-
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: May 8-14
From The Indianapolis News, Tuesday, May 11, 1920: Ten thousand children in forty-eight Indianapolis public schools are now receiving a mid-morning lunch of a half-pint of milk and two Graham crackers through the work of Indianapolis School Lunch Association. For children who can afford to pay, the lunch costs 4 … Read More
100 Years Ago: May 1-7
From The Indianapolis Times, Saturday, May 1, 1920: The Capitol Avenue Protective Association met at the home of attorney Ira Holmes, 2164 N. Capitol Av, last night to discuss means of preventing the encroachment of negro property holders on the main residence streets. Fifty property owners between 16th and 38th … Read More
Death Rides a Pale Horse
I was born in 1944 soon after the Allied invasion of Hitler’s Fortress Europe. While we know now that it was the “beginning of the end” in that theater of war, my mother, who had just given birth, and my father, who was on a cruiser in the South Pacific, … Read More
100 Years Ago: April 24-30
From The Indianapolis Times, Friday, April 30, 1920: Tomorrow, Saturday, May 1 has been proclaimed “America Day” by Gov. James Goodrich “in order to combat the radical and un-American propaganda which has been cunningly spread in the United States by agitators who receive their inspiration from eastern Europe.” Necessarily, Indianapolis … Read More
100 Years Ago This Week: April 17-23
From The Indianapolis News, Wednesday, April 21, 1920: Protesting the increased price of clothing, boys at Shortridge High School have joined the national overall movement pledging to wear blue denim. The Girl’s Discussion Group at the high school will decide today as to the relative merits of silk and cotton, … Read More