James E. Farmer

James Farmer
S2523
May 4, 1978
1 folder

Manuscripts & Rare Books Division
Indiana State Library

Processed by: Philip N. Williams, 1998

Biographical Note:

James Ernest Farmer was born in Sandusky, Ohio, on January 28, 1919. His family moved to Indianapolis when he was five-months old. Farmer attended Shortridge High School in Indianapolis and received a B.S. degree in journalism from Butler University. He was married to Marjorie E. Guion of Indianapolis on May 4, 1946. During World War II, Farmer was an Army correspondent in Italy, France, and Germany. He took part in the invasion at Salerno, Italy, as a member of the enlisted staff of G-2, Headquarters, 36th Infantry Division. Service continued later in Algeria, France, and Germany. He left the Army a Technical Sergeant.

Farmer was a member of the editorial staff of The Indianapolis Star for twelve years and State House reporter during the second administration of Governor Henry F. Schricker, eventually becoming Night City Editor of the newspaper. Farmer was information director of the Indiana State Chamber of Commerce from 1958 to 1965, overseeing a daily reporting service on the actions of the Indiana General Assembly. From 1965 to 1969, he was the chief assistant to Governor Roger D. Branigin; and, from 1977 to 1978, he was co-chairman of a Resources Board which served the Select Committee on Centennial History of the General Assembly. He concluded his professional career as senior vice-president of the public relations firm of Howard S. Wilcox, where he was involved in lobbying efforts at the Indiana General Assembly. Farmer was a member of the Indianapolis Press Club (and was informally regarded as the club’s historian), a past president of the Indianapolis Literary Club, and the founding president of Indiana Friends of the Archives. He died on September 30, 1994, in Indianapolis. 

Source:

Information Found within Collection

Scope and Content:

The collection is comprised of a single feature story written by James E. Farmer. The story is a character study of Karl Kizer, the curator of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum and Hall of Fame. The story records Kizer’s suggestion of the creation of such a museum to Tony Hulman and Hulman’s appointment of Kizer as the person to develop such a facility. Karl Kizer’s life as a master mechanic is reviewed in its various stages. Features of the Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum and Hall of Fame are named, along with details of automobile restoration.

Photocopy Policy:

Manuscript material CANNOT be photocopied or digitized in its entirety. Photocopies and/or digital reproductions (i.e. scans, digital photographs) cannot exceed 25% of a COLLECTION or FOLDER within a collection. In some cases, photocopying may not be permitted due to the condition of the item. Please check with the Manuscript Librarian for possible alternatives.

Collection Inventory

Folder and Item Listing:

Folder 1. 

Date 
1978, May 4 Typescript, “Auto Racing’s History Told By Motor Speedway Museum” James E. Farmer (5 pages)

Collection Information:

Size of Collection: 1 folder
Collection Dates: May 4, 1978
Provenance:  Unknown
Access: The Collection is Open for Research Use
Restrictions:  None
Reproduction Rights: Permission to reproduce, exhibit, or publish material in this collection must be obtained from the Manuscripts and Rare Books Division, Indiana State Library.
Language: Materials are entirely in: English
Alternate Formats: 
Related Holdings: S43 James Farmer; S2851 James Farmer
Collection Notes: