Collection # P 0492 P. E. MACALLISTER COLLECTION 1974–2010 (DVDS, 1982–2007) Collection Information Biographical Sketch Scope and Content Note Series Contents Processed by Sarah Newell and Barbara Quigley June 12, 2012 Revised June 16, 2015 Manuscript and Visual Collections Department William Henry Smith Memorial Library Indiana Historical Society 450 West Ohio Street Indianapolis, IN 46202-3269 www.indianahistory.org COLLECTION INFORMATION VOLUME OF 309 titles on DVD (1982–2007); 10 folders of manuscript and COLLECTION: printed materials (1974–2010) COLLECTION 1974–2010 (DVDs, 1982–2007) DATES: PROVENANCE: Donated by P.E. MacAllister, 2008; second accession in December 2008 of 94 DVDs of On Site programs (ca. 1983- 2006) from IUPUI special collections, who in turn got them from P.E. MacAllister; MacAllister Machinery newsletters mailed to IHS in 2010 RESTRICTIONS: None COPYRIGHT: REPRODUCTION Permission to reproduce or publish material in this collection RIGHTS: must be obtained from the Indiana Historical Society. ALTERNATE FORMATS: RELATED HOLDINGS: ACCESSION 2008.0004, 2008.0380, 2010.0382X NUMBER: NOTES: BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH P.E. (Pershing Edwin) MacAllister is chairman of the board at MacAllister Machinery Co., a Caterpillar dealership started by his father. He was born 30 August 1918 in Green Bay, Wisconsin, to Edwin W. and Hilda MacAllister. His father, a WWI veteran, named him Pershing after General John Joseph “Black Jack” Pershing. P.E. graduated from Carroll College in Waukesha, Wisconsin, with a major in history and minors in English and speech. Upon his graduation he enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps and reported for duty at the Muskogee, Oklahoma, Air Corps Primary Training School. He transferred to Armament School at Lowry Field in Denver, graduating in May 1941. He was commissioned 2nd Lieutenant in August 1941. He served in Europe and Africa between May 1942 and August 1944 then was reassigned to armament duty in Tampa, Florida. He was discharged from the army in 1945. On 17 May 1945 P.E. married Rebecca Cochran, supervisor of surgery at Mound Park Hospital in St. Petersburg, Florida. The couple then moved to Indianapolis, where their three daughters and one son were born. Rebecca passed away on 8 January 2001. On 30 August 2003, P.E.’s eighty-fifth birthday, he married Fran Downing. In late May 1945, P.E. went to work for his father at MacAllister Tractor Company, the Allis Chalmers Caterpillar dealer for much of Indiana at the time. P.E. started his career at the bottom packing parts, and then worked as a mechanic, the promotion manager, and later a salesman. In 1952 he became president of MacAllister Machinery, his father was chairman of the board, and P.E.’s younger brother Dave became vice president. A long–time admirer of opera, P.E. created and hosted the MacAllister Awards for opera singers. The MacAllister Awards stemmed from the Indiana Opera Theatre, which Elaine Bookwalter and P.E. had managed since the late 1970s. The competition offered the largest non-restricted monetary awards in North America for young opera singers, age 36 and under. Awards were presented in three categories: one for professionals who were U.S. citizens, one for college students, and one for Indiana residents ages 13 to 18. P.E. attended as many of the regional auditions as his schedule permitted. Many young opera singers credit the MacAllister Awards for helping them launch successful careers. In 1982 P.E. MacAllister and Elaine Bookwalter became involved in producing a weekly television show titled On Site. The first show was filmed in the Skyline Room of the AUL (American United Life) Building (now OneAmerica Tower). The guests were the former mayor of Indianapolis (now senior senator) Dick Lugar and Jim Morris. The goal of the show was to exhibit the arts and culture of Indianapolis. On Site continued as a production of the public relations department of the MacAllister Machinery Company, and soon they did their own camera work and editing. P.E. has served as a board member of many organizations and as an elder, deacon, and trustee of the Northminster Presbyterian Church. He has done public speaking on the Old Testament and wrote a book titled Tongue of the Nursling on that topic. He has received many awards including honorary doctorate degrees, industry leadership and philanthropic awards, and two Sagamore of the Wabash awards. Elaine Morgan Bookwalter spent more than a year converting the films and tapes that P.E. MacAllister had made to DVD for donation to the Indiana Historical Society. The films and tapes were originally created on three-quarter-inch tapes, Beta, and Hi-8 professional tapes before eventually using a DVCam to make the more recent productions. Elaine served as Artistic Director of the Indianapolis Opera Company and for 22 years produced the MacAllister Awards for aspiring opera singers. She was born on 12 November 1928 to Dale and Mildred Morgan in Evansville, Indiana, and died in Greencastle, Indiana, on 11 June 2015. She was an accomplished musician who attended Illinois Wesleyan University on a music scholarship and later graduated from Butler University. Sources: Items in the collection, including a timeline and vitae for P.E. MacAllister. Donahue, Jerome. “MacAllister Awards.” In The Encyclopedia of Indianapolis, edited by Bodenhamer, David J. and Robert G. Barrows. Bloomington and Indianapolis: Indiana University Press, 1994: 944. General Collection: F534 .I55 E4 1994 Kohn, Rita. “Keep Singing, Keep Learning: The 21st MacAllister Awards.” Arts4All Newsletter (http://www.arts4all.com/newsletter/issue19/kohn19.html). Accessed 11 August 2008. Obituary for Elaine Morgan Bookwalter. In The Indianapolis Star, 14 June 2015, page 26A. “2002 Laureate P.E. MacAllister Business and Community Leader: Junior Achievement of Central Indiana Business Hall of Fame.” Inside Indiana Business with Gerry Dick (http://www.insideindianabusiness.com/video-player.asp?id=3578). Accessed 11 August 2008. SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE This collection consists of DVD recordings of P.E. MacAllister’s cable access television shows from 1982 through 2007 and a folder of manuscript and printed items relating to the shows and to MacAllister and his company. Topics discussed on the DVDs include archaeology, government and politics, Indiana history, United States history, home décor, education, business, opera, theatre, art, and sports. Most of the footage is from locations in Indiana with a few exceptions. Typed notes that appear on disks were written by Elaine Bookwalter. Series 1, Archaeology: This series includes information about archaeology, nautical archaeology, and the American Schools of Oriental Research. There is a visit to an archeological dig in Lawrence, Indiana, as well as interviews with archaeologists. Series 2, Buildings and Places in Indiana: This series includes information about specific locations in Indiana; most locations are in or near Indianapolis. There is information about the construction of new highways, neighborhoods in Indianapolis, historic buildings and sites in Indiana, the construction of new buildings in Indianapolis, organizations located in Indianapolis, City Market, and the Indiana State Police. Series 3, Decorator Show House and other Home Tours: This series consists of footage from the annual Decorator Show House and Gardens and five home tours from residences in Indianapolis and Hamilton County. Decorator Show House is a fundraising event for Wishard Health Services sponsored by the St. Margaret’s Hospital Guild. Series 4, Education and Schools: This series includes information about education in Indiana. The footage is of tours of schools and universities, programs at universities, and discussion of education legislation. Series 5, Factory and Business: This series includes footage of discussions with various business leaders, a tour of the Opalescent Glass Factory, and a tour of TEDCO toys. Series 6, Government and Politics: This series consists of interviews and discussions with prominent local politicians and related guests. Notably: Richard Lugar, Robert Orr, Julia Carson, Iraqi Ambassador Abdul Amir al-Anbari, Bill Hudnut, Mike Pence, and Mitch Daniels. Series 7, Health and Medicine: This series consists of footage from Methodist and Riley Hospitals, information about the Lifeline Helicopter at Methodist Hospital, information about managing diabetes, and information about treatment for Parkinson’s disease. Series 8, History: This series includes information largely about American and Indiana history but also includes information about Western Civilization and Paris, France. Topics include American traditions, the American Civil War, World War II, the Korean War, and memorials. Series 9, Indiana Events, Fairs, and Festivals: This series includes footage from events in Indiana. The dates range from 1983 to 2007. Most events took place in Indianapolis. Series 10, MacAllister Awards: This series consists of footage from the MacAllister Awards for opera singers; the dates range from 1984 to 2002. Most discs include the performances, interviews with the participants, and the awards presentation. Series 11, Museums, Parks, and Zoo: This series includes tours of many Indianapolis area museums and the zoo (new and old), tours of memorials and parks, and interviews with staff and guests. There are two discs with information on Fort Wayne museums and arts. Series 12, Music, Theater, and Art: This series includes footage of opera and theater performances, big band and jazz performances, choir