Indianapolis Business JournalDemands "Save the Archives"
The Indianapolis Business Journal has published an article calling on the State Legislature to save the Indiana State Archives. “The dilapidated building on the east side of Indianapolis where the state’s archives are stored needs to be replaced—and the sooner, the better. The risk of tornado or other calamity destroying priceless documents in a structure originally used by RCA to warehouse 8-track tapes is simply too great. “ “In the unthinkable event of a disaster, many of the documents could not be recovered.” The Journal rightfully points to the disasters that could befall the many treasures held at the Archives, including the most relevant records to Indiana residents such as Military discharge records, often the only copies left since the unfortunate fire in Saint Louis in 1973. These documents help thousands of veterans and their families gain home loans, education, medical, and burial benefits. Additionally, the Archives houses transcripts for closed nursing schools, as well as the Indiana School for the Blind and Deaf, and the Soldier’s and Sailor’s Children’s Home, and Naturalization records. The writer discusses the Archives’ move to its current location at 6440 E. 30th Street, which was originally only to be temporary, but any plans for a new building had to be put on hold during the recession. Though there were occasional environmental issues in the old location at the State Library, the Archives in its “temporary” location, are constantly at the mercy of the elements. “The ancient ventilation system spews soot-like crumbs of deteriorated insulation. And, partly because of air leaks in the building shell, humidity levels swing between 15 percent and 60 percent.” “Name a state that treats its treasured documents worse,” challenges the Journal. “Since the move, two tornados have passed menacingly close the building, in effect dodging bullets like the law-men who survived run-ins with John Dillinger, “states the Journal. The Archives holds Dillinger’s records as well as thousands of other prisoners, state hospital patients, and foster care files from the late 1800’s. Many of the indexes to these treasured collections may be searched on the Indiana Digital Archives. The Journal reminds us that the Archives celebrates its Centennial anniversary this year. What a perfect time for the legislature to tap into its surplus to ensure the safety of all records of enduring value for all Hoosiers as well as their historic legacy. The writer suggests that new Governor Mike Pence, “a history major in college, could cut the ribbon for a new facility in time for the state’s bicentennial in 2016.” It would certainly seem the perfect time for a new Archives: A new administration with an understanding for the value of history. Centennial Anniversary of the State Archives Budget Surplus 1816-2016 Statehood Bicentennial approaching
Women's History Month Exhibit Returns to the State House
INDIANAPOLIS (March 5, 2013) – The Indiana Statehouse is featuring a unique display celebrating Women’s History Month in March. Women in Indiana Who Broke Barriers was designed by the Indiana State Archives and celebrates the life and work of four women who broke gender barriers in the Hoosier State. Those featured include:
Dr. Sarah Stockton (1842-1924), the first female physician at Central State Hospital in Indianapolis;
Emma Christy Baker (1865-1955), the first African-American woman to be an officer with the Indianapolis Police Department;
Antionette Dakin Leach (1859-1922), the first woman to challenge denial of admission to the Bar based on gender; and
Lovina Streight (1830-1910), who earned her title “Mother of the Fifty-first” by accompanying the Fifty-first Indiana Volunteer Infantry at battle and nursed the sick and dying.
The Women in Indiana Who Broke Barriers will be located in the fourth-floor South Atrium of the Statehouse and may be viewed during regular public hours.
The included image, on loan from the State Museum, is of a newly-installed portrait of Lovina Streight at the Statehouse. The portrait, alongside Indiana Civil War Governor Oliver Perry Morton, can be found on fourth-floor South Atrium wall.
The NAGARA Annual Meeting will be held in Indianapolis, Indiana on July 10-13, 2013.
The session topics will include: a judicial records in the digital age track; electronic records preservation track, including an electronic records research forum; a records management track, including updates on the NARA presidential directive; poster sessions; and more! More details coming soon at NAGARA.
Friends of the Archives Annual Meeting
The Twenty-third Annual Meeting of the Friends of the State Archives will be held at noon at the Indiana State Library, Indianapolis, on Tuesday, April 9th, 2013. The luncheon speaker will be Curt Witcher. More...
Digital Archives has been named a Best State Website by Family Tree Magazine for Third Year in a Row!
December 18, 2012- America's #1 family history publication has named the Indiana Digital Archives one of the Seventy Five best State websites for the third year in a row! More...
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| The Friends of the Archives has added yet another way to keep keep up to date! We are now using a new Constant Contact Calendar. To receive reminders about the new Digital Archives as well as other Indiana digital initiatives send your email address to Connie Rendfeld at carendfeld@aol.com. The service is free, but members of the Friends of the Indiana State Archives will receive an additional bonus, as they will now have the option to receive a digital copy of the Archives Current newsletter. |
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Volunteers
are Needed to work on a variety of projects. Some of which are: Processing of Court Records Data entry and processing of Parole records, Verification of Land Office Entries Indexing and proofing of naturalization records Click here to learn more |
The Index to Historical National Guard Records is Now Available Online!
Researchers are now able to search historic records of thousands of Indiana National Guardsmen through the Indiana Digital Archives. The Indiana National Guard Collection indexes records of Hoosiers who served our nation from 1898 through 1940. The database includes the soldier's name, .... More... Jun 08, 2010 -- INDIANAPOLIS - Historians, researchers and others interested in Indiana's Civil War history can now search for specific individuals who served during the conflict through the new Indiana Civil War Soldiers Database available at the Indiana Digital Archives. The database contains over 213,000 individual records compiled by volunteers and staff from the Indiana State Archives and the Friends of the Indiana State Archives.... More... Indiana Digital Archives The Indiana State Archives is thrilled to announce our new online Digital Archive! This invaluable new resource is the result of a cooperative partnership made possible by... . More... Volunteers Receive Concurrent Resolution! For the second year in a row our volunteers have received a special concurrent House and Senate Resolution acknowledging their tremendous efforts on behalf of the Indiana State Archives. More... New Eugenics Website The Friends of the Indiana State Archives would like to announce the new website "Fit to Breed", created by IUPUI and using numerous Eugenics related documents and photos from the Indiana State Archives and the Indiana State Library. Please visit this wonderful resource on the history of Indiana Eugenics. Welcome Friends The Friends
of the Indiana State Archives, Inc., established in 1990, is a not-for-profit
organization of citizens concerned with helping the Indiana
State Archives fulfill its role as the permanent repository for official records of state
and local government in Indiana. The Friends supports the management, preservation,
and responsible use of Indiana’s public records and serves as an advocate
for the Indiana State Archives and the pursuit of suitable new building. Through enlistment of volunteers
and fundraising for special projects, the Friends is helping the Archives
reduce processing backlogs and rescue historical papers at risk from the spoilage
of time and the environment. Click
here to download the membership form. copyright
2003 Friends of the Indiana State Archives, Inc.
Civil War Records Added to the Digital Archives
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