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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 This Week: May 24-June 6
From The Indianapolis Star, Friday, May 30, 1919: The stage is set for history’s greatest speed carnival. Tomorrow an expected 100,000 spectators will see the fastest field ever as thirty-three speed demons push their mounts around the 2½ mile brick oval at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway in the international auto … Read More
100 Years Ago This Week: May 17-23
From The Indianapolis Star, Monday, May 19, 1919: The modern health crusade poster exhibit, sponsored by the Marion County Tuberculosis Association, begins today with 1,500 posters displayed in various downtown store windows. Florence Fitch, Indianapolis Public Schools art supervisor, conducted contests among seventh and eighth grade art students from which … Read More
World War I 100 Years Ago: May 17-23
From The Indianapolis News, Monday, May 19, 1919: Today in the city, a detail of military police from Ft. Harrison began enforcing War Department regulations requiring the wearing of a red discharge chevron by all discharged men and officers in uniform. Another violation of uniform regulations the MPs will also … Read More
World War I 100 Years Ago: May 10-16
From The Indianapolis Star, Thursday, May 15, 1919: Last evening at Tomlinson Hall, former President William Howard Taft made an earnest plea for creation of a league of nations. For over two hours he carefully analyzed the covenant adopted by the Paris peace conference and answered various objections to America’s … Read More
100 Years Ago This Week: May 10-16
From The Indianapolis News, Thursday, May 15, 1919: At today’s County Council meeting, Councilor Jesse Potter proposed the county commissioners consider the question of building a new Court House and investigate whether the ground on which the present Court House sits could be sold for a sufficient amount to cover … Read More