Northern In Historical Society

WE PRESERVE OUR REGIONS HERITAGE AND EDUCATE THE PUBLIC THROUGH OUR COLLECTIONS, EXHIBITS, AND PROGRAMS TO DEVELOP AN INFORMED UNDERSTANDING OF THE PAST.

THE HISTORY MUSEUM PRESERVES OUR REGION'S HERITAGE AND EDUCATES THE PUBLIC THROUGH OUR COLLECTIONS, EXHIBITS, AND PROGRAMS TO DEVELOP AN INFORMED UNDERSTANDING OF THE PAST. IN 2023: - APPROVAL TO MOVE THE MUSEUM'S NAVARRE CABIN FROM ITS CURRENT SITE IN LEEPER PARK EAST TO THE MUSEUM CAMPUS WAS GRANTED BY THE HISTORIC PRESERVATION COMMISSION IN DECEMBER. PLANS ARE UNDERWAY TO TRANSPORT THE 1820S LOG CABIN THIS SPRING, WITH PROGRAMMING SCHEDULED TO BEGIN IN THE SUMMER. - ON JUNE 3, IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE INDIANA HISTORICAL SOCIETY, THE EXHIBIT INDIANA LORE OPENED IN THE CHANGING GALLERY AND WILL BE ON VIEW THROUGH MAY 12, 2024. LARGER-THAN-LIFE LEGENDS AND FOLKLORE OF THE HOOSIER STATE ARE EXPLORED IN THIS EXHIBIT. THROUGH HISTORIC PHOTOS AND ORIGINAL ART BY THE BRAINTWINS, INDIANA LORE TRACES THE ROOTS OF INDIANA'S TALL TALES, FROM THE GREEN-EYED GHOST OF A BULLDOG GUARDING A GRAVE AT TERRE HAUTE'S HIGHLAND LAWN CEMETERY TO THE GREY LADY WHO LURKS IN THE CHILDREN'S BOOK SECTION OF EVANSVILLE'S WILLARD LIBRARY. - THE WORKER'S HOME WAS TRANSFORMED FROM THE RESIDENCE OF A 1930S POLISH FAMILY TO THAT OF A 1950S AFRICAN AMERICAN FAMILY. WITH GRANTS AND DONATIONS TOTALING OVER 50,000, WORK ON THE HISTORIC HOUSE WAS COMPLETED AND NOW TELLS THE STORY OF THE COMMUNITY'S AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY AS WELL AS THE GREAT MIGRATION AND THE CIVIL RIGHTS MOVEMENT. FURNITURE, FURNISHINGS, PHOTOGRAPHS, AND OTHER MATERIALS IN THE HOME REFLECT THOSE PERIODS IN HISTORY. IT WILL CONTINUE ITS MISSION SINCE FIRST OPENING IN 1994 TO TELL THE HISTORY OF WORKERS AND THEIR FAMILIES, WITH SPECIAL ATTENTION TO THE MANY ETHNICITIES OF THE ST. JOSEPH RIVER VALLEY REGION. CHAIRED BY TINA PATTON AND COMPOSED OF OVER 15 DIVERSE COMMUNITY LEADERS, THE ADVISORY COMMITTEE HAS OVERSEEN THE 1950S AFRICAN AMERICAN WORKER'S TRANSFORMATION PROJECT SINCE ITS INCEPTION IN THE FALL OF 2022. THE COMMITTEE PROVIDED SIGNIFICANT SUPPORT FOR THE TRANSFORMATION IN MANY WAYS. - IN THE YEAR THAT COMMEMORATED THE 200TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE MARCH 23, 1823, BIRTH OF SCHUYLER COLFAX, THE HISTORY MUSEUM OPENED COLFAX: SPEAKER FOR FREEDOM, A NEW PERMANENT EXHIBIT IN VOYAGES GALLERY. UNDOUBTEDLY THE MOST NOTABLE POLITICAL FIGURE IN THE HISTORY OF THE ST. JOSEPH RIVER VALLEY, COLFAX WAS AN ARDENT ABOLITIONIST AND IS BEST KNOWN FOR HIS ROLES AS SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE UNDER ABRAHAM LINCOLN AND VICE PRESIDENT UNDER ULYSSES S. GRANT. HE WAS INSTRUMENTAL IN MANY POLITICAL ACHIEVEMENTS, INCLUDING THE PASSAGE OF THE THIRTEENTH AMENDMENT, WHICH ABOLISHED SLAVERY IN THE UNITED STATES. IN 2023, THE EXHIBIT FEATURED THE CHAIR COLFAX USED AS SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE, AS WELL AS MANY OTHER NOTABLE ARTIFACTS, PHOTOGRAPHS, AND LETTERS FROM THE HISTORY MUSEUM'S COLLECTION. - ON JULY 1, THE MUSEUM OPENED THE EXHIBIT TURNING POINT: THE BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG, 1863. ON JULY 1-3, 1863, THE UNION AND THE CONFEDERATE ARMIES FOUGHT ONE OF THE BLOODIEST BATTLES OF THE CIVIL WAR ON THAT BATTLEFIELD. IT BECAME KNOWN AS THE TURNING POINT OF THE CIVIL WAR, CLAIMING OVER 50,000 LIVES. THE EXHIBIT IS ON VIEW THROUGH JULY 7, 2024. - SELECTED WORKS OF ART FROM THE NOTRE DAME CRUCIFIX INITIATIVE WERE ADDED TO THE EXHIBIT THE FABRIC OF A GLOBAL UNIVERSITY, WHICH OPENED IN 2022 IN COLLABORATION WITH NOTRE DAME INTERNATIONAL. A STORY ABOUT THIS WAS PUBLISHED IN THE OCTOBER 8 EDITION OF TODAY'S CATHOLIC. THE EXHIBIT IS OPEN THROUGH JULY 28, 2024. - SET AGAINST THE BACKDROP OF JUNETEENTH, THE DAY THAT COMMEMORATES THE LEGAL ABOLITION OF SLAVERY, THE EXHIBIT TRAILBLAZERS: LEGACIES OF EXCELLENCE, WAS ON VIEW JUNE 13 THROUGH JULY 15. THE EXHIBIT SHOWCASED LOCAL TRAILBLAZERS IN AFRICAN AMERICAN CULTURE AND HISTORY. THE EXHIBIT ALSO CELEBRATED RECIPIENTS OF THE HISTORY MUSEUM'S AFRICAN AMERICAN LEGACY AWARD, BEGINNING WITH HELEN POPE AND JOHN CHARLES BRYANT, WHO RECEIVED THE FIRST AWARDS IN 1991. - THE EXHIBIT ROSEMARY SANDERS: THE INVISIBLE PLAYER ALSO OPENED ON JUNE 13, CHRONICLING THE STORY OF ROSEMARY SANDERS, THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN MUSICIAN TO PLAY IN THE SOUTH BEND SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA. AN OUTSTANDING CONCERT VIOLINIST, SHE AUDITIONED AND WAS ACCEPTED INTO THE SOUTH BEND SYMPHONY IN THE EARLY 1940S. - THE EXHIBIT FORGING INNOVATION, WHICH WAS OPEN THROUGH JULY 22, SHOWCASED THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND'S FIRST 100 YEARS AS IT GREW TO BE A HUB OF SCIENCE, FINANCE, INDUSTRY, AND TRANSPORTATION. THE EXHIBIT THE NEW CENTURY OF PROGRESS OPENED ON AUGUST 26, CHRONICLING THE SOUTH BEND COMMUNITY'S SECOND 100 YEARS OF INNOVATIVE ADVANCES IN SCIENCE, FINANCE, INDUSTRY, AND TRANSPORTATION. IT WILL BE ON VIEW THROUGH JUNE 16, 2024. - OPENING ON OCTOBER 7 WAS ITALIAN AMERICANS OF NORTHERN INDIANA: HUMBLE BEGINNINGS TO COMMUNITY PILLARS, WHICH CHRONICLES THE 1880S' MIGRATION OF ITALIANS TO THE ST. JOSEPH RIVER VALLEY. THE DISPLAY DESCRIBES HOW, DESPITE ALL ODDS AND HARDSHIPS, MANY WHO ORIGINALLY FOUND JOBS IN LOCAL INDUSTRIES ROSE TO POSITIONS OF PROMINENCE, PROGRESSING THROUGH HARD WORK, FAMILY VALUES, AND RELIGION. - THE EXHIBIT UNDESIGN THE REDLINE OPENED TO THE PUBLIC ON DECEMBER 9. REDLINING WAS A PRACTICE USED TO DENY AFRICAN AMERICANS AND OTHER MINORITIES FROM BUILDING AND BUYING HOMES IN DESIRABLE NEIGHBORHOODS, ESSENTIALLY ENFORCING SEGREGATION THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY. THE EXHIBIT HIGHLIGHTS THE PRACTICE IN SOUTH BEND AS WELL AS NATIONWIDE. UNDESIGN THE REDLINE WAS COMMISSIONED BY THE CITY OF SOUTH BEND AND DEVELOPED BY DESIGNING THE WE. IT IS ON VIEW THROUGH JULY 14, 2024. - AS PART OF THE MUSEUM'S GOAL TO INCREASE ACCESS TO OUR COLLECTION, WE DEBUTED OUR ONLINE COLLECTIONS PORTAL, BEGINNING MARCH 23 WITH OUR ROBUST COLFAX COLLECTION. BY THE END OF THE YEAR, OVER 1,000 ARTIFACTS WERE ADDED THE PORTAL, WHICH WAS ACCESSED BY GUESTS OVER 1,600 TIMES. - THE MUSEUM'S ARTIFACT COLLECTION GREW BY 74 INDIVIDUAL DONATIONS, COMPRISING MORE THAN 475 ITEMS. IN 2023, COLLECTIONS STAFF ENTERED 1,298 ITEMS FROM BACKLOG AND UPDATED 2,262 ARTIFACT RECORDS WITH NEW INFORMATION. - PERMANENT EXHIBITS AT THE HISTORY MUSEUM INCLUDE UNSEEN TREASURES OF THE OLIVER MANSION AND FIRST IN THEIR FIELD: THE STORY OF THE ALL-AMERICAN GIRLS PROFESSIONAL BASEBALL LEAGUE. EDUCATION AND PROGRAMMING: - KIDSFIRST REMAINED A POPULAR AREA FOR CHILDREN IN GRADE 3 AND UNDER. UTILIZING HISTORICAL AS WELL AS STEM RESOURCES, INCLUDING AN IMPRESSIVE DISPLAY OF FOSSILS FROM THE FORMER HANNAH LINDAHL CHILDREN'S MUSEUM, KIDSFIRST OFFERED SUCH SPECIAL PROGRAMS AS "MASTODON BONES AND OTHER FOSSILS" PLUS A VARIETY OF STEM AND CURRICULUM-BASED PROGRAMMING TAILORED TO THE NEEDS OF LOCAL SCHOOLS AND TEACHERS. - THE MUSEUM PROVIDED OVER 10,416 EXPERIENCES FOR SCHOOL STUDENTS IN 2023, THE HIGHEST TOTAL IN OVER 10 YEARS. EXPERIENCES FOR SCHOOL STUDENTS INCLUDE VISITS TO THE MUSEUM, TOURS OF THE HISTORIC HOUSES, VISITS TO KIDSFIRST, AND SPECIAL PROGRAMS. - FIVE GALLERY TALKS FOR TEACHERS, INITIATED IN DECEMBER 2022, WERE HELD TO HELP EDUCATORS LEARN ABOUT MUSEUM AREAS THAT COULD BE USEFUL IN THEIR CURRICULUMS. PROGRAMS PROVIDE EACH TEACHER WHO ATTENDS 2 PGP (PROFESSIONAL GROWTH POINTS). - OVER 50 VOLUNTEERS SUPPORTED THE MUSEUM'S EFFORTS BY CONDUCTING TOURS OF THE HISTORIC HOUSES, SCANNING IMAGES FOR ARCHIVAL PROJECTS, WORKING IN THE HISTORIC OLIVER GARDENS, ASSISTING WITH PUBLIC PROGRAMS, TRANSCRIBING ARCHIVAL DOCUMENTS, AND MORE. - THE DEDICATED WORK OF THE MUSEUM'S GARDEN VOLUNTEERS CONTINUED TO BE SEEN IN THE BEAUTIFUL FLOWERS AND GROUNDS ON THE 2-1/2 ACRES OF THE HISTORIC OLIVER GARDENS, SURROUNDING COPSHAHOLM. - THE "SOUTH BEND: THE NEXT 100 YEARS" POSTER DESIGN CONTEST, CO-SPONSORED BY THE HUNT FAMILY FUND AND THE JOHN PHAIR FAMILY FUND, WAS PRESENTED BY THE HISTORY MUSEUM AND THE STUDEBAKER NATIONAL MUSEUM. THE IDEA WAS SPARKED BY A POSTER THAT WAS FIRST PRESENTED AS THE COVER OF THE SURVEY BOOKLET SOUTH BEND, WORLD FAMED DESIGNED IN 1922. THE WINNING DESIGNS WERE ANNOUNCED ON AUGUST 28, WITH TYLER FOLEY RECEIVING FIRST PLACE, AND STEVEN SULT AND BOB GREEN, SECOND AND THIRD PLACE, RESPECTIVELY. THE POSTERS HAVE BEEN REPRODUCED AND ARE NOW ON SALE IN THE MUSEUM'S GIFT SHOP. AN EXHIBIT OF THE 10 FINALISTS WAS ON VIEW FROM JULY 24 THROUGH NOVEMBER 5. - AN EXCITING PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE HISTORY MUSEUM AND SOUTH BEND CIVIC THEATER SAW THE PLAY BETTER HOMES: A STORY OF COURAGE COME TO THE MUSEUM ON NOVEMBER 30 AND DECEMBER 1. OVER THE COURSE OF TWO DAYS, OVER 700 LOCAL STUDENTS AND 100 ADULTS SAW THE PLAY, VIEWED THE WORKER'S HOME AND THE UNDESIGN THE REDLINE EXHIBIT, AND REFLECTED ON THIS MOVING STORY OF LOCAL FAMILIES' FIGHTING FOR A BETTER FUTURE. - THE CONCOURS D'ELEGANCE AT COPSHAHOLM, HELD IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE STUDEBAKER NATIONAL MUSEUM ON JULY 8, ATTRACTED OVER 1,680 VISITORS TO THE SITE, OF WHICH 621 TOURED THE OLIVER MANSION. THE 2023 CONCOURS FEATURED OVER 80 EXQUISITE VEHICLES ACROSS TEN CLASSES, AS WELL AS PROGRAMS BY NATIONALLY RENOWNED HISTORIANS KEN GROSS AND BRIAN BAKER, AND A DOCUMENTARY ON PIONEERING RACE CAR DRIVER PAULA MURPHY. - A TOTAL OF 35 PUBLIC PROGRAMS WERE HELD IN 202