Talking Hoosier History

The beautiful Saint Mary Catholic Church in downtown Indianapolis is made of stone and stained glass, sure. But the most important material used by German immigrant and architect Herman Gaul was love. The building design was a present to Father Anthony Scheideler, pastor at St. Mary, who introduced Herman to his wife, who just happened to be named Mary. This new episode of Talking Hoosier History is voiced by Justin Clark, written by Jill Weiss Simins, edited by Dr. Michella Marino and produced by A.J. Chrapliwy. A transcript, show notes, and more information on this episode is available at the THH website: https://podcast.history.in.gov/.

For many, French Lick Valley was an idyllic retreat and recreational wonderland. But for Black residents, the Valley was a hotbed of violence and intimidation in the early 1900s. Many had moved to the area from the South to work in the hospitality business. The local community responded to their presence with a series of threatening letters and bombings. While these efforts succeeded in driving out some Black residents, those who remained opened businesses and established recreational opportunities. In this new episode of Talking Hoosier History, we explore the resilience of Black French Lick residents despite contending with displacement, vandalism, violence, and eventually the organized efforts of the Klan. This episode of Talking Hoosier History is voiced by Justin Clark, written by Nicole Poletika, and produced by A.J. Chrapliwy. A transcript, show notes, and more information on this episode is available at the THH website: https://podcast.history.in.gov/.

On May 28, 1904, Chinese immigrants Moy Kee and Chin Fung hosted Chinese imperial royalty at their Indianapolis chop suey restaurant. Prince Pu Lun, the rumored heir to the Qing Dynasty's imperial throne, was so impressed by the luncheon that he elevated Moy to Mandarin of the Fifth Rank, a prestigious Chinese social status. But how did Moy Kee, an immigrant from the Guangdong Province, end up hosting Chinese royalty? How did he gain so much influence in Indianapolis during the height of Chinese exclusion and Sinophobia? The story is a fascinating one that raises an even deeper questions that the United States still wrestles with today: What does it mean to be an American citizen? And who gets to be a citizen and who doesn't? This new episode of Talking Hoosier History is voiced by Justin Clark, written by Kelsey Green, and produced by A.J. Chrapliwy. A transcript, show notes, and more information on this episode is available at the THH website: https://podcast.history.in.gov/.

Why would an average Hoosier leave his family and friends, his hometown and farm, not to mention comfort and safety, to answer President Lincoln's call for troops in 1861? What would inspire a citizen soldier to risk making the ultimate sacrifice?   The battlefield letters of Ossian (Wells County, Indiana) farmer-turned-Lieutenant-Colonel William Swaim to his beloved wife Hannah address those questions. And the answer may come as a surprise to those who have argued that the average Hoosier soldier did not understand the ideological causes of the Civil War.   Learn about Swaim's leadership of the 34th Regiment Indiana Volunteers (“Morton's Rifles”), as well as his sacrifice for his moral convictions through the latest episode of Talking Hoosier History.   Written by Jill Weiss Simins, voiced by Justin Clark, and produced by A.J. Chrapliwy. A transcript, shownotes, and more information on this episode is available at the THH website: https://podcast.history.in.gov/. 

In September of 1903, Fred Rohrer and his family awoke to the sound of explosions in their living room, as an unknown figured attempted to kill them by dynamiting the residence. Instantly, Rohrer knew that his leadership role within Berne, Indiana's Temperance campaign was the assailant's motive.. With the use of the Berne Witness, Rohrer helped solidify Indiana's role in the national fight for Prohibition. In this new episode of Talking Hoosier History, learn about the way the Temperance Movement shaped grassroots organizing within Indiana as we discuss Rohrer's unwavering commitment to the cause through the lens of his newspaper. Written by Emily McGuire, hosted by Justin Clark, and produced by A.J. Chrapliwy. A transcript, show notes, and more information on this episode is available at the THH website: https://podcast.history.in.gov/. 

In 2015, Mayor Pete Buttigieg of South Bend announced in a South Bend Tribune op-ed that he was gay, making him Indiana's first openly gay mayor. Four decades before Buttigieg's announcement, the city reportedly outlawed same-sex dancing. In 1974, Gloria Frankel and her gay club, The Seahorse Cabaret, withstood police harassment, challenged regulations against LGBT individuals, and endured a firebombing. In this episode of Talking Hoosier History, we explore the fight for gay rights in the Michiana area and the intrepid woman who lead the charge. Written by Nicole Poletika and voiced by Justin Clark. Produced by A.J. Chrapliwy. A transcript, show notes, and more information on this episode is available at the THH website: https://podcast.history.in.gov/.  

As we pass the elusive Telsa Cybertruck, we're reminded of Studebaker's innovative electric cars produced in the early 20th century.   The South Bend manufacturer's electric cars became a mainstay of the company, providing vehicles for personal use as well as transport. They were also marketed in a unique way. Studebaker focused on city businessmen, and especially society women, as the premier customers for electric cars. While gas-powered cars became the company's focus by 1912, Studebaker's innovative designs and skillful presentation nevertheless made their electric cars more than a mere fad. They showed the country that electric cars could be made cost-effectively and provide customers with a reliable, affordable means of personal transportation.   Written and voiced by Justin Clark. Produced by Jill Weiss Simins. A transcript, show notes, and more information on this episode is available at the THH website: https://podcast.history.in.gov/. 

The P-47 Thunderbolt is considered one of the most important fighter-bombers used by Allied Forces in World War II. Thunderbolts flew over half a million missions and are renowned by pilots for their durability and reliability.  Over one-third of all Thunderbolts were built at the Republic Aviation plant in Evansville. Notably, nearly half of the plant's employees were women. Known as “Raiderettes,” they worked alongside male workers and boasted a variety of jobs including on the assembly lines, in the administrative offices, and even as test pilots. Many of the women were “two-job workers,” balancing 14-hour shifts at Republic with raising children while their partners fought overseas. Our new blog post examines the lived experiences of the Raiderettes and how they navigated being women workers in a “man's” world, pushing against and often breaking the glass ceiling in the process. This episode was written by Kelsey Green, produced by Jill Weiss Simins, and performed by Justin Clark. For show notes, sources, and links to more information visit the Talking Hoosier History homepage: https://podcast.history.in.gov/  

In this episode of Talking Hoosier History, we'll meet radical organizer Theodore Luesse, who agitated for relief measures during the Great Depressions. His actions culminated in a sentence at the notorious State Penal Farm in Putnamville, where he ran for governor on the Communist ticket. Luesse's sentence increased Hoosiers' interest in communist ideals and ignited a series of social protests, ultimately modernizing Indiana government and cultivating a new generation of organizers, who demanded more from their government. Written by Nicole Poletika. Performed by Justin Clark. Produced by Jill Weiss Simins. A transcript of this episode is available at the THH website: https://podcast.history.in.gov/. Notes and sources: https://blog.history.in.gov/the-agitator-theodore-luesse-takes-on-the-great-depression/ Images accessed Newspapers.com.

In this short episode of Talking Hoosier History, we'll learn about Hoosier fighter Ray Bronson, who rocked the boxing world during the early 20th century. A horseshoe fitter-turned-welterweight champion, Bronson's considerable wins, international bouts, and successful management of other boxers put him a cut above most fighters. Written and performed by Justin Clark. Produced by Jill Weiss Simins. A transcript of this episode is available at the THH website: https://podcast.history.in.gov/. Notes and sources: https://blog.history.in.gov/the-agitator-theodore-luesse-takes-on-the-great-depression/. Image courtesy Library of Congress.  

In this short episode of Talking Hoosier History, we'll learn about labor organizer Mary "Mother" Jones's political partnership with John W. Kern, the U.S. Senator from Indiana, and how their alliance represented a real shift in attitudes regarding organized labor during the Progressive Era. Written and Performed by Justin Clark. Produced by Jill Weiss Simins. A transcript of this episode is available at the THH website: https://podcast.history.in.gov/. Notes and sources: https://blog.history.in.gov/the-guardian-angel-and-the-hoosier-senator-the-political-alliance-of-mother-jones-and-john-w-kern/ Images courtesy Library of Congress.

In this episode of Talking Hoosier History, we'll explore the mayoral career of “Nixon's Favorite Mayor,” future U.S. Senator Richard G. Lugar. Learn more about Mayor Lugar's controversial city-consolidation plan known as Unigov, how Lugar attracted the attention of the sitting president, and how Nixon's 1972 visit to Indiana jumpstarted Lugar's national career. Written by Kelsey Green and performed by Justin Clark. Produced by Jill Weiss Simins. 

In this short episode of Talking Hoosier History, we'll discuss the Mexican bracero workers who came to Indiana during WWII, how Hoosiers welcomed them (or didn't), and how the braceros helped the U.S. meet wartime agricultural needs. We'll also get a glimpse of how the Bracero Program established immigration patterns that remain relevant today. Written and produced by Jill Weiss Simins. Performed by Justin Clark. A transcript of this episode is available at the THH website: https://podcast.history.in.gov/. Notes and sources: https://blog.history.in.gov/braceros-in-the-corn-belt-part-two/. Image: Dorthea Lange, Braceros, photograph, ca. 1942, accessed Online Archive of California.

In this episode of Talking Hoosier History, we'll explore how patriotism comes in different forms through a proud moment in Indiana queer history. At the 1991 Gay Pride Celebration on the Circle, protestors stormed the stage just as the Indianapolis Men's Chorus was getting ready to perform. Join us to learn how the Men's Chorus defused the tension using only their voices! Written by Dr. Michella Marino and performed by Justin Clark. Produced by Jill Weiss Simins. A transcript of this episode is available at the THH website: https://podcast.history.in.gov/. Notes and sources: https://bit.ly/2KzYzbt.

In this episode of THH, we'll meet the Hungarian immigrants who created a thriving community in Terre Haute. Forced to take low paying and dangerous jobs, they unionized to improve conditions. Designated “alien enemies” during WWI, these newcomers worked for citizenship in the face of persecution. Written and produced by Jill Weiss Simins. Performed by Justin Clark. Transcript available at the THH website: https://podcast.history.in.gov/. Notes and sources: https://bit.ly/3LlzcrC.

In this episode of Talking Hoosier History, we'll learn about the German-immigrant roots of Hook's Drug Stores, the company's early policy of desegregation and advancement of Black employees, and how the company aimed to protect its customers through drug awareness campaigns. We've also got some fun soundbites from 1980s Hook's commercials that might bring you back! Written and performed by Justin Clark. Produced by Jill Weiss Simins. A transcript of this episode is available at the THH website: https://podcast.history.in.gov/. Notes and sources: https://bit.ly/45t59pN  

In this episode of Talking Hoosier History, we visit the estate of writer George Ade where William Howard Taft launched his presidential campaign and changed politics forever. Learn about how campaigning has evolved, the origin of the “sound bite,” and Hoosier politician Samuel M. Ralston. Written and produced by Jill Weiss Simins. Performed by Justin Clark. Transcript available at the THH website: https://podcast.history.in.gov/. Notes and sources: https://blog.history.in.gov/1908-taft-rally/.

Welcome to the first episode of the 2023 season of Talking Hoosier History. This is also our first short episode, the perfect length for classroom use. You'll learn about the frontline efforts of Sarah M. Wilmer in WWI, how we do history with primary sources, and a related historical marker. Written and produced by Jill Weiss Simins. Performed by Justin Clark. A transcript of this episode is available at the THH website: https://podcast.history.in.gov/. Notes and sources: https://bit.ly/3Ozpp3a.

The Indiana Historical Bureau is excited to announce a BRAND NEW season of our award-winning Talking Hoosier History podcast. We have a new host, new stories, and a new format. We'll still be bringing you exciting and lesser-known tales from Indiana's past, but we'll also be talking about how we do history. And we're serving up some shorter episodes in response to requests from teachers who want to use THH in the classroom. Find us wherever you get your podcasts and subscribe now. New season begins August 1!

On this episode of Giving Voice, we speak with long-time Fox Lake residents Grant Hawkins and Lucy Reynolds. In the course of these two short interviews, we'll learn about the history and natural beauty of the historically Black resort community, how the neighborhood has changed over the years, and what makes it such a joyous place to visit or call home.

Fox Lake Resort provided Black Midwesterners with a refuge from the daily reality of living in a country gripped by Jim Crow. In this episode, we explore how Fox Lakers built their community and how they now are working to preserve it. Find a transcript and show notes for this episode at podcast.history.in.gov.

On this episode of Giving Voice, host Lindsey Beckley speaks with Dr. Michella Marino about the intersection of motherhood and roller derby. Hear the answer to the burning question: was Leo Seltzer, founder and owner of roller derby, a feminist? You can see a transcript and read show notes for this episode at podcast.history.in.gov.   

In this episode, we skate through the history of the Roller Derby, and one Indianapolis woman's stand out career as she and her family stage a strike at the height of her game. Find a transcript and show notes for this episode at podcast.history.in.gov. 

On this episode of Giving Voice, we speak with Gary Roosevelt alum Rosemary Anderson Davis. Gary Roosevelt, an all-Black high school in Gary, Indiana, faced Crispus Attucks in the historic 1955 IHSAA Boys Basketball State Championship game. Davis gives listeners some insight into what it was like to be on the other side of the game. See a transcript and show notes at podcast.history.in.gov. 

In this episode, we explore how Crispus Attucks High School went from being excluded from the Indiana High School Athletics Association to being the first all-Black school to win a high school state basketball championship in the nation. 

On this episode of Giving Voice, we talk with Dr. Margaret King, who is the director of the Center for Cultural Studies and Analysis. She also wrote the seminal article on the theme park as an art form for the Journal of Popular Culture. We talk about the innovations of Disney, the difference between amusement parks and theme parks, the role of theme parks in culture.  Find a transcript and show notes for this episode at podcast.history.in.gov. 

“Nestled in the wooded hills of southern Indiana, lies a land of fantasy...where it's Christmas every day.” That place is Santa Claus, Indiana. On this episode, we take a tour of the oddly named Indiana town that embraces the holiday spirit all year round. Join us! Find a transcript and show notes for this episode here!

For this episode of Giving Voice, host Lindsey Beckley talks with Dr. Emily Suzanne Johnson, Assistant Professor of History at Ball State University. Her Washington Post article "The Myth that has Shaped the Christian Right and the LGBTQ Rights Movement for Four Decades," examines the assumption that protests against Anita Bryant's anti-gay crusade led directly to the failure of her career.  Transcripts and show notes are available at blog.history.in.gov. 

On October 14, 1977, gay rights activist Thom Higgins reserved his place in history when he threw a pie in the face of anti-gay crusader Anita Bryant during a Des Moines, Iowa press conference. When Bryant made her way to Indiana less than two weeks later for a rally, gay activists welcomed her not with a pie in the face, but with Hoosier kindness. In this episode, we examine Hoosier's reactions to Bryant's appearances in the state during the early years of the fight for gay rights.  

In this episode of Giving Voice, host Lindsey Beckley talks with Dr. Allison Perlman, associate professor of Film and Media Studies at UC Irvine, about the ways in which broadcast television has created an imagined collective narrative and information silos.  See transcripts and show notes here. 

Philo T. Farnsworth conceived of the idea for electronic television in the middle of an Idaho potato field at just 13 years old. At age 19, he produced the first functional prototype for his idea. For nearly three decades following that, he Farnsworth worked to bring his invention to the American home but was stymied every step of the way by financial, legal, and technological problems.  Transcript and show notes here. 

In this episode of Giving Voice, IHB Deputy Director Michella Marino and IHB Historian Casey Pfeiffer talk with Dr. Cheryl Cooky, a professor in the School of Interdisciplinary Studies at Purdue University. Dr. Cooky is a member of the National Policy Advisory Board for the Women's Sports Foundation. Following on the heels of IHB's most recent Talking Hoosier History episode on the South Bend Blue Sox and All American Girls Professional Baseball League, their discussion considers the evolution of women's sports over the last century, the impact Title IX has had on women's athletics, and the important work that still needs to be done to achieve gender equality in sports.   Find transcripts and show notes here: https://wp.me/p7f1qx-2c9

For twelve seasons (1943-1954), over 600 women competed in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL). The South Bend Blue Sox, one of four original teams, showcased the ballplayers' determination and athleticism during their 1952 season, when a player strike left the team with just 12 members days before the playoffs. This episode contextualizes the AAGPBL and Blue Sox within the larger history of women in sport, culminating in the Dutiful Dozen’s stunning 1952 championship.

In this episode of Giving Voice, IHB historian Jill Weiss Simins talks to Adrianne Slash and Aaron Welcher, Indianapolis community leaders working on social justice issues. Slash serves on the board of the Civil Rights Commission and writes columns for the Indianapolis Business Journal and the Indianapolis Recorder. Welcher serves as the Programs & Communications Coordinator at the Jewish Community Relations Council and works to build coalitions of Jewish, Black, LGBTQ+, and other groups and faiths. Their important discussion in this episode considers how white Hoosiers can be allies for their Black neighbors in the ongoing struggle for civil rights, the responsibility of Jewish Hoosiers for continuing this work, and how people can get involved in the work that needs to be done in their own communities.

In 1965, at the height of the Civil Rights Movement, Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. called for religious leaders representing all faiths to join him in Selma, Alabama, for a march responding to recent violence against peaceful protestors. Rabbi Maurice Davis of the Indianapolis Hebrew Congregation (IHC) answered this call, despite threats to his life. This episode looks at the work of Rabbi Davis to fight segregation and discrimination in Indianapolis, especially in housing and employment. It also considers why Jewish Americans joined the Black-led Civil Rights Movement in greater numbers than other groups and what lessons his work teaches us today about allyship and interfaith work for greater rights for all Americans. Current IHC Rabbi Brett Krichiver brings the words of his predecessor to life with music from IHC Cantor Aviva Marer. IHB historian Justin Clark hosts. Written and produced by IHB historian Jill Weiss Simins.

On this episode of Giving Voice, IHB historian Nicole Poletika talks with Karen Freeman-Wilson, the former mayor of Gary and current President of the Chicago Urban League. A follow up to the most recent Talking Hoosier History episode, "Tribe Come Home: The 1972 National Black Political Convention," their discussion centers on the ongoing effort for equal rights in Indiana, especially for Black women.

Thousands of Black Americans from around the country came to Gary, Indiana, for the 1972 Black National Political Convention to transform the Black Power Movement into the Black Political Power Movement. Leaders worked to channel collective outrage - caused by voter suppression and discrimination, as well as the assassinations of major Civil Rights leaders - into political reform. 

On this installment of Giving Voice, we speak with Dr. James Madison, Professor Emeritus of History at Indiana University and the author of the new book Ku Klux Klan in the Heartland about the Klan in Indiana in the 1920s. In our discussion, we talk about who joined the Klan and why, how the Klan came to power, and the legacy left by the Klan today.  See a transcript and show notes for this episode here. 

On May 24, 1924, the Ku Klux Klan attempted to hold a meeting in South Bend, Indiana. They were met with furious Notre Dame students and South Bend citizens, who banded together to drive the organization out of town. When the Klan used this confrontation as fodder for anti-immigrant, anti-Catholic propaganda, university administration needed to find a way to combat the smear campaign. They found their answer in a wildly successful Notre Dame football team. Find a transcript and show notes here. 

For this installment, we talk with Sarah Halter, the Executive Director of the Indiana Medical History Museum. In this episode, we talk about the history of the treatment of mental illness in Indiana, the development of the malarial syphilis treatment, and how the museum is working to humanize the specimens in their collection.  See show notes and transcripts here. 

Rufus Cantrell was a lot of things in his life: A driver. A porter. A clerk. An undertaker. In 1902, he added a new title to that list: The King of Ghouls. Cantrell, along with approximately seven other men, ran one of the most successful body-snatching syndicates in the city of Indianapolis. This is the story of his downfall. 

In this installment of Giving Voice, host Lindsey Beckley speaks with Susan Hall Dotson and Kisha Tandy about the suffrage movement in the African American communities at the state and national level. The discussion touches on issues of inclusion, storytelling, and the importance of telling a richer version of the suffrage story than what is often heard.  See transcripts and show notes here. 

In this, the second of a two-part series covering the women's suffrage movement in Indiana, we follow the women who dedicated their lives to the fight for enfranchisement to its end - the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution.  Find a transcript and show notes here. 

On this installment of Giving Voice, we talk with Nadia E. Brown, a University Faculty Scholar and Associate Professor of Political Science and African American Studies at Purdue University. We talk about intersectionality, political representation, and how representation in our country is shifting at this very moment. You can find transcripts and show notes for this episode here. 

In this episode, we meet the diverse suffragists who led Hoosier women’s fight for the vote during the re-invigoration of the movement starting around 1911. We follow them as they organize, educate, lobby, protest, and march in the streets. Thank you to Lt. Governor Suzanne Crouch and director of the Propylaeum Liz Ellis for lending their voices to this episode. Learn more about the celebration of the centennial of women's suffrage here. See the transcript and show notes for this episode here. 

In the last episode of Talking Hoosier History, we discussed the Black Market Firebombing and the people's park which was erected in its place. On this installment of Giving Voice, Host Lindsey Beckley talks to Professor of American History and people's park scholar Kera Lovell about the history and legacy of the People's Park Movement of the 1960s and 70s. 

On December 26, 1968, the quiet was ripped away from Bloomington, Indiana when a Molotov Cocktail was thrown through the window of a small shop on the corner of Kirkwood Avenue and Dunn Street. But this was no random act of violence - it was a targeted attack. On this episode, we discuss the revolutionary spirit of 1968 on Indiana University's campus, the racist backlash, and the repercussions that continue to echo from that backlash. Find show notes at blog.history.in.gov.

For this installment of Giving Voice, we had the pleasure of talking with Chief Ben Barnes of the Shawnee Tribe about the Shawnee nation in Indiana.  See a full transcript and show notes here. 

In this second part of a two-part series, we follow Tenskwatawa, also known as "The Prophet," as he gains power, eventually becoming the leader of the largest population center in the present-day midwest. We then examine the many factors contributing to his downfall.  See a full transcript and show notes here. 

On the most recent episode of Talking Hoosier History, we explored the History Relevance Campaign and how different institutions from around the nation are creating innovative programming using its guidance. In this Giving Voice, we speak with Erin Carlson Mast, CEO and Executive Director of President Lincoln's Cottage in Washington DC, which is a stand out in the field when it comes to making history relevant to their visitors.  See a transcript and show notes here.

Last fall, IHB partnered with Conner Prairie and the National Council on Public History to host a workshop covering the History Relevance Campaign. On this episode, we bring the valuable discussions from that day to you, our listeners. We ask you the question: What do you expect from your historical institutions? What should you expect?  See show notes and transcripts here.