Before and After Pictures: FSA Photographs and the New Deal

WHAT: Before and After Pictures: FSA Photographs and the New Deal
WHEN: Now-March 31, Tues-Sat, 10 am-5 pm & Sun, 12 pm-5 pm
WHERE: Indiana Univ. Art Museum, 1133 E. Seventh St., Bloomington
COST: Free and open to the public
INFORMATION: 812-855-5445
WEBSITE: http://www.artmuseum.iu.edu/iuam_home.php

"A showcase of a small selection of works from the IU Art Museum's holding of more than 800 Depression-era photographs."

If New Deal era artwork interests you, Indiana post offices featured federally funded murals, many of which are still extant. Most of the Post Office works of art were funded through commissions under the Treasury Department's Section of Painting and Sculpture (later known as The Section of Fine Arts) and not the WPA. For examples of these works, visit:

Post Office New Deal Artwork
http://www.wpamurals.com/indiana.htm

Hoosier History Live! Soiree

WHAT: Hoosier History Live! Second Anniversary Soiree
WHEN: Thursday, February 18, 5:00 -7:00 p.m.
WHERE: Morris-Butler House at 1204 N. Park Ave. in Indianapolis
COST: Free, RSVP to info@historiclandmarks.org

Join Hoosier History Live! on their Second Anniversary Soiree at the Morris-Butler House for birthday cake and cupcakes, History Mystery questions with prizes, and a demo of their new website with an ever-growing audio library. Hoosier History Live! is a live weekly radio adventure through Indiana history with host Nelson Price, which airs live at 11:30 a.m. each Saturday on 88.7 FM in Indianapolis.

All are welcome at this complimentary event; RSVP to info@historiclandmarks.org.

Hoosier History Live!
http://hoosierhistorylive.org/

CANDLES Museum in Terre Haute

Last November I visited the CANDLES Museum in Terre Haute. The museum is a labor of love and continually growing. Founded by Holocaust survivor Eva Mozes Kor, the museum shares the history of the Holocaust, with a focus on the Mengele Twins, children who Dr. Josef Mengele used for genetic experiments in the Auschwitz Concentration Camp. Eva and her sister Miriam were two of those twins.

I highly recommend the museum, especially on Saturdays because Eve is the docent. Arrive at 1:00 p.m. when the museum opens and she will lead you through the exhibits, detailing Holocaust history and her own experiences until the museum closes at 4:00. She is an engaging speaker and worth the $5 fee for a guided tour. For more information: http://www.candlesholocaustmuseum.org/index.php?sid=1

Lincoln at the Indiana State Museum

On February 12, the Indiana State Museum opens two Lincoln exhibits. Each exhibit shares aspects of Lincoln's life through documents, images, and artifacts from two respected Lincoln collections, including ISM's recently aquired Lincoln Finacial Foundation Collection. The Lincoln Museum in Fort Wayne, Indiana formerly housed this collection. Find more information on the website, including educational events.

EXHIBIT: With Charity for All: The Lincoln Financial Foundation
                   Collection
WHEN: Feb. 12 – July 25, 2010 (Check website for special hours)
WHERE: Indiana State Museum, 650 W. Washington St., Indianapolis, IN
COST: Included with general admission, timed tickets are required
             through April 11
INFORMATION: 317.232.1637 (for ticket reservations)
WEBSITE: http://www.indianamuseum.org/visit/exhibit/exhibitview.asp?exhibitid=25

EXHIBIT: With Malice Toward None: The Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial
                   Exhibition
WHEN: Feb. 12 – April 11, 2010 (Check website for special hours)
WHERE: Indiana State Museum, 650 W. Washington St., Indianapolis, IN
COST: Included with general admission, timed tickets are required
             through April 11
INFORMATION: 317.232.1637 (for ticket reservations)
WEBSITE: http://www.indianamuseum.org/visit/exhibit/exhibitview.asp?exhibitid=24

Learn more about African American history at the Eiteljorg

Consider visiting the Eiteljorg Museum on February 20 for Dr. Modupe Labode's presentation. She brings strong scholarship and an enjoyable style to sharing about African American history.

Explore History of African Americans in Denver

Join us at 1 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 20, for the annual Leon Jett Memorial Lecture, co-hosted by the Indiana African American Genealogy Group (IAAGG). This year's featured speaker will be Dr. Modupe Labode, assistant professor in the History and Museum Studies departments and Public Scholar of African American History and Museums at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis.

 Since the discovery of gold in 1858, African Americans came to Denver to find opportunities that were not available in other parts of the country. However, the community and their allies repeatedly struggled to stop or limit racial segregation. Labode will discuss the ways in which African Americans in the "Mile-High City" confronted segregation in the city’s schools, parks, restaurants and other public places from the late 1880s through 1940.

 This lecture is included with general museum admission for the public and is free to IAAGG members.
 Guests are welcome to stick around following the lecture to learn how they can discover their families' roots at the genealogy group's monthly meeting.
Hear a 2009 interview with Labode on EM Radio.

Find history education on Facebook

Many Indianapolis history organizations and museums now have Facebook pages, so if you keep in touch through FB look for:

History Educators Network of Indiana

Indiana State Museum

Indiana Historical Society

Historic Landmarks of Indiana Foundation

Indiana Junior Historical Society

President Benjamin Harrison Home

Conner Prairie

Indiana Council for the Humanities 

Indiana Council for the Social Studies

Indianapolis Museum of Art

Eiteljorg Museum

Morris Butler House                           

If you find more places on FB, especially in other parts of Indiana, post them as comments!

See Across-Indiana Episodes Online!

I found an Indiana history gem for the classroom. Certain episodes of Across Indiana, WFYI's Emmy Award-wining television series, are available to watch online. You can visit the Across Indiana website to choose an episode or search the archive by topic. Most episodes produced during 2000-2008 are currently available. Note: Season 12 is labeled 1997, but includes mostly episodes from 2001.

Across Indiana
http://www.wfyi.org/acrossIndiana/

I just watched this episode on Dr. Harvey Middleton, the first African American physician at Wishard Hospital (then City Hospital):
http://www.wfyi.org/acrossIndiana/segments.asp?episode=236985397

Events for African American History in Fort Wayne

WHAT: “Civil Rights Exhibit” unveiled
WHERE:  African/African American Museum
                 436 East Douglas Ave.
                 Fort Wayne
WHEN: Opens Feb 1; Tues.-Fri, 9 am to 1 pm; Sat. 12 pm to 4 pm
COST: Admission, $2.00 children $3.00 adults
INFORMATION: http://www.myblackinfo.com/african_americanfw.htm
260-420-0765


WHAT: Migration of African-Americans from Alabama to Fort Wayne,
              a lecture
WHERE: History Center, 302 E. Berry St., Fort Wayne 
WHEN: Sunday, Feb. 7, 2 to 3 p.m.
COST: Free to the public
INFORMATION: www.fwhistorycenter.com


In this presentation, Dr. Quinton Dixie traces the historical development of African-American migration from rural Alabama to Fort Wayne, Ind., through the 20th century.

Dr. Dixie is Assistant Professor of Philosophy at Indiana University-Purdue University at Fort Wayne. He is a graduate of Michigan State University and earned his Ph.D. from Union Theological Seminary. He co-edited the book "Courage to Hope: From Black Suffering to Human Redemption," which features essays on African-American religious history, religion and labor, hip-hop and spirituality, and religion and the Civil Rights Movement.

WHAT: "The Underground Railroad in Allen County," a lecture
WHERE: History Center, 302 E. Berry St., Fort Wayne
WHEN: Saturday, February 20, 2010, 2 to 3 p.m.
COST: Free to the public
INFORMATION: www.fwhistorycenter.com

The History Center and the African/African-American Historical Society and Museum will host a free lecture by Peggy Seigel. Seigel, a former English teacher who lives in Fort Wayne, has published articles on Indiana Civil War nurses, early 20th century women industrial workers and suffrage leaders, and efforts of Fort Wayne African-Americans to overcome job discrimination in the decades leading up to the 1960s civil rights movement. She serves on the boards of the History Center and the African/African-American Historical Soceity, and is a literacy tutor for the Learn United Program of United Way.