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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: March 6-12
From The Indianapolis Star, Sunday, March 7, 1920: Yesterday, members of the Indianapolis Teachers’ Federation asked superintendent Ellis U. Graff for relief from the present low salaries with the distribution of a $300 (2018: $3,812) bonus to every city public school teacher at the end of the current school year. … Read More
“. . . Put Up a Parking Lot”
Fifty years ago singer-song writer Joni Mitchell composed “Big Yellow Taxi.” The folk-rock song, while written in reaction to modern intrusions into the natural environment, later had Bob Dylan singing a “big yellow bulldozer took away the house and land,” lyrics that echoed all that was bad with urban renewal; … Read More
100 Years Ago: Feb. 21-27
From The Indianapolis News, Friday, February 27, 1920: The Women’s Franchise League of Indiana has filed articles of incorporation with the secretary of state as the Indiana League of Women Voters in order to guarantee the use of the name and to give the new organization a more stable position. … Read More
100 Years Ago: Feb. 14-20
From The Indianapolis Star, Thursday, February 19, 1920: The Gold Star Roll of Honor for Marion County has been compiled for the official Indiana War History and the list contains 379 soldiers and sailors and three women nurses who gave their lives in the World War. This is the largest … Read More
100 Years Ago: Feb. 7-13
From The Indianapolis News, Wednesday, February 11, 1920: Harlan “Pat” Page, assistant coach to Amos Alonzo Stagg at the University of Chicago, has accepted the position of athletic director at Butler College. Page’s appointment marks the passing of the haphazard athletic effort that has marked the history of Butler’s sports … Read More