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Photographs

The Indiana State Archives holds a vast number of photographs in its collections. Some 100,000 aerial photographs constitute a significant portion, but there are many others, covering all aspects of Indiana's history. To give patrons a sample of what is available, the staff has selected these photographs for viewing. Please contact the Archives for further information.

Indiana State Fair Photo Collection

The Indiana State Fair Photograph collection offers a wide variety of images taken at the State Fair, primarily from the late 1920’s through the 1980’s. Whether you are looking for prize winning 4-H contestants, winners of cake baking contests, President Franklin D.  Roosevelt, or the Beatles’ 1964 concert, be sure to search the amazing index available online at the Indiana Digital Archives.  Below are just a few of the more than 15,000 State Fair photographs housed at the Archives.

For questions or to order copies or scans of the photographs, please email the Archives at arc@iara.in.gov

Crowd at the Indiana State Fair, 1905.

Little girl rides a hand car at the Fair, 1933.

John C. Allen, Photographer

President Franklin D. Roosevelt visits the Fair, 1936.

John C. Allen, Photographer

Woman with Prize Winning Cake, 1932. Bass Photo #224431-F

Beatles at the State Fair, 1964.

Archives State Fair Negative Collection, ASF-241

Indiana Images Database

The Indiana Images database is the searchable index to the general photograph collections of the Indiana State Archives available on the Indiana Digital Archives. This database identifies a wide variety of historic images found in the records of the state agencies of Indiana. Examples include mug shots from the Indiana State Prison, Civil War photographs, and  the Board of State Charities Committee on Mental Defectives Photograph Collections, just to name a few.  The database will continue to expand as more collections are added.  Sample images appear below.

For questions or to order copies or scans of the photographs, please email the Archives at arc@iara.in.gov

Civil War

Captain James and Pvt. James M. Holdson 97th IVI.

Father and son from Sullivan County, IN.

Department of Corrections

Homer Van Meter, Indiana State Prison

Eugenics

Board of State Charities, Committee on Mental Defectives, 1918.

BSC-052, Delaware County, Indiana