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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:Oct. 7-13
From The Indianapolis News, Wednesday, October 11, 1922: No more women will be appointed to the Indianapolis police department during his administration, Mayor Lew Shank announced today. “The police department is no place for a woman. We can’t use them in patrolling districts and there are more of them in … Read More
Down to the Depot
Today, IndyGo, the Indianapolis bus system, is the only mass transit in the city. A century ago, that was not the case. Trolleys ran on the street railway in the city, which at that time was only a part of Marion County. Interurbans and steam railroads served outlying areas bringing … Read More
100 Years Ago: Sept. 30-Oct. 6
From The Indianapolis Star, Wednesday, October 4, 1922: The Indianapolis board of public safety approved a recommendation of the Chamber of Commerce fire and safety committee that a secret citizens’ force be appointed to report to the chiefs of police and fire departments such things as violations of automobile speed … Read More
100 Years Ago: Sept. 23-29
From The Indianapolis Times, Monday, September 25, 1922: Every type of building from a modern well equipped portable schoolhouse to a shack is being used to accommodate the overflow of Indianapolis school children unable to be housed in permanent buildings, and school officials admit the probability of erecting enough permanent … Read More
100 Years Ago: Sept. 16-22
From The Indianapolis News, Saturday, September 16, 1922: Indianapolis colored citizens have formed an organization for the advancement of civic, social, and political conditions of the city’s colored people. Known as the Better Indianapolis League, the organization resulted from a general feeling among the colored people that they should have … Read More