From The Indianapolis News, Tuesday, December 25: Christmas Day dawned cold and gray in Indianapolis. Many home circles were happy with family members returning to the scenes of their youth to once again greet Santa Claus. Prominent among those who came back were the boys in khaki on furlough from the many military camps. But other home circles were incomplete with loved ones serving on the battlefields of France. The Christmas mail rush continued as postal carriers on their one-day delivery today were as loaded with greeting cards and presents as they have been for the last week. Meatless Tuesday was observed, but this did not affect the turkey menu of most Christmas dinners. To bring some degree of happiness and meaning to everybody, the Salvation Army distributed 200 Christmas baskets containing rabbits instead of the usual supply of beef.
From The Indianapolis News, Wednesday, January 2: A large audience was in attendance at Tomlinson Hall yesterday afternoon, under the auspices of the Interdenominational Alliance of Colored Ministers, in a significant emancipation celebration and patriotic demonstration. Attorney Robert L. Brokenburr read the Emancipation Proclamation and Mayor-elect Charles W. Jewett reviewed the past record of African Americans in the service of the United States during war-time. He related several instances in the current war, made known through French officers, of the gallant part African American soldiers have already played. Rev. Charles Sumner Williams, pastor of Bethel A.M.E. Church, gave a summary of the history of African Americans in this country, dealing especially with the progress that has been made in the last half century. The commemorative gathering recalled a significant event within the memory of many African Americans at the meeting.