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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
Breaking the shackles
In the long ugly history of race relations in the United States, there have been a lot of bad actors and finger pointing. Many of the heroes of our nation’s founding and formative years are found to have feet of clay and their role in slavery is a topic everyone … Read More
100 Years Ago:Feb. 24-March 2
From The Indianapolis Times, Monday, February 26, 1923: “I’m the last member of the Nowland family, and I certainly do regret to see the memory of my ancestor and the other pioneer citizens of Indianapolis desecrated in this way,” Edwin Nowland said in response to an Indiana state senate bill … Read More
100 Years Ago: Feb. 17-23
From The Indianapolis Star, Tuesday, February 20, 1923: Last night, Mayor Lew Shank approved a plan to install a radio receiving set in each police automobile so that when a crime is reported to headquarters the information could be immediately broadcast to every police officer in an automobile in the … Read More
100 Years Ago: Feb. 10-16
From The Indianapolis Star, Wednesday, February 14, 1923: City health board statistics show a record fifty-seven deaths from pneumonia and influenza in Indianapolis in the last twelve days. Dr. Herman Morgan, board secretary, estimates 70,000 persons are suffering from respiratory infections and while the highest percentage of illness is among … Read More
100 Years Ago: Feb. 3-9
From The Indianapolis News, Saturday, February 3, 1923: The Irvington Commercial and Welfare Association has made arrangements for the filming of the classic suburb. The movies will be taken by the Indianapolis Motion Picture Co, starting in the next few days. Pictures of Butler College, churches, schools, and other public … Read More