On Monday, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., the Indiana Historical Society will offer free admission to celebrate Martin Luther King Day.
“Plan on sharing Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day with family and friends at the History Center this year. IHS is pleased to offer free admission to the Indiana Experience through the generous support of Franklin University of Ohio. Celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. King by visiting ‘You Are There 1968: Robert F. Kennedy Speaks,’ viewing special collection items in the library, watching films about Dr. King’s life and the Civil Rights era and making specially themed crafts,” says the IHS.
The Society is at 450 West Ohio St. in Indianapolis. Visit its website at www.indianahistory.org/.
The SHAARD database is a newly created online resource that has been made available by Indiana’s Division of Historic Preservation and Archaeology. SHAARD is an acronym for the “State Historic Architectural and Archaeological Research Database.” This includes information on buildings, bridges, historic markers and cemeteries–essentially the “built environment.” This resource will help genealogists and historical researchers locate items in the built environment across the state and throughout Indiana’s 92 counties.
To research the cemetery database, go to www.in.gov/dnr/historic/4505.htm and click on “SHAARD quick access” under “SHAARD quick links.” Then, click on “enter SHAARD as a guest.” Next choose “cemetery registry” on the drop-down menu. Enter the cemetery name and county into the search criteria. Or, use other search criteria. You will then get information about that cemetery including it’s address, GPS coordinates, section, township, and range location, date established, time periods of the burials, number of stones, photos, religious affiliation (if any), architectural features, and survey maps. Each cemetery survey has different information, depending on what information was available at the time of the survey.
Indiana’s Division of Historic Preservation and Archaeology has been collecting and compiling this data since 1975. For more information on the SHAARD project check out the article in the Fall/Winter 2011 issue of Hoosier Genealogist.
FamilySearch announces that it has added images to several Illinois databases. The Illinois Probate Records, 1819-1970, now has nearly 740,000 browsable images and the Illinois, Cook County, Maywood Herald Obituary Card Index, 1885-2002, has had over 62,000 images added so far. The Illinois, Tazewell County, Obituary Card Index from the Pekin Times, 1914–2007, has nearly 92,000 images, and the Illinois, Macon County, Decatur Public Library Collections, 1879–2007, has had over 64,000 images added. None of these databases is searchable by surname yet.
Recently updated Indiana databases include Indiana, Marriages, 1811–1959, which is searchable and is 55 percent complete. Also, the Indiana Death Index, 1882-1920, has 793,965 records in its database. This last index collection was provided courtesy of Ancestry.com.
To check out the latest Family Search information, visit www.familysearch.org/.
If you have a query you would like posted in this column, please email tamszion@gmail.com, or sent it to the Tribune-Star, P.O. Box 149, Terre Haute, IN 47808.
History
GENEALOGY: Celebrate MLK Day with the Indiana Historical Society
- History
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BRUCE’S HISTORY LESSON: Emperor Constantine changes the world
The Emperor Constantine, the first Christian ruler of the Roman Empire and the man who ended that empire’s persecution of Christianity, died this week (May 22) in 337 AD, having lived a life that would change the world.
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GENEALOGY: Library archives contain tons of information
Inside the archives room of the Vigo County Public Library, row after row of fragile documents, rare out-of-print books, and historic photographs are kept on shelves in a humidity and temperature-controlled room.
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HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE: Historic efforts to open Center Street from Cherry to Swan
Efforts to open Center Street, from Cherry to Swan, spanned a half century or more.
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LOOKING BACK: 2002 — Valley drenched in wettest spring in 107 years
Dorothy Jerse looks back at local history from 10, 25 and 50 years ago as reported in the Tribune and Tribune-Star. -
HISTORICAL TREASURE: Some history wreathed in hair
From the unfortunate occurrence of Prince Albert’s death in 1861 came the social mores of proper mourning practices and accoutrements witnessed and endorsed by the admirers of Queen Victoria in her reign-long state of grieving.
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LOOKING BACK: 1987: League of Women Voters reorganizes
Dorothy Jerse looks back at local history from 10, 25 and 50 years ago as reported in the Tribune and Tribune-Star.
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HISTORICAL TREASURE: Here comes the bride
The newest major exhibit at the Historical Museum, which opens Tuesday, showcases wedding gowns worn by Vigo County residents.
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HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE: Downtown changes featured in early 1927
During March and April of 1927 – about 85 years ago – the owners of interests in four major downtown Terre Haute theaters were negotiating to transfer their interests to representatives of Paramount Studios.
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GENEALOGY: Genealogy isn’t for the easily embarrassed
The saying goes, if you’re easily embarrassed or afraid of what you’ll find, don’t start doing genealogy.
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BRUCE’S HISTORY LESSONS: The long, lost, last — the 27th —Amendment
Our very last constitutional amendment — the 27th Amendment — was ratified this week (May 7) in 1992 when Michigan became the 38th state to approve it.
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BRUCE’S HISTORY LESSONS: The Haymarket Square Massacre
One unhappy byproduct of the Industrial Age was the growing discontent of its industrial workers, who constantly agitated for better pay and more humane working conditions.
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LOOKING BACK: 1962: Stands packed as Wiley takes county track title
Dorothy Jerse looks back at local history from 10, 25 and 50 years ago as reported in the Tribune and the Tribune-Star.
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HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE: Death of Terre Haute jeweler gains national headlines
Terre Haute sought national publicity in 1910 through “Boosterism,” lauding the city’s significant advancements during the decade ending Dec. 31, 1909.
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GENEALOGY: Cemetery Committee to conduct restoration workshop
The Wabash Valley Genealogy Society’s Cemetery Committee will conduct an all-day cemetery restoration workshop on Saturday at the Smith Cemetery near Youngstown, Honey Creek Township, Vigo County, Ind.
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HISTORICAL TREASURE: Harmonious history
In 1923, a group of singers calling themselves the Harmony Four entertained regularly over the radio and at civic and various club events.
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BRUCE’S HISTORY LESSONS: Cleveland observes Lincoln’s funeral
The death of America’s greatest president, Abraham Lincoln, resulted in an outpouring of national mourning, the apex of which came in late April of 1865 when a specially outfitted train carried his body on a thirteen-day, 1,700-mile, eleven-city funeral procession from Washington, D.C., to his home and final resting place in Springfield, Ill.
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GENEALOGY: Many people can trace ancestry to Titanic
This month marks the 100th anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic, which occurred on April 14-15, 1912.
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LOOKING BACK: 1987: ISU bowling team at nationals again
Dorothy Jerse looks back at local history from 10, 25 and 50 years ago as reported in the Tribune and Tribune-Star.
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HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE: Sullivan County mine explosion kills 8 in 1878
Shortly after 4 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 21, 1878, an enormous explosion rocked the Handford Brothers mine about one-half mile north of the Evansville & Terre Haute Railroad depot in Sullivan County.
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HISTORICAL TREASURE: A common feature, but memorable
As an absolute architecture nerd, I tend to look at buildings noticing the odd ball things such as door hinges and door locks in addition to admiring the overall building.
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BRUCE'S HISTORY LESSONS: MLK’s letter written from a jail cell in Birmingham
This week (April 16) in 1963 Martin Luther King Jr. sat in a jail cell in Birmingham, Ala., having been arrested for violating a trumped-up court order that prohibited him and his followers from conducting various protest activities, most of which you can read about in the First Amendment.
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LOOKING BACK: 1962: Swope celebrates 20th anniversary
Dorothy Jerse looks back at local history from 10, 25 and 50 years ago as reported in the Tribune and Tribune-Star.
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HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE: 1955 Babe Ruth League championship team to be feted
Currently in his 25th year as a college baseball coach, Rick Heller is in the midst of his third winning season at Indiana State and has embraced the university and the community.
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GENEALOGY: Long-awaited 1940 census is now available for the public
The long-awaited release of the 1940 census took place on April 2.
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HISTORICAL TREASURE: Memories baked from scratch
On my Historical Treasure hunt, I was drawn to a pasteboard barrel 28 inches high and 18.5 inches across with the words “Calumet Baking Powder Bakes Best, Received Highest Award” on one side and “Calumet Baking Powder Always Pleases, Try It” on the other.
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BRUCE'S HISTORY LESSON: Thomas Jefferson's flights of fancy
Thomas Jefferson, born this week (April 13) in 1743, is — deservedly so — in the pantheon of American heroes.
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HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE: J.K. Emmet’s first appearance at the Terre Haute Opera House
The first season of the magnificent Terre Haute Opera House, which featured many of the world’s premier celebrities, was a resounding success.
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GENEALOGY: Black Death had a monumental effect on world
One event in the past had a monumental effect on our ancestors, indeed determining who they would be. This was the advent and spread of bubonic plague, the Black Death. The plague originated in China in 1333. It was caused by a bacterium in fleas, which were carried by rats. The plague spread out of China via trading routes with the West (the Silk Road) and especially on ships, which carried flea-infested rats and provided a closed environment for people to infect each other.
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LOOKING BACK: 1987: 'Banana king' opens Farmer's Market
Dorothy Jerse looks back at local history from 10, 25 and 50 years ago as reported in the Tribune and Tribune-Star.
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HISTORICAL TREASURE: Hunting for sugary Easter treats
Among the many varieties of the Easter egg, none is more charming than the panoramic Sugar Egg. Three were recently given to the Vigo County Historical Museum by Judy Lowe and are shown in an Easter-themed display case in the entry hall.
- More History Headlines
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BRUCE’S HISTORY LESSON: Emperor Constantine changes the world
Raw Video: Toddler Trapped in Washing Machine
Police: Man Arrested in Etan Patz Disappearance
Hurricane Forecast: 15 Named Storms Expected
Man Tells Police He Killed Missing Boy in 1979
NJ Official: NYPD Muslim Surveillance Legal
Chicago U.S. Attorney Fitzgerald Resigns
Neighbors of Etan Patz's Suspect: It's Shocking
Search Intensifies for Missing Louisiana Woman
14-year-old Texan Wins National Geographic Bee
Obama Highlights Economic Recovery Plan in Iowa
NYC Protests: the Revolution Will Be Scripted
Bloomberg: Man Implicates Self in Etan Patz Case
Raw Video: Soldiers Plant Flags at Arlington
Vegas Grocer Deported to Face War Crimes Charges
FAMU Bandmates: Victim Volunteered to Be Hazed
Stuntman Makes Skydive Without Parachute in UK
NYPD: Person Implicated in Etan Patz Death
Illegal Burn Suspected in Nevada Fire
Raw Video: Fire on Nuke-powered Sub in Maine
Texan Ranchers Remain Wary of Drought
Raw Video: Dragon Arrives at Space Station
Alison Brie Likes To Jog Naked
"Twilight" Stars Caught Kissing
Boys eyes 'removed with spoon'
Crawford's Sexy Leather Look
Raw Video: Fight Erupts in Ukrainian Parliament
Alton's Best Burger Ever
Ellie Kemper's Stripper Surprise on 'Ellen'
Etan Patz Case: Suspect Arrested
Britney's Hot Pink Mini-Dress
Wrongfully accused rapist exonerated after 5 years in jail
Actress to Play Casey Anthony
Prince William on The Queen: 'Woman in Man's World'
Fight erupts in Ukrainian parliament over language bill.
New Video of The Dark Knight Rises Released by Warner Brothers
Racy ad encourages safe sex for senior citizens
Coach dismissed after going to prom with student
Jennifer Lopez's Rock Hard Abs
Plane Passenger Records Engine Hatch Blowing Off
