Indiana Constitution of 1851 - Bibliography

Note Regarding Resources: Items are listed on this page that enhance work with the topic discussed. Some older items, especially, may include dated practices and ideas that are no longer generally accepted. Resources reflecting current practices are noted whenever possible.

Bartlett, Laura, comp. "Amendments to the Constitution of the State of Indiana." Indianapolis, 1967.
Typescript prepared by Indiana Legislative Council.

Barnhart, John D., and Donald F. Carmony. Indiana: From Frontier to Industrial Commonwealth. 2 Vols. New York, 1954; reprinted 1979.
Extensive chapter on convention and 1851 Constitution in Vol. 2.

Barnhart, John D., and Donald F. Carmony. Indiana's Century Old Constitution. Indianapolis, 1951.
Overview of convention, and 1851 Constitution.

Carmony, Donald F. Indiana, 1816-1850: The Pioneer Era. Indianapolis, 1998.
Standard source for the period.

Dunn, Jacob P. Indiana and Indianans: a history of aboriginal and territorial Indiana. Vol. 1. Chicago, 1919.
Chapter on 1851 Constitution.

Journal of the Convention of the People of the State of Indiana to Amend the Constitution. Indianapolis, 1851.

Kettleborough, Charles. Constitution Making In Indiana. Vols. 1, 2. Indianapolis, 1916.
Provides historical background, changes to and texts of 1816 and 1851 Indiana Constitutions. Two additional volumes track constitutional activity through 1960. Volume 4 is by John A. Bremer.

McLauchlan, William P. The Indiana State Constitution: A Reference Guide. Westport, Conn., 1996.
Histories of both Indiana constitutions and 1851 Constitution with commentary.

Madison, James H. Indiana through Tradition and Change: A History of the Hoosier State and Its People, 1920-1945. Indianapolis, 1982.
Standard source for the period.

Madison, James H. The Indiana Way: A State History. Bloomington, 1986.
Excellent general history.

McDowell, James L. "Indiana's Venerable Constitution: 150 Years Old and Counting." Traces of Indiana and Midwestern History, Fall 2001.
Concise history of evolution of Indiana Constitution.

Phillips, Clifton J. Indiana in Transition: The Emergence of an Industrial Commonwealth, 1880-1920. Indianapolis, 1968.
Standard source for the period.

Report of the Debates and Proceedings of the Convention for the Revision of the Constitution. 2 Vols. Indianapolis, 1851.

Thornbrough, Emma Lou. The Negro in Indiana before 1900: A Study of a Minority. Indianapolis, 1957.
Provides background and effect of 1851 Constitution.

Walsh, Justin E. The Centennial History of the Indiana General Assembly, 1816-1978. Indianapolis, 1987.

Additional Resources

Barnhart, John D. Valley of Democracy: The Frontier Versus the Plantation in the Ohio Valley, 1775-1818. Bloomington, 1953.
General overview of how Kentucky, Tennessee, Indiana, Illinois, and Ohio obtained statehood.

Biographies of convention delegates can be located in many county histories available at the Indiana State Library and various local libraries.

Indiana Historical Society, William Henry Smith Library.

English, William Hayden, Collection, 1741-1926.
Extensive primary sources on Indiana legislators including daguerreotype images.

Fletcher, Stephen J. "Conventional Portraits." A paper presented 2001 on efforts by daguerreians to portray convention members.

Morrison, John Irwin, Papers, 1830-1889. Brief summary of education committee during convention.

Esarey, Logan. A History of Indiana from Its Exploration to 1850. Vol. 1. Fort Wayne, 1924.
Chapter on convention.

Select Committee on the Centennial History of the Indiana General Assembly. A Biographical Directory of the Indiana General Assembly. Vol. 1, 1816-1899. Indianapolis, 1980.
Biographies of many convention delegates.

Internet Resources

Current Indiana Constitution as amended

View images of the Indiana Constitution of 1851 delegates' signature pages.

Original 1851 Indiana Constitution and 1816 Constitution

Selected Student Resources

Website--The PBS Kids Democracy Project: How Does Government Affect ME? <http://www.pbs.org/democracy/kids/mygovt/school.html>
How local, state, and federal governments affect us in everyday life.

Collier, Christopher, and James Lincoln Collier. Creating the Constitution, 1787. New York, 1999.
Events and personalities involved; for intermediate readers.

Feinberg, Barbara Silberdick. Local Governments. New York, 1993.
For intermediate students; includes reference and index.

Feinberg, Barbara Silberdick. State Governments. New York, 1993.
Examines what governors, legislators, judges, and other state officials do and how their powers differ from state to state.

Fritz, Jean. Shh! We're Writing the Constitution. New York, 1987.
Writing and ratification of the U.S. Constitution; for intermediate readers.

Johnson, Linda Carlson. Our Constitution. Brookfield, Conn., 1992.
History of U.S. Constitution.

Leinwand, Gerald. Do We Need a New Constitution? New York, 1994.
Reasons for writing a constitution; for intermediate readers.