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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: Dec. 17-23
From The Indianapolis Star, Wednesday, December 21, 1921: Santa will spread the spirit of joy around Indianapolis this Christmas through the efforts of the Salvation Army and a regiment of social relief workers, local business clubs, and social organizations. Felicitations and merriment will pervade every charitable institution within the city’s … Read More
100 Years Ago: Dec. 10-16
From The Indianapolis News, Wednesday, December 14, 1921: Declaring some police officers, in making their daily reports, write in a hand that no one could read and misspell simple words, Mayor-elect Lew Shank announced the appointment of Georgia Murphy who will conduct classes for officers who need training in spelling, … Read More
100 Years Ago: Dec. 3-9
From The Indianapolis Star, Thursday, December 8, 1921: The Indianapolis permanent fire prevention committee has placed a very large dial, with red and black hands, at Kentucky Ave. and Washington St., showing the number of fires each day this year as compared with the number a year before. Yesterday, the … Read More
Citizen Warrior
Charles Russell “Russ” Barnett was a member of what journalist Tom Brokaw called The Greatest Generation. A son of Irvington, Russ served in the best tradition as a citizen warrior — marine, sailor, and soldier. At the end of his freshman year at Butler University, Russell enlisted in the United … Read More
100 Years Ago: Nov. 26-Dec. 2
From The Indianapolis News, Tuesday, November 29, 1921: Dale Miller, one of the most popular Indiana basketball officials, hosted a meeting of thirteen Indianapolis basketball officials last evening at the Board of Trade. After making a list of their names, addresses, and phone numbers so that high school, college, and … Read More