August 2009

All Indiana State Library events and workshops are free and open to the public.
All events and workshops occur at the Indiana State Library. You can enter the State Library at 315 W. Ohio Street, Indianapolis, Indiana. Programs require no registration. For more information call 317-232-3675.

Family History Orientation Tours
Learn where different family history resources are located on the first and second floors of the Indiana State Library. This is a free orientation tour, geared toward genealogists. Pre-registration is required; please call 317-232-3689. All tours take place from 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.

Upcoming Family History Orientation Tours

Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Thursday, August 20,2009
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Thursday, September 17, 2009

What’s New
The Indiana Collection is pleased to house all titles nominated for the Best Books of Indiana competition. Copies of all of these titles are available to check out.

Did you know?
Did you know that the ceiling decoration in the Indiana North Room uses American printers' marks and the History Reference Room uses foreign printers' marks? The Indiana North Room houses the State Data Center and the History Reference Room houses general reference collection materials.

Resources from the
Indiana State Library
Federal Depository Library Program
Genealogy Collection
Indiana Collection
INSPIRE - Indiana's Virtual Library
Indiana Memory
Manuscripts & Rare Books Collection
Reference & Government Services Collection
State Data Center
More Online Databases

Helpful Links for
Indiana State Library Visitors
Hours & Directions
Map of Downtown Indianapolis
Nearby Dining

Heritage

Join the Indiana State Library for the first-ever Hoosier Heritage Day at the Indiana State Fair on August 13th. Hoosier Heritage Day will be marked by special events and presentations that will celebrate a variety of historical aspects of Hoosier living. State Fair Boulevard will be packed with displays and presentations from a number of groups, including the State Library, Indiana Historical Society, Indiana Division of Historic Preservation and Archaeology, Indiana State Museum, Indiana War Memorials Commission and many more. The State Library booth will feature a trivia wheel, cornhole, and a guessing game to win a huge container of unpopped popcorn. We'll also have brochures and flyers and a display of various fun things you can discover at the Indiana State Library.

There will be barn raisings throughout the day in Pioneer Village and a free concert featuring Indiana’s own Jon McLaughlin, The Elms and The Why Store in the Hoosier Lottery Grandstand that night.

The Indiana State Fair is the state's largest multi-day event attracting more than 840,000 people annually. This year's fair stretches over three weekends August 7 - 23 as it celebrates the "Year of Tomatoes" presented by Red Gold. Known nationally for its livestock shows, Pioneer Village, Little Hands on the Farm T and a variety of unique, fun foods, the Indiana State Fair offers tremendous family entertainment for a gate admission of $8, $7 in advance (kids 5 and younger are free).

The State Library will be closing at 4:30 pm on August 13th so come visit us at the State Fair. For more information and a schedule of the day’s events at Hoosier Heritage Day, please click on the day’sprogram and general State Fair information is also available.

Indiana State Fair Trivia

· In 1852 the first State Fair was held in what is now Military Park in downtown Indianapolis. Indiana became the sixth state to begin holding a state agricultural fair.

· 1912 was the first year for 4-H Club work in Indiana.

· The State Fair has been held in Indianapolis for the majority of its existence, but other Indiana cities hosted the event in the 1800s. 1853 - Lafayette; 1854 - Madison; 1859 - New Albany; 1865 - Fort Wayne; 1867 - Terre Haute.

· In 1938 Richard Jordan, Henry County, entered his 16 ft. 1 in. cornstalk in the Tall Corn Contest, which reached the balcony of the Administration building.

· In 1939 TV debuted at the Fairgrounds with over 38,000 visitors who paid a dime to see the WLS display.

· In 1947 the first Indiana State Fair High School Marching Band Contest was held.

· In 1956 Elvis Presley did one of his first TV interviews at the Communications Building shortly after recording "Heartbreak Hotel."

· In 1957 - Muhammad Ali (Cassius Clay) boxed in the Communications Building as an amateur.

· In 1991 over 212 television and radio stations covered the Fair.

· Numerous nationally-known entertainers have graced the stages of the Indiana State Fair. Some of these include: Captain Kangaroo, Johnny Cash, the Jackson 5, the Beatles (1964), Reba McEntire, Dolly Parton, Garth Brooks, Bruce Springsteen, Def Leppard, New Kids on the Block (1989), Rascal Flatts and Kanye West.

· Presidents George W. Bush, Bill Clinton, John F. Kennedy and Franklin D. Roosevelt all made appearances at the Fairgrounds.