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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
100 Years Ago This Week: Oct. 23-30
From The Indianapolis News, Friday, October 29, 1915: Indianapolis Schools will join schools in about 150 other cities in carrying out the Bureau of Naturalization’s naturalization campaign. Superintendent Jacob G. Collicott said the Indianapolis schools will become part of the national movement for the Americanization of candidates for citizenship. The … Read More
100 Years Ago This Week: Oct. 16-23
From The Indianapolis News, Monday, October 18, 1915: Mrs. Salina Ratliffe, an African-American, sued the Indianapolis Board of School Commissioners because her children were not permitted to attend public school No. 32 which is within two and one half squares of her home. When she took her four children to … Read More
World War I 100 Years Ago: Oct. 16-23
From The Indianapolis News, Tuesday, October 19, 1915: It will pay to keep well this winter, because the prices of many common drugs have advanced until many are almost prohibitive. This is all due to the European war according to Charles J. Lynn, general manager of Eli Lilly & Co. … Read More
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