Local History & Genealogy

When members of the Society of Friends, or Quakers, first arrived in antebellum Indiana, they could not have envisioned the struggle which would engulf the nation when the American Civil War began in 1861. Juxtaposed with its stand against slavery a second tenet of the Society's creed--adherence to peace--also challenged the unity of Friends when the dreaded conflict erupted. Indiana Quakers Confront the Civil War chronicles for the first time the military activities of Indiana Quakers during America's bloodiest war and explores the motivation behind the abandonment, at least temporarily, of their long-standing testimony against war.

In July 1861 one thousand excited, patriotic Indiana farm boys and shopkeepers left Indianapolis, ready to do their part in ending the rebellion. Together with the other Western regiments from Wisconsin and Michigan which formed the Iron Brigade, they received their baptism of fire and famous nickname at the Brawner farm in 1862. Three years after their enlistment, barely one hundred survivors of the battlefields of Antietam, Gettysburg, and the Wilderness returned to their homes and loved ones. Hoosier's Honor is more than a regimental history of the 19th Indiana Infantry. William Thomas Venner has portrayed the men's suffering from disease and poor leadership as well as fighting the Army of Northern Virginia in every major battle from Second Manassas to Cold Harbor.

Illustrations and accompanying text trace the development of heraldry from aristocratic symbols to modern corporate logos and trademarks.

After researching historical figures for years, visiting nearly every historic site in the state, and working with the Indiana Historical Society, journalist Nelson Price has created a vivid, detailed, and readable series of Hoosier portraits ranging from political leaders to entertainers, from sports legends to everyday folks who achieved fame or notoriety. The fourth -- and first in paperback -- edition of Indiana Legends features updated profiles of the many contemporary figures in the book, as well as new material on such varied personalities as Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning, Mother Theodore Guerin, a pioneer Catholic nun being considered for sainthood, C-SPAN founder Brian Lamb, and movie star Vivica A. Fox. Nelson's own prize-winning newspaper interviews add contemporary interest to this collection, and famous Indiana illustrations, along with the portraits and photographs from leading state collections, contribute a rich dimension to the stories.

Indiana, Crossroads of America, is known as a place rich in folklore, where spirits and ghosts intermingle with the lives of ordinary Hoosiers, often with strange and frightening consequences. Shrunken heads, a peculiar hidden altar and chilling screams in the night in an Indiana University residence lead the tenants to hold a séance. The mischievous ghost of former football hero George Gipp spooks students at University of Notre Dame's Washington Hall. Amelia Earhart's spirit returns to spend time at her old haunt, Purdue University.

From it's inception in 1816 to 2010, 106 Hoosiers have been members of the Indiana Supreme Court. In this multiauthor volume, edited by Linda Gugin and James St. Clair, authors explore the lives of each justice, unearthing not only standard biographical information but also personal stores that offer additional insight into their lives and times.

In the second volume of the IHS Press’s Peopling Indiana Series, anthropologist Elizabeth Glenn and ethnohistorian Stewart Rafert put readers in touch with the first people to inhabit the Hoosier state, exploring what it meant historically to be an Indian in this land and discussing the resurgence of native life in the state today. Many natives either assimilated into white culture or hid their Indian identity. World War II dramatically changed this scenario when Native Americans served in the U.S. military and on the home front. Afterward, Indians from many tribal lineages flocked to Indiana to find work. Along with Indiana's Miami and Potawatomi, they are creating a diverse Indian culture that enriches the lives of all Hoosiers.