Friday Facts

This Week's Facts:

-Agency Highlights Amazing History of Currency

-Inaugural Ball Game to Honor African-American Baseball Pioneers

-State Agriculture Office Provides Drought-related Information

-Census App Tracks American Economic Trends

Data Center to Host American FactFinder Refresher Webinar

If your patrons are searching for the latest state or local data for a report, grant application, or research paper, please sign up for the latest Data Center webinar, FactFinder Refresh: 2012 Updates to New American Fact Finder.

Join us Wednesday, August 29, 2012 at 2:00 p.m. for an overview of enhancements to the new American FactFinder as of this year. If you need data from the 2010 Census or the latest American Community Survey, listen in to learn new & easier ways to drill down to the right information. Time will be provided for questions at the end of the presentation. Click here to register today.

Friday Facts Editorial Team:

Katharine Springer
State Data Center Coordinator

Kim Brown-Harden
State Documents Coordinator

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Friday Facts is a free publication produced by the Indiana State Library, distributed weekly in an electronic format. Past issues are archived at www.in.gov/library/newsroom.htm.

Indiana State Library, 315 W. Ohio Street, Indianapolis, IN 46202. www.library.IN.gov

Agency Highlights Amazing History of Currency

Money! Decisions about money are all around - how to get it, keep it, spend it, or save it. The United States Department of Treasury’s Bureau of Engraving and Printing Office provides a unique perspective on the history of U.S. money. The U.S. Treasury began processing and issuing paper currency as early as 1861. Before currency was processed by machine, workers signed and trimmed sheets of Demand Notes by hand in the Treasury Building. On August 29, 1862, a new engraving and printing workshop began processing the notes and it became the basis for the current Bureau of Engraving and Printing. It eventually produced currency, revenue stamps, government obligations (like U.S. savings bonds), and other security documents. In 1877, the Bureau of Engraving and Printing became the sole producer of all U.S. currency. Postage stamp production was added in 1894 and established the Bureau as the nation’s security printer.

Today, the Bureau is the largest producer of U.S. Government security documents, with production facilities in Washington, DC and in Ft. Worth, Texas. The history of currency can be fascinating and somewhat confusing. For example, there were more than five types of currency one person could have in their wallet before the late 20th century. A person could have denominations ranging from three cents up to $10,000! Imagine trying to break that bill at the grocery store. In addition to the history of the Bureau and currency, there is historical legislation about counterfeiting, defacement, and other laws relating to money and definitions of money as we know it today. The next time you get money from your wallet, remember that you’re handling a piece of history!

Inaugural Ball Game to Honor African-American Baseball Pioneers

Indiana is known as the amateur sports capital of the world. Once upon a time Indiana was host to Negro League Teams that included legendary player Hank Aaron who played with the Indianapolis Clowns. The Indiana Civil Rights Commission is hosting a unique sporting event that celebrates history and the progression of equal rights. The Indiana Civil Rights Commission, the Indianapolis Indians, and Minor League Baseball will host the first annual Civil Rights Game at Victory Field Saturday, August 25th. Before the game, former Indianapolis Clowns Negro League players will be honored and throw out the ceremonial first pitch with the ICRC Executive Director Jamal Smith. The Indianapolis Indians will pay tribute to the Clowns by wearing throwback jerseys. What a way to pay homage to pioneers who have paved the way for stars like Deion Sanders, Ken Griffey, Jr., and Razor Shines! For more information on the game, visit the Indianapolis Indians website.

State Agriculture Office Provides Drought-related Information

Indiana is making history again. Unfortunately, it’s due to record-breaking drought conditions. The last time Indiana experienced a drought was July 1934 and 1936, with 1936 being the worst until this summer. Drought conditions continue to affect the entire state and many facets of our economy. The lack of rainfall and extreme temperatures have devastated crops, impaired livestock feed, and water supplies all across Indiana. The Indiana State Department of Agriculture monitors the continuing drought and will provide helpful information and resources such as the SBA’s Disaster Loan Application, Emergency Program information from the USDA and Indiana Farm Service Agency, and other valuable data for farmers, agriculturalists, and consumers.

Census App Tracks American Economic Trends

The Census Bureau has released its first mobile application. According to last week’s news release, America’s Economy sends “economic trends, updates, and the schedule of upcoming releases to a smartphone or computer tablet. The app combines statistics from the Bureau of Economic Analysis and the Bureau of Labor Statistics with statistics from the Census Bureau, presenting a live update of the nation’s key economic indicators.” Visit the Census Bureau’s website for more information about accessing data via Census APIs (application programming interface) and join the API developers forum. To learn more about Census Bureau economic data products, visit http://www.census.gov/econ/. America's Economy is available now for Android users and is expected be available for Apple smartphone and tablet users in the Apple App Store in the coming weeks.