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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
Irvington The Classic Suburb
Irvington was recently designated one of the cultural districts of Indianapolis, an official recognition that Irvingtonians have known for decades for the name “Irvington” proclaims culture. For 150 years Irvington, once the site of Butler University, has been known as the Classic Suburb, the home of artists, authors, and musicians. … Read More
100 Years Ago: Nov. 28-Dec. 4
From The Indianapolis Times, Tuesday, December 1, 1925: Marion County Criminal Court Judge James A. Collins ruled today that search warrants must be issued only on facts. In his ruling, Judge Collins said an officer, in order to obtain a search warrant, must not merely state that the law is … Read More
100 Years Ago: Nov. 21-27
From The Indianapolis News, Monday, November 23, 1925: Yesterday, a crowd of 15,000 descended upon Williams Creek Estates, a Washington Bank & Trust Co. development, to see the five Indianapolis News ideal homes. Interested visitors from throughout Indiana and neighboring states swarmed across the grounds and through the homes open … Read More
100 Years Ago: Nov. 14-20
From The Indianapolis Star, Sunday, November 15, 1925: Late yesterday afternoon after deliberating five hours and 35 minutes a Hamilton County Circuit Court jury found former Indiana Ku Klux Klan Grand Dragon D. C. Stephenson guilty of second-degree murder in the death of Madge Oberholtzer. A handful of spectators, including … Read More
100 Years Ago: Nov. 7-13
From The Indianapolis Times, Monday, November 9, 1925: Mayor-Elect John Duvall has named the first eighteen members of his administration, and the Ku Klux Klan has scored heavily in the appointments. The Klan organization maintained a Duvall campaign headquarters in the City Trust Building and there has been considerable speculation … Read More