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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
Flickering Light on the Silver Screen, Part 1
The Paleface — Bob Hope singing “Buttons and Bows” and Jane Russell, well, being Jane Russell — is my earliest memory of seeing a motion picture show. I saw the film with my parents at The Indiana. A few years later I was old enough to join over 500 of … Read More
100 Years Ago This Week: Jan. 20-26
From The Indianapolis News, Saturday, January 20: The Y.W.C.A. education department will soon offer a new course for Indianapolis business women. With machines and filing systems filling their niche in every modern office, the course will include practice in and direction for using labor-saving machines with special attention to the … Read More
World War I: 100 Years Ago – Jan. 20-26
From The Indianapolis News, Friday, January 26: A mass meeting of 2,600 Indianapolis citizens was held last evening at the Murat Theater to protest the deportation of thousands of Belgian men by the German government into Germany to perform involuntary labor. A little group of Belgians was the center of … Read More
100 Years Ago This Week: Jan. 13-19
From The Indianapolis News, Saturday, January 13: “Thrift Luncheons” will be introduced as a cooking course in nineteen Indianapolis public schools to help hundreds of girls find a practical solution to the high cost of living. Arthur S. Hurrell, assistant superintendent of vocational training, will provide a fixed menu for … Read More
World War I 100 Years Ago: Jan. 13-19
From The Indianapolis Star, Thursday, January 18: Indiana adjutant general Harry B. Smith announced that the Arcadia Theater building, 459 Virginia Av, has been leased from the Amusements Building Co as an armory for the Indianapolis units of the Indiana National Guard. First Indiana Infantry Companies A, C and D; … Read More