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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: Oct. 9-16
From The Indianapolis News, Saturday, October 9, 1915: Dr. R. L. Rockwell, on furlough from the American Red Cross Hospital in France, talked about the war and his work as assistant surgeon at the Yvelot hospital, near Rouen, which is some distance from the firing line. Dr. Rockwell said, “The … Read More
100 Years Ago: Oct. 9-16
From The Indianapolis Star, Wednesday, October 13, 1915: The board of school commissioners voted against the proposal to have Bible study made a part of the Indianapolis high school curriculum. Former Indianapolis mayor Caleb S. Denny and Thomas C. Day, a prominent lay churchman, actively supported the Bible-in-the-schools idea. Although … Read More
100 Years Ago This Week: Oct. 2-8
From The Indianapolis News, Tuesday, October 5, 1915: Cool October breezes may chase away Palm Beach suits, but the open summer cars of the Indianapolis Traction & Terminal Co seem to go on forever on city street car lines. No one knows why such cars are run when the air … Read More
World War I 100 Years Ago: Oct. 2-8
From The Indianapolis Star, Tuesday, October 5, 1915: The humble jimson weed has been transformed into a valuable herb from which the drug atrophine can be obtained. Dr. Frank R. Eldred of the Eli Lilly Drug Co made the discovery and has been working on the process for more than … Read More
Who Lived in My House?
Previously I wrote about learning the ownership of a house through reading an abstract, but how do you find out who actually lived in the house? The primary source for discovering residents of a house in Indianapolis prior to 1989 is through the pages of R. L. Polk & Co. … Read More