiring Committee, 1105 N. Jackson St., Greencastle, IN  46135. 765-653-8419. Review will begin August 1.

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Museum Administrator, Huddleston Farmhouse MuseumCambridge City, Indiana

 

Historic Landmarks Foundation of Indiana is seeking an individual to administer the Huddleston Farmhouse Inn Museum, a property associated with the settlement of eastern Indiana and development of the National Road. Responsibilities include creating and implementing educational and public programs, providing tours, maintaining the property and the artifact collection, budgeting and fund raising, securing public support and volunteers and assistance with development of the new National Road Interpretive Center. Pay will be based on education and previous work experience; housing is available on the property. Qualifications include a bachelor’s degree in history or a related field, knowledge of museum practices, three years’ museum work experience and speaking and writing skills. Applicants should send (or e-mail) a letter and resume by August 15 to Wayne Goodman, Director, Eastern Regional Office, Historic Landmarks Foundation, P.O. Box 284, Cambridge City, IN 47327.

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Museum Education Assistant, Lake County Forest Preserves/Lake County Discovery Museum—Wauconda, Illinois

 

The Lake County Discovery Museum's Education Assistant position is designed to give candidates an opportunity to work within the visitor services division of a nationally accredited museum. Areas of focus are museum education, public programming, summer camp, front desk/museum store staffing and working with volunteers. Qualified applicants should have experience working with children in an informal educational environment. This could include museums, libraries, day care, summer camp, park districts, living history sites, etc. A minimum of two years of college course work in education, history, museum studies or related field is required. This is a paid position with an hourly rate of $10/hr. Discounted housing is available. This is a temporary position from September 2007-August 2008.

 

The Lake County Discovery Museum is a nationally accredited museum and a department of the Lake County Forest Preserve District. Museum exhibits focus primarily on its collections that include the Lake County history archives and the world-renowned Curt Teich postcard archives. Special exhibitions also allow the museum to explore a variety of subjects, including popular culture. Additional information about the museum may be found at www.lakecountydiscoverymuseum.org.

 

Interest in Forest Preserve employment can be indicated by submitting a resume or completed Forest Preserve employment application. Applications are available at www.LCFPD.org and Lake County Forest Preserve District, Human Resources Department, 2000 N. Milwaukee Avenue, Libertyville, IL  60048, 847-367-6640, and must be returned by July 27, 2007.

 

Applications are accepted only for posted positions. Complete a job interest card for other positions for which you are interested. The card will be kept on file for six months pending an opening and will be mailed to you should an opening occur.

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10. SAVE THE DATE

 

O’Brien Preservation & Indiana Main Street Conference

 

The Cornelius O'Brien Historic Preservation & Indiana Main Street Annual Conference will be held in Richmond, Indiana October 18-20. This year's theme is Downtown, Preservation and All That Jazz, and the conference will feature a new format. For more information about the conference or to register, go to www.in.gov/dnr/historic/obrien.html.

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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 Katherine Dill, Coordinator, Local History Services, at kdill@indianahistory.org <mailto:kdill@indianahistory.org> or 450 W. Ohio St., Indianapolis, IN 46202.

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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 Katherine Dill, Coordinator, Local History Services Office, Indiana Historical Society. Anyone may subscribe. This is a free publication. To be added or removed from the mailing list, simply e-mail kdill@indianahistory.org <matilto:kdill@indianahistory.org> or call toll free 1-800-IHS-1830. 

 

News releases from local societies are welcomed and may be faxed to 317-234-0427, E-mailed to the above address, or s-mailed to Local History Services, Indiana Historical Society, 450 W. Ohio Street, Indianapolis, IN 46202.

 

Please visit the IHS Local History Services web site at www.indianahistory.org/lhs.

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