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Author Biography
Steven R. Barnett is Executive Director at the Irvington Historical Society.
Steve Barnett was raised in Irvington. Steve attended School #57, Howe High School (’63), and received a degree from Purdue University (’70). He served in the Indiana National Guard. After a brief hiatus from Irvington, Steve returned to his home town in 1977 with his wife Sue so their three children could grow up in a family friendly environment.
Steve had the good fortune of working with U. S. Representative Andy Jacobs, Jr. and U. S. Representative Julia Carson in the Indianapolis Congressional District Office helping constituents.
After his retirement, Steve became the executive director of the Irvington Historical Society and curator of the Bona Thompson Memorial Center until 2025. Steve was commissioned a Kentucky Colonel by Gov. Wallace G. Wilkinson for service to veterans, and he was appointed a Sagamore of the Wabash by Gov. Joseph Kernan for service to Indiana. In 2016, Steve was named Marion County Historian.
Steven R. Barnett’s Story Archive
World War I 100 Years Ago: Sept. 8-14
From The Indianapolis Star, Thursday, September 13: The Marion County Council on Defense passed a resolution yesterday denouncing the teaching of German language in Indianapolis public schools, and called upon all patriotic and loyal parents to notify various school principals not to put their children in classes where German is … Read More
100 Years Ago This Week: Sept. 1-7
From The Indianapolis Star, Thursday, September 6: West Indianapolis citizens are rejoicing over the recent completion of the levee and boulevard on the west bank of White River from Fourteenth to Raymond Streets. A celebration reviewing the new public improvements will be held in the new James Whitcomb Riley playground, … Read More
World War I 100 Years Ago: Sept. 1-7
From The Indianapolis News, Wednesday, September 5: Indianapolis sent the vanguard of its quota of conscripts to the national army’s Camp Taylor at Louisville, KY today. The twenty-six Hoosier sons, drawn from the Fourth, Seventh, and Eighth Districts, were mobilized last night and lodged in a downtown hotel prior to … Read More
A Place to Call Home
Today we live in a world governed by numbers; from social security numbers to PINs to area codes, names are irrelevant. Even where we live is a number, beginning with street addresses and then postal ZIP codes. Thanks to modern technology and GPS, I now live at 39.7685° N, 86.0708° … Read More
100 Years Ago: Aug. 24-31
From The Indianapolis Star, Sunday, August 26: Plans are tentatively under discussion by prominent Indianapolis men for the construction of an endowed, free 300-bed hospital dedicated to the treatment of invalid and crippled children. Within the last few days the proposal has received the hearty approval of hundreds of Hoosier … Read More