Processed by
Elizabeth Zellers
4 December 2001
Revised 25 January 2002
Updated 18 March 2004
Manuscript and Visual Collections Department
William Henry Smith Memorial Library
Indiana Historical Society
450 West Ohio Street
Indianapolis, IN 46202-3269
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VOLUME OF |
One manuscript box; one oversize folder; two folders of photographs; and one artifact. |
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COLLECTION |
1933–1967 |
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PROVENANCE: |
Mary Gillim, 765 Bloor Lane, Zionsville, IN 46077, November 1999 |
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RESTRICTIONS: |
None |
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COPYRIGHT: |
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REPRODUCTION |
Permission to reproduce or publish material in this collection must be obtained from the Indiana Historical Society. |
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ALTERNATE |
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RELATED |
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ACCESSION |
2000.0148 |
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NOTES: |
Lionel F. Artis (1895–1 September 1971) was born in Paris, Illinois. When Artis was a young boy, his family moved to Indianapolis, where he received his early education. He served with the army during World War I and studied in Beaune, France. Afterwards, he attended Butler University before transferring to the University of Chicago. In 1933 he completed a Bachelor of Arts degree at Chicago. He received a Master of Arts degree from Indiana University in 1941.
Artis was a civic leader in Indianapolis. He served as a board member of twenty-three organizations. As assistant secretary of the Senate YMCA, Artis organized the first Boy Scout Troop at that institution. From 1937 to 1969, he managed Lockefield Gardens, a public housing facility. He was one of the organizers of Flanner House Homes. He was also involved with Meals on Wheels and Girl Scouts, Inc. Serving as a member of the old Indianapolis Board of Health and Hospitals, Artis was the first African American to be appointed to a policy-making municipal agency within the city.
Among the many organizations that Artis affiliated with were the Community Hospital Association, Community Service Council of Metropolitan Indianapolis, Inc., Indianapolis Urban League, Community Action Against Poverty, Inc., and the Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA). Artis was also a member of Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity.
Lionel Artis was awarded the Community Service Council's "Most Wanted Man" honor in 1967. That same year, B'nai B'rith Lodge 58 named him "Man of the Year." Other honors include being named honorary member of the Jewish Community Relations Council. Artis was also a life member of the Family Service Association. In 1969, Artis was awarded a sterling silver bowl from the Indianapolis Urban League and a solid gold life membership card by the Fall Creek YMCA.
Sources:
Indianapolis News, 2 September 1971, Home Edition, p. 11.
Indianapolis Star, 2 September 1971, p. 1.
Indianapolis Recorder, 11 September 1971, p. 1, 15.
The collection, contained in one manuscript box, includes correspondence, diplomas and programs from graduations, a military patch, newspaper clippings, photographs, awards, and a constitution, minute book, and some administrative documents of the Community Hospital Association. Correspondence dated 1967, contained in folder 1, pertains to job offers and letters of congratulations for awards. Folder 2 contains Artis's 1933 diploma from the University of Chicago for his Bachelor of Arts degree. Also included are an invitation and program to the 1941 Indiana University commencement ceremony and his Master of Arts diploma. There is a United States Army patch in the collection, perhaps reflecting Artis's World War I service. Lionel Artis received two public service awards during 1967. Folder 3 contains items related to the "Most Wanted Man" award ceremony, including a description of the award, newspaper clippings, and telegrams of congratulations. The collection also contains photographs from the "Most Wanted Man" award ceremony. Newspaper clippings from the 1967 Man of the Year Award ceremony are in folder 4.
Artis was the secretary of the Community Hospital Association. The hospital was established in 1932 to aid with health care services for African Americans in Indianapolis. Folder 5 contains the constitution of the association. The Community Hospital Association minute book, contained in folder 6, includes notes from the executive committee and the association meetings. The correspondence of the association, contained in folder 7, includes an inventory of supplies and equipment, and expense and donor lists. The 44th Annual Report (1967) of the Community Service Council of Metropolitan Indianapolis, Inc. is contained in the collection. There is also a photograph of A. Leon Richardson.
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CONTENTS |
CONTAINER |
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Correspondence, 1967 |
Box 1, Folder 1 |
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College Graduation |
Box 1, Folder 2 |
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World War I Patch |
Artifacts: 2000.0148 |
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"Most Wanted Man" Award |
Box 1, Folder 3 |
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Photographs from "Most Wanted Man" Award Ceremony |
Visual Collections: Manuscript Photographs, Folder 1 |
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Man of the Year Award |
Box 1, Folder 4 |
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Constitution of Community Hospital Association |
Box 1, Folder 5 |
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Community Hospital Association Minute Book |
Box 1, Folder 6 |
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Community Hospital Association Correspondence |
Box 1, Folder 7 |
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44th Annual Report of the Community Service Council of Metropolitan Indianapolis, Inc. |
OM 0401, Folder 1 |
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Photograph of A. Leon Richardson |
Visual Collections: |
For additional information on this collection, including a list of subject headings that may lead you to related materials:
1. Go to the Indiana Historical Society's online catalog: http://157.91.92.2/
2. Click on the "Basic Search" icon.
3. Select "Call Number" from the "Search In:" box.
4. Search for the collection by its basic call number (in this case, M 0762).
5. When you find the collection, go to the "Full Record" screen for a list of headings that can be searched for related materials.