Article Archives: 100 Years Ago

100 Years Ago: Jan. 23-29

January 22, 2026 | by Steven R. Barnett

From The Indianapolis News, Monday, January 25, 1926: Indianapolis attorney Charles Orbison was appointed imperial klaliff (vice president) of the Ku Klux Klan national organization by imperial wizard Hiram Evans at a Hotel Lincoln banquet attended by 300 Indiana Klansman yesterday evening. Orbison will receive an annual salary of $12,000 … Read More

100 Years Ago: Jan. 16-22

January 15, 2026 | by Steven R. Barnett

From The Indianapolis News, Friday, January 22, 1926: Shortly before noon today, Grace May Banta Urbahns was administered the oath of office at her home, 404 E. 43rd St, becoming the first woman treasurer of the state of Indiana and the first woman to hold a major office provided by … Read More

100 Years Ago: Jan. 9-15

January 8, 2026 | by Steven R. Barnett

From The Indianapolis Star, Wednesday, January 13, 1926: Recognizing that pigeons in University Square must eat and there isn’t much nourishment in snowflakes, dancer Alma Neilson, this week’s headliner at Keith’s Theater, after visiting the park yesterday morning with four pounds of cracked corn which disappeared with such rapidity that … Read More

100 Years Ago: Jan. 2-8

December 31, 2025 | by Steven R. Barnett

From The Indianapolis Star, Thursday, January 7, 1926: Four hundred precinct committeepersons, ward chairs, and other prominent members of the Marion County Democratic Party adopted resolutions last evening pledging to fight to eliminate the Ku Klux Klan from controlling politics in the county. The resolutions called upon, “all fair-minded citizens … Read More

100 Years Ago: Dec. 19-Jan. 1

December 18, 2025 | by Steven R. Barnett

From The Indianapolis Star, Tuesday, December 22, 1925: Sales of Christmas Seals, those little holiday emblems of better health, have exceeded previous years according to the Marion County Tuberculosis Association. While thousands of citizens are sending in their checks to the Christmas Seal headquarters for their annual sticker supply, sales … Read More