MARY JANE
TEETERS-EICHACKER
Curator of Social History
KISHA TANDY
Assistant Curator of Social History
Collection highlights
Social History is the history behind the front page. It is the stories and the objects of ordinary people; the personal daily lives of Hoosiers of all ethnic backgrounds. Artifacts include those relating to Hoosiers’ self-identification with ethnic, cultural, social and interest groups; the public issues they support or oppose; their ways of making a living; toys and leisure time activities; clothing and accessories; personal grooming; food ways and religious practices. The focus is to present the changes in Hoosier life over time from approximately 1800 to the present.
The collection encompasses nearly 12,000 garments and clothing accessories and over 3,500 popular culture artifacts including toys and dolls. Strengths include women’s clothing, particularly the L.S. Ayres’ Historic Costume Collection; the Selma Steele collection of 19th century paisley shawls; 
Indiana Amish clothing and objects; wedding dresses; and hats. The Major Taylor collection of bicycle racing memorabilia – two trophies, postcards, letters, and scrapbooks including numerous photographs and newspaper clippings – highlight the growing collection focusing on the state’s ethnic heritage.