Indiana Historical Society - Manuscripts and Archives Department
Table of Contents
Collection Information
Historical Sketch
Scope and Content Note
Folder Listing
Cataloging Information
Processed by
Charles Latham
2 November 1994
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VOLUME OF COLLECTION: |
1 manuscript box |
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COLLECTION DATES: |
inclusive 1942-1991; bulk 1989-1991 |
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PROVENANCE: |
Mrs. Sue Baker, Greenfield IN, 28 October 1994 |
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RESTRICTIONS: |
None |
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REPRODUCTION RIGHTS: |
Permission to reproduce or publish material in this collection must be obtained in writing from the Indiana Historical society |
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ALTERNATE FORMATS |
None |
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OTHER FINDING AIDS: |
None |
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RELATED HOLDINGS: |
SC 0870, Jefferson Proving Ground Historical Collection; M 0440, Jefferson Proving Ground Records |
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ACCESSION NUMBER: |
1995.0045 |
Jefferson Proving Ground, to provide live fire testing of ammunition, was opened in preparation for World War II. Sixty thousand acres of land, stretching over parts of Ripley, Jennings, and Jefferson Counties in southern Indiana, was purchased in 1939-1940, and the base opened in May 1941. Over the years about 23 million rounds were fired there, of which about 1.4 million did not explode.
As early as 1976, defense budget cuts began to threaten the proving ground's existence. In 1989 it was targeted as one of fifteen bases to be closed during a general cutback on expenditures. Under this ruling, closure was to commence in 1991 and be completed by 1995. The conclusions of the congressional committee on base realignment and closure were generally accepted. However, Indiana Senators Richard Lugar and Dan Coats and Representative Lee Hamilton complained that the decision had been based on faulty data, particularly about the cost of decontaminating land that was loaded with unexploded ammunition. It was urged that the base should not be abandoned without a complete and expensive environmental cleanup, and that the costs of such a cleanup would far outweigh any contemplated savings.
The base itself actively fought closure, and a Jefferson Proving Ground Survival Committee was set up to give information to the press and public and to urge on its legislative advocates. Despite these efforts, the base was scheduled for closing in 1995.
Source: Materials in collection
This collection, filling one manuscript box, contains material collected by Sue Baker while preparing a history of Jefferson Proving Ground. It is arranged by category. Material falls mainly in the period 1989-1991 when efforts were being made to keep the base open.
Folders 1-8 contain material about the efforts of the JPG Survival Committee and others to set their case before Congress and the public. These efforts included correspondence with members of Congress (Folder 1), and booklets, statements, and news releases (Folders 2-4), resulting in clippings (Folders 7-8).
Also included are historical questionnaires an Report to Governor Bayh 1989d photographs (Folders 10-11), and a 1989 report to Governor Bayh about the environmental impact of closing.
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Folder |
Contents |
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1 |
Correspondence with legislators |
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2 |
Booklet, "The Cannonball Flourishes in Southern Indiana" ca 1989 |
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3 |
Mike Moore-- statement on environmental impact 1991 |
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4 |
News releases and statements |
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5 |
Attributes and capabilities report 1990 |
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6 |
IPG Bulletin 1990-1991 |
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7 |
Clippings I 1942, 1988-1991 |
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8 |
Clippings II |
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9 |
Internal base correspondence |
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10 |
(Historical questionnaires |
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11 |
(Copies of historical photographs |
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12 |
Report to Governor Bayh 1989 |
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13 |
Booklet, "Lame Gamers Ticket to JPG" n.d. |
For additional information on this collection, including a list of subject headings that may lead you to related materials: