INDIANAPOLIS — The Indiana Historical Society (IHS)’s latest exhibit, 12 Indiana Authors You Should Know, opens January 14 at the Eugene and Marilyn Glick Indiana History Center, located at 450 W. Ohio St.
The exhibit, located in the Lanham Gallery, explores 12 Indiana authors who wrote about themes such as westward expansion and travel, women’s rights, social reform, historical writing, children’s literature and war experiences. Inevitably, the Hoosier authors displayed in the exhibit were influenced by Indiana’s culture, nature, politics and society, but their writings also shaped local and national literature. Visitors will be able to view a selection of books written by the authors as well as photos and documents that display the careers of the Hoosier authors.
One author who had a major influence on local and national politics was Mary Ritter Beard. Born in the midst of the debate about women’s rights and suffrage, Beard’s writings were heavily shaped by society. During the early 1900s, she participated in and organized movements, wrote articles, lectured to audiences, and testified in front of Congress to advocate for women’s suffrage. After women gained the right to vote, Beard focused on including women in her books about American history as she recognized the need to preserve women’s history. In addition to her writings and activism, Beard also created the World Center for Women’s Archives.
Similar to Beard, the writings of journalist and author Ernie Pyle would both be shaped by and influence culture and society. As World War II became more pervasive in American life and politics, Pyle found a career in writing about his observations of the war. As a war correspondent, he covered events such as the Battle of Britain in 1940, the war in North Africa in 1942, the D-Day invasion and more. His writings gained him national acclaim, and he was recognized for his humanistic approach during the deadly world war.
Hours for the IHS Center are Tues.-Sat. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Admission is $15 for adults, $14 for seniors 60+, free to IHS members, teachers and military. Visit indianahistory.org for more information.