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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
The Civil War 150th Anniversary: May 1864
Zealous competition among Hoosier cities and towns in the raising of companies for the Hundred Days Service continued. Indianapolis residents and its young men were called upon to push harder and to not let Lafayette, with four full companies raised, or Delphi, which has “raised a full company, an effort … Read More
100 Years Ago this Week: May 23-June 6
From The Indianapolis Star, Sunday, May 24, 1914: The 1914 automobile season will be an important historical epoch, for it is going to strengthen a grand move of womankind – absolute domination of motor car driving. Automobile designers and engineers are seeing to comforts for women motorists so that they … Read More
100 Years Ago this Week: May 16-23
From The Indianapolis Star, Wednesday, May 20, 1914: Woodland Cemetery, the new burial ground located 2½ miles east of the Indianapolis city limits, is rapidly assuming form under the watchful eye of superintendent Walter H. Wheeler. The massive granite columns and iron gates guarding the entrance indicate by their simple … Read More
100 Years Ago This Week: May 9-16
From The Indianapolis Star, Monday, May 11, 1914: Yesterday marked the most general observance of Mothers’ Day in Indianapolis since its inception ten years ago. Thousands of persons wore pink carnations for the living mother and white carnations for the deceased. So great was the demand that the supply of … Read More
100 Years Ago this Week: May 2-9
From The Indianapolis Star, Sunday, May 3, 1914: Crowds of men and women gathered around Monument Place at noon yesterday joining others who responded to the bugle call in almost every town and city across the country to celebrate Woman’s Independence Day. At the city’s first street demonstration for suffrage, … Read More