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BLACK HISTORY NEWS &

MAY 2002 NUMBER 88 Florabelle W. Wilson Collection Florabelle Wilson has worked faculty member at Central most of her life as an educator and University, she was also the first 1 ibrarian. A longtime member of the black director of an academic library Indiana Historical Society, she has in Indiana. In 1971 she helped plan spent many of those years on its the interior design and select library committee. Over the past furnishings for what became the several years, she donated materials university’s Krannert Memorial to the William Henry Smith Library. Library. A past member of the The Florabelle Williams Wilson Indiana Library and Historical Collection, 1910 - 1995 (M0731) Board and the Soul People includes material the donor collected Repertory Board, she served on the from various sources. Much of the Indiana Historical Society Library collection pertains to Committee for nearly two decades. individuals and families, churches, She is a member of the Indianapolis and organizations. The collection is chapter of Zonta International (a especially useful for researchers women’s service organization), seeking information on the history Indiana Library Association, and the of African on the south American Library Association. She Florabelle Wilson side of Indianapolis. is a life member of the National historical societies. In recent years, Biographical Sketch Association for the Advancement of she created a puppet that she has Florabelle Williams Wilson Colored People (NAACP), and she used to present African-American (daughter of James S. and Hattie is an elder at Immanuel Presbyterian history programs to public school Virginia Flollis Williams) was bom Church. districts throughout Marion in Indianapolis on 12 January 1927. While at Indiana Central County. Wilson has done public She attended the local public schools University, Wilson developed the service appearances on local including School #26 and Crispus exhibit and slide/lecture television stations, WTTV-4, Attucks High School. Wilson presentation “The Black Family in WRTV-6, WTHR-13, and WISH-8 graduated from high school in 1944. Indianapolis: Invisible Sinew.” She and Indianapolis area radio stations, She received a BS in Education from was a contributor to many exhibits WIAN and WGRT. Indiana Central University (now created during the 1980s including The recipient of numerous University of Indianapolis) in 1949. “This Far by Faith: Black Hoosier honors, Wilson was named a She taught at Indianapolis Public Heritage,” edited by Emma Lou distinguished alumnus of Indiana School (IPS) #23 for eight years, Thornbrough, and “Bury Me in Central University in 1986 and later returning to school to work on a Free Land,” developed by awarded an honorary Doctor of a graduate degree in library science. Gwendolyn Crenshaw. Wilson Letters by the school in 1988. She In 1961, W ilson received an MLS has also mounted exhibits in received service awards from the from . She conjunction with her West African Indiana Library and Historical married John A. Wilson (27 August travels to Senegal, Nigeria, Togo, Board and the Indiana Library 1920-22 June 1990) in 1964. Benin, Ghana, and the Ivory Coast. Trustee Association in 1990. In From 1957 to 1971 Wilson Wilson has also traveled to France, 1993, IPS School #26 presented her worked as an assistant librarian at England, Russia, the Scandinavian with a Career Achievement Award. Indiana Central University. She was countries, China, Japan, Hong Kong, Sources: Materials in the collection; director of the library from 1971 Mexico, and the Caribbean. She has Henrietta Brown and Delores Smith, until her retirement in 1982. The presented talks and travelogues to compilers, Outstanding Black first full-time African-American schools, organizations, and Women in the State of Indiana

BHNN_2002-05_NO88 (Indianapolis: National Council of photographs, and a transcript of a Merrifield, and Laverne E. Women, Indianapolis 1980 interview of Norman Newsome. Section, 1983), p. 112 (E 185.96 Merrifield. During the interview, Several folders in the collection 088 1983); and Telephone Merrifield tells interviewer pertain to Indianapolis African- Interview with Florabelle Wilson Florabelle Wilson that shortly after American churches, mostly Baptist. (conducted by Wilma L. Gibbs), 5 his family moved to southside Other denominations including January 1999. Indianapolis in 1913, he recalled AME, African Methodist Episcopal Scope and Content Note of Reginald DuValle (Reginald Zion, Christian, Christian Methodist Collection DuValle and the Blackbirds) giving Episcopal, and Presbyterian are jazz piano represented, as well. There are Robert Briggs, M.D., signed lessons. Reginald DuValle, Jr., church histories, newsletters, copies of two books of poetry recently donated his father’s piano newsclippings, program booklets, written by his mother, Christina to the Indiana Historical Society. and photographs. The program Moody Briggs. He presented the In February 1978, the booklets are especially useful. They books to Wilson in 1981. The Indianapolis Black History generally contain church histories, books, A Tiny Spark and The Story Committee and local radio station, a list of church officers and services, o f the East St. Louis Riot, were WTLC (105.7 FM) presented “A and photographs of church leaders. published in 1910 and 1917, Tribute to Wes Montgomery” at the In 1961, the 21st annual City respectively. In 1994, Janet Convention Center. A copy of the Churches Ushers’ Union Convention Steinhoff, one of Wilson’s church program booklet is in the collection. was held at Mt. Carmel Baptist members, gave her materials that The booklet contains short Church in Indianapolis. The program she obtained at an estate sale after biographies and/or photographs of booklet contains a directory of local the death of Wilbur Grant’s widow. several renowned jazz musicians African-American churches and a Lucille Grant taught at IPS School with Indiana connections including history of the Ushers’ Union. #42. A 1955 yearbook from the Montgomery and his brothers Will Owens, a local baseball school is also in the collection. (Monk and Buddy), David Baker, player who played in the National The Wilson collection contains Jimmy Coe, Erroll Grundy, Slide Negro League, was honored at a materials pertaining to poet Mari Hampton, Freddie Hubbard, J.J. ceremony sponsored by Bush Evans; artist Joseph Holiday; Johnson, Pookie Johnson, Larry Stadium in 1995. The ceremony was musicians, the Hampton family; and Liggett, Larry Ridley, and Leroy held during an Indianapolis Clowns Crispus Attucks High School music Vinegar. It also contains game. Florabelle Wilson attended teacher Norman Merrifield. The biographical sketches of musical the game. An unsigned jersey and Merrifield materials include musical educators Russell A. Brown, James a cap signed by Owens are shelved scores, family and school Edgar Compton, Norman with artifacts. Black History News and Notes is a quarterly publication of the Indiana Historical Society Library. Intended in part to highlight the activities of the library’s Black History Program, it is issued during the months of February, May, August, and November. Essential to the Black History Program’s success is community involvement and commitment to the study of Indiana’s African-American heritage. Along with Black History News and Notes, membership also includes the quarterly Indiana Magazine of History, published at Indiana University; The Bridge, the Indiana Historical Society’s bi-monthly newsletter; and many of the special publications as they are issued - all for only $35.00 a year. To become a member or for further information, write the Indiana Historical Society, 450 West Ohio Street, Indianapolis, Indiana 46202 (317) 232-1882. Correspondence concerning Black History News and Notes should be addressed to Wilma L. Gibbs, Editor ([email protected]).

INDIANA HISTORICAL SOCIETY MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION (Please make membership in one name only) Name______Address ______City ______State _____ Zip______Occupation Membership Categories (Check One) □ Student $10 (Under 26 years old) □ Basic $35 □ Supporting $50 I wish to receive the following publications (please check all those that you wish to receive): _____ Traces o f Indiana and Midwestern History, a popular history magazine _____ Indiana Magazine of History, a scholarly journal _____ The Hoosier Genealogist, a family history publication _____ Black History News & Notes, a Hoosier African American history newsletter

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2 Tiara Nibbs Governor’s Fellow Joins DNR This spring, Tiara Nibbs, an In­ dianapolis native, is working with The Indiana Black History Challenge grand prize winner Jessica Quintero, a the Division of Historic Preservation fifth grade student at Crestview Elementary School in Lawrence Township, is and Archaeology on Indiana Free­ honored at midcourt. Pictured from left to right are Vonda Brooks, representative dom Trails, an Underground Rail­ of the Indiana Pacers; Kent Sterling of Emmis Communications, Inc.; Wilma road (UGRR) initiative. Nibbs is Gibbs of the Indiana Historical Society; Boomer, the Indiana Pacers mascot; part of the Governor’s Fellow’s pro­ Jessica Quintero, Kathi Kemp-Tejeda of the Indianapolis-Marion County Public gram that gives recent college Library; and Dan Boggan of the NCAA. graduates the opportunity to study how state government operates by Indiana Black History Challenge Grand completing 12-week rotating assign­ ments as executive staff in various Prize Winner Announced state agencies. Nibbs has previously completed rotations at the A record 4,008 individuals participated in the 2002 Indiana Black History governor’s residence, the Indiana Challenge, sponsored by the Indianapolis-Marion County Public Library, Arts Commission, and most recently the Indiana Historical Society, the Indiana Pacers, Emmis Communications, the legislative department of the and the Indianapolis Recorder. Indiana Department of Environmen­ The trivia game, conducted between 1 February and 2 March, was tal Management. developed to celebrate Black History Month with a focus on significant events Nibbs is a Purdue University in Indiana history and the contributions of black Hoosiers. Those participating graduate with a political science took the challenge by completing a 10-question trivia game card. major and minors in communication The grand prize winner is Jessica Quintero, a fifth-grade student at and organizational leadership and Crestview Elementary School in Lawrence Township, Indianapolis. Jessica supervision. She studied abroad at Oxford University and has interned correctly answered all questions on a Spanish-language version of the game for the Indiana House of card, making her eligible to receive a Family Fun Pack, including four tickets Representatives. to an Indiana Pacers home game. Jessica was recognized at halftime of the During her 3-month stint at the Indiana Pacers - Detroit Pistons game on 26 March. Department of Natural Resources, In addition to the grand prize winner, 24 branch library winners and one Nibbs will be working with Jeannie Indiana Historical Society winner were selected and received prizes courtesy Regan-Dmius and Jon Smith on the of game sponsors. UGRR initiative. She will focus on Students participating through their schools and families were able to public outreach and education and learn about Indiana black history facts through print and web site resources help promote the mission of the of the public library and the Indiana Historical Society, public service program: announcements recorded by Pacers players that aired during Pacers radio “working to locate, identify, and television broadcasts, and the library’s 24-hour “Call-a-Story” telephone verify, protect, preserve, and line, which featured staff members from the Indianapolis Recorder reading promote the Indiana sites and routes as part of the National Underground black history facts. Railroad network.” Over 90 Marion County schools requested a special classroom packet, To learn more about the Indiana which included game cards, lesson plans, supplementary reading materials, Freedom Trails program, contact and a bibliography. Each participating classroom received a copy of the book, Jeannie Regan-Dinius or Tiara The Watsons Go to Birmingham, by Christopher Paul Curtis, in addition to Nibbs at (317) 232-1646. lanyards for the students. 3 THE CULTURAL GEOGRAPHY OF IN ANTEBELLUM INDIANA Bruce Bigelow Although they were only about the border South, especially from 11,262 to 11,428. one percent of the population of Kentucky.6 The African-American residents Indiana in I860, African Americans The various black groups all met of Indiana in 1860 were scattered were a significant group in the with some hostility from whites. about the state in more than 30 rural cultural geography of the Hoosier Two Black Laws of antebellum communities and in a number of the state during the antebellum era. Indiana particularly highlight the cities (see map, “African-American Their presence and their civil rights animosity held by many whites Population, I860”).8 There were were important political issues in the against their black neighbors. The counties with numerous African pioneer era of Indiana before the first was passed in 1831 and Americans clustered in southeast Civil War. demanded that black newcomers Indiana, central Indiana, and along It is important to recognize that had to post bond for $500 in their the Wabash Valley from central the cultural geography of African county of residence as security Indiana south into southwestern Americans before the Civil War was against becoming public charges. Indiana. Northern Indiana and, more quite different from the twentieth This disincentive to immigrate was surprisingly, a broad region of century when African Americans reiterated in 1851 with Article 13 of southcentral and southwestern comprised close to 10% of the the new state constitution that Indiana, had for the most part fewer population of Indiana. Before the forbade African Americans the right than 25 blacks per county. Only 6 Civil War, African Americans were to immigrate. Although both laws of the 92 counties had no black much smaller in number and were not rigorously enforced, they residents: Newton, Benton, Pulaski, percentage, more rural, and lacking do indicate strong anti-black and Blackford in the north, and in basic civil rights such as voting, sentiment. For example, the 1851 Brown and Crawford in the south. serving in the military, having access exclusion law was overwhelmingly With regard to percentage, to public schools, and testifying supported by 84 percent of the Randolph and Floyd counties led against or marrying a white person. voters (white males) in a statewide with 4%, while Vigo, Wayne, Knox, The Civil War was a major event for referendum. Generally, the only Rush, and Clark counties had 3%. change especially for African areas which did not strongly oppose Marion, Jefferson, and Grant Americans.1 black exclusion were in the Counties had 2%. African Americans who resided northernmost tier of counties The change in the geography of in Indiana prior to the Civil War had inhabited by Yankees from New the African-American population diverse backgrounds. First, a England and New York or from 1850 to 1860 is also number were longstanding free Midlanders from Pennsylvania and noteworthy (see map, “Change of blacks who had migrated from the Ohio. In addition, the Friends of the African-American Population, border South, especially Virginia “Burnt District” of east central 1850-1860”). A wide band in and North Carolina, in order to avoid Indiana centering upon Randolph southern Indiana was one of ever harsher laws infringing upon and Wayne Counties (see map, African-American loss, probably their freedom.2 Second, there were “Percent Against Black Exclusion”) because of out-migration as a result recently manumitted blacks who voted for black immigration. On the of the 1850 fugitive slave law, which came to Indiana, especially from the other hand, southern, central, and put all African Americans in Piedmont of North Carolina and even much of northern Indiana jeopardy of being kidnapped by other lower Midwest states, with favored exclusion.7 Southern slave hunters.9 The members of the Society of Friends.3 The sentiment against African possibility was increased in areas Third, there were blacks that had Americans represented by the two where white residents were hostile been in some form of “indenture” exclusion measures had a negative to blacks and therefore increased status in Indiana under the French, effect upon black immigration, activity on the Underground the British, and later the Americans especially when coupled with the Railroad. On the other hand, in before statehood in 1816, despite the federal fugitive slave law of 1850, many of the central and northern Northwest Ordinance of 1787, which spurred black immigration to Indiana counties the number, if not which disallowed slavery. These the upper Midwest and Canada. the percentage, of blacks increased. people and their descendants were Whereas blacks were 3% of the Of the five counties which enjoyed freed sometimes as late as the population on the eve of statehood the highest increase in number of 1830s.4 Fourth, there were free in 1810, from 1820 through 1860 blacks (over 163), one was in the blacks that migrated from northern blacks were only 1% of the state north (Grant, including the city of states, especially Ohio.5 Lastly, there population. In fact, the number of Marion), three were in the center were “self-emancipated” fugitives blacks in Indiana from 1850 to 1860 (Randolph, Hamilton, and Marion, from slavery who came mainly from was almost flat, only increasing including the city of Indianapolis), 4 Percent Against Black Exclusion African-American Population from Residence - 1860- in Indiana - 1851-

Percent SI 101 - 870 9 47 to 70% 8 26-100 ■ 29 to 39% I I 13 to 22% B 1-25 □ 0 to 12% □ 0

ffl The Polis Center PPI The Polis Center UL2d We bring things into perspective.**

and one was in the south (Floyd, (which included a significant African Methodist Episcopal including the city of New Albany). number of whites) was in the rural churches and the Society of An important component of the Roberts community in Hamilton Friends.12 cultural geography of a group is its County in the center. The There were also two exceptional social institutions. For African distribution of the 74 black churches colleges that supported African- Americans in antebellum Indiana reflects the strength of the black American higher education during the most important were churches population in central Indiana the period. The most important was and schools, although other (especially in Friends territory in Union Literary Institute in Randolph institutions such as Masonic lodges Randolph and Wayne Counties) and County in east central Indiana that and the Negro convention in southern Indiana (especially in was supported by the Society of movement (especially significant in cities and rural communities along Friends. The vast majority of opposing the policy of colonization the Ohio River), while northern students were African American. of African Americans in Liberia) Indiana is relatively weak in Also, Eleutherian College in were special.10 The most prevalent representation (see map, “African- Lancaster in Jefferson County, community builders were church American Churches, Early 1860’s”). supported by white Baptist organizations. Of 74 African- Schooling for African-American abolitionists, enrolled a significant American churches identified in children was difficult during the number of African Americans Indiana before the Civil War, 53, or pioneer era. The state refused to during the era.13 over 70%, were African Methodist support African-American schools. In summary, the cultural Episcopal (AME). Another 19 were There was limited exception of geography of African Americans in Baptist, while one was Methodist African Americans enrolling in Indiana during the pioneer era was Episcopal and another was predominantly white schools. unique when compared to later eras. Wesleyan. The proliferation of Therefore, attendance for black African Americans were much more AME churches was to a youths was weak, with perhaps only rural, relatively absent from considerable degree sponsored by a quarter of school-age black northern Indiana, and small in Bishop Paul Quinn, who resided in children gaining even rudimentary numbers. On the other hand, definite Richmond, Indiana.11 The Methodist education. Black education was social patterns that would continue Episcopal church was in the city of necessarily private, and the two into the twentieth century were Madison in Jefferson County in the organizations which most strongly discernible. This would include southeast, and the Wesleyan church supported the effort were the segregation (based on residence, 5 schools, and churches) and discrimination through denial of civil rights, resulting in severe racial inequality. Progress for African Americans in Indiana, as in America generally, has truly been “the unsteady march.”14 ENDNOTES: 1 The major interpretation of African-American life in antebellum Indiana is Emma Lou Thornbrough, The Negro in Indiana before 1900 (Indianapolis: Indiana Historical Bureau, 1957). Also see Richard Pierce, “Negotiated Freedom: African Americans in Indiana,” Robert M.Taylor, Jr., ed., The State o f Indiana History 2000 (Indianapolis: Indiana Historical Society, 2001). 2 Paul Heinegg, Free African Americans of North Carolina, Virginia and South Carolina: From the Colonial Period to about 1820 (Baltimore, Md.: Clearfield Co., 2001), 4lh edition, vol. 1; Stephen A. Vincent, “Past and Future Directions for the Study of Indiana’s Black Rural Heritage,” Black History News & Notes, May 2000, 5-8; Wilbur Zelinsky, “The Population Geography of the in Ante-Bellum America,” Population Studies, March 1950, 386-401; Coy D. Robbins, “Updating the African and Native American Legends in the Roberts Genealogy,” Black History News & Notes, August 1995, 3-7; Linda Weintraut, “A Glimpse of a Past: Lyles and Weaver Settlements, 1850-1860,” Black History News & Notes, August 1999, 1-3; Carl Lyles, “The Story of Lyles Station, Indiana: Yesterday and Today,” Black History News & Notes, November 1982, 4-6; William Guide, “Rushville’s African- American Community: An Historic Overview f Black History News & Notes, May 1991,4-8; Barbara J. Stevenson, An Oral History of African Americans in Grant County (Charleston, S.C.: Arcadia, 2000); Deius Townsend, “Weaver: The Dream Becomes a Reality,” 6 unpublished paper, Butler University, 1852-1865 (Bowie, Md.: Heritage Books, Frontier,” Black History News & Notes, December 1999; Gary Alan Fine, “The 1994); Bruce Bigelow, “The Clash of February 2000, 1-4, 8. Pinkston Settlement: An Historical and Cultures: Border Southerners and Yankees 12 Herbert Heller, “Negro Education in Social Psychological Investigation of the in Antebellum Indiana,” Journal o f the Indiana from 1816 to 1869,” Ph.D. Contact Hypothesis,” Phylon, September Indiana Academy o f the Social Sciences, dissertation, Indiana University, 1955; 1979, 229-42. 1998, 1-8. Marian Carpenter, “The Blessings of 3 Thomas Hamm, April Beckman, Marissa 8 Stephen A. Vincent, Southern Seed, Education: A Mid-Nineteenth Century Florio, Kirsti Giles, and Marie Hopper, Northern Soil: African-American Farm African-American Education in Indiana,” “Quakers and African Americans in the Communities in the Midwest, 1765-1900 Black History News & Notes, May 1997, 1 - Middle West, 1800-1870,” unpublished (Bloomington: Indiana University Press, 8; J. C. Carroll, “The Beginnings of Public paper presented at the annual conference of 1999); Terry Goldsworthy, “Was Freedom Education for Negroes in Indiana,” Journal the Indiana Historical Society, 3 November Dead or Only Sleeping?: The Pre-1870 o f Negro Education, October 1939, 649-58; 2001; Gregory S. Rose, “The Distribution African-American Rural Communities of Herman Murray Riley, “A History of Negro of Quakers, North Carolinians, and Blacks the Kankakee River Valley,” Black History Elementary Education in Indianapolis,” in Indiana by 1850: A Linked Settlement News & Notes, November 1997, 3-6; Xenia Indiana Magazine o f History, December Pattern,” Journal o f Cultural Geography, Cord, “Black Rural Settlements in Indiana 1930, 288-305. Fall/Winter 1987; Gregory S. Rose, “The before 1860,” Wilma Gibbs, ed., Indiana’s 13 Coy D. Robbins, “The Union Literary Distribution of Indiana’s Ethnic and Racial African-American Heritage: Essays from Institute,” Black History News & Notes, Minorities in 1850,” Indiana Magazine o f Black History News & Notes (Indianapolis: November 1981, 8-11; Hugh Smith, History, September 1991, 224-60; Coy D. Indiana Historical Society, 1993), 99-110; “Eleutherian College,” Black History News Robbins, “Lick Creek Settlement: An Early Joe William Trotter, Jr., River Jordan: & Notes, February 1994, 4-5; William C. Black Community in Orange County, Black African American Urban Life in the Ohio Thompson, “Eleutherian Institute: A Sketch History News & Notes, Part I, February Valley (Lexington: University of Kentucky, of a Unique Step in the Educational History 1982, 8-11 and Part II, May 1982, 8-12; 1998); Darrel Bigham, We Ask Only a Fair of Indiana,” Indiana Magazine o f History, Coy D. Robbins, Forgotten Hoosiers: Trial: A History o f the Black Community o f June 1923, 107-31. African Heritage in Orange County, Evansville, Indiana (Bloomington: Indiana 14 Philip Klinkner and Rogers M. Smith, Indiana (Bowie, Md.: Heritage Books, University Press, 1987). The Unsteady March: The Rise and Decline 1994); Elizabeth Campbell, Rachel 9 Emma Lou Thornbrough, “Indiana and o f Racial Equality in America (Chicago: Mancini, Deborah Rotman, and Aaron Fugitive Slave Legislation,” Indiana University of Chicago Press, 1999). Smith, “African-American Rural Settle­ Magazine o f History, September 1954, 201 - ments in Randolph County, Indiana,” Black 28; David Roberts, “Assistance and Bruce Bigelow is Associate History News & Notes, May 1998, 1-4; Resistance: Fugitive Slaves and Free Blacks Professor of Geography in the Deborah L. Rotman, Rachel Mancini, on the ,” Black History Department at Butler Aaron Smith, and Elizabeth Campbell, History News & Notes, November 1996, 4- University. African-American and Quaker Farmers in 8; Wilma Gibbs, “Researching the Indiana East Central Indiana: Social, Political, and Connection to the Underground Railroad,” Economic Aspects o f Life in Nineteenth- Black History News & Notes, November Lick Creek Dig Century Rural Communities: Randolph 1999, 1-5; Ronald L. Baker, Homeless, County, Indiana (Muncie: Ball State Friendless, and Penniless: The WPA African-American history is University, 1998). Interviews with Former Slaves Living in uncovered in the Hoosier National 4 Thombrough, 1-30; Andrew R. L. Cayton, Indiana (Bloomington: Indiana University Forest this summer as the Indiana “Race, Democracy, and the Multiple Press, 2000). State Museum and the United States Meanings of the Indiana Frontier,” Darrel 10 Philip S. Foner and George E. Walker, Department of Agriculture Forest E. Bigham, ed., Indiana Territory: A eds., Proceedings of the Black State Service team up to excavate a Bicentennial Perspective (Indianapolis: Conventions, 1840-1865 (Philadelphia, pioneer site that was once a part of Indiana Historical Society, 2001), 47-70; Penn.: Temple University Press, 1979), vol. the Lick Creek Settlement in Orange George W. Geib, “Jefferson, Harrison, and 1, 113-11; Carol Hunter, Laura MacGregor, County. First settled by Quakers in the West: An Essay on Territorial Slavery,” Cynthia Neff, and Amy Hunter, “African- in Bigham, 99-124. American Resistance in Antebellum 1811, the Lick Creek community 5 Audrey Werle, “Thomas Malston: Indiana Indiana,” Black History News & Notes, grew to include several free African- Pioneer, 1771-1867,” Black History News August 1992, 4-8; Kisha Tandy, “The American families who were 6 Notes, November 1988, 4-7; Frederick Indiana Colonization Movement,” Black looking to escape pro-slavery Karst, “A Rural Black Settlement in St. History News & Notes , August 1997, 1- sentiments of the southern states. Joseph County, Indiana before 1990,” 5,8. Past excavations over the last two Indiana Magazine o f History, September 11 Paul R. Griffin, “A Brief Account of the years have unearthed a wealth of 1978, 252-67. Development and Work of African artifacts that provide clues about the 6 Gwendolyn Crenshaw, “One Ran to Methodism in Ohio and Indiana, 1830- life of some of the first African- Freedom, Another Caught and Bonded: The 1865,” Black History News & Notes, American pioneers. This summer, Case of Caroline, a Fugitive Slave, and November 1985, 4-9; “History of Second Luther A. Donnell, Black History News & Baptist Church,” Black History News & the Indiana State Museum will be Notes, August 1986, 4-6; Thomas A. Notes, August 1989, 1; L. C. Rudolph, in the field from 29 July - 10 August Hendrickson, “Sheltering a Famous Hoosier Faiths: A History of Indiana's and would like to invite visitors to Fugitive Slave,” Black History News & Churches and Religious Groups stop by the site for an open house Notes, Part I, August 2001,2-7 and Part II, (Bloomington: Indiana University Press, on Saturday, 3 August. For more November 2001,3-8. 1995), 560-96; Randy K. Mills, “African- information, please contact Alicia 7 Coy D. Robbins, Indiana Negro Registers, American Empowerment on the American Stewart at (317) 233-9348. 7 two men - abolitionist Frederick and institutions such as the Indiana Douglass and President Fincoln - Historical Society take advantage of who made a significant impact on that by presenting related program­ America’s black population. And ming and participating in commu­ it’s also true that several other nity initiatives. But I’d like to significant dates in African- propose that as Hoosiers - as Ameri­ American history occurred in cans - we celebrate black history, February, such as Congress’ women’s history, and any other proposal of the 15th Amendment niche history year-round. granting blacks the right to vote Our history is rich but if we (1869) and the founding of the celebrate only certain parts of it National Association for the during certain times of the year, we Advancement of Colored People are cheating ourselves and the (1909). But that doesn’t mean we people who have made significant Celebrating History should forget about black history historical contributions to our By Sal Cilella during the rest of the year. country and culture. You can bet that Another case in point is Women’s Robert Brokenburr, the first African Here’s a crazy idea. Let’s History Month, which is celebrated American elected to the Indiana celebrate black history in January, in March. The association of senate, and Margaret Ray the month in 1863 when President women’s history with that month Ringenberg, a World War II pilot Abraham Lincoln signed the goes back more than eight de­ from Fort Wayne, were on the job Emancipation Proclamation that cades, when several European 12 months a year, and not just in freed the slaves. Or what about countries first observed International February and March. May? That’s the month in 1954 Women’s Day in March 1911. But Our history is all around us all the when the Supreme Court ruled in why not commit to celebrating time. Embrace it every time you get Brown vs. Board of Education of women’s history throughout the rest the chance. Don’t wait for hi story - Topeka, Kansas, that segregation in of the year as well? When recalling of-the-month observances and public schools is unconstitutional. your own family’s history with your celebrations. Explore your family There’s also September - the month children, focus on the female mem­ history, community history, and in 1992 when Mae Jemison became bers and their special influences; ethnic history anytime and all the the first African-American woman read a book this year about a famous time. You’ll appreciate it more when in space. In fact, why not celebrate woman in history; or in August, cel­ the next designated weeklong or black history year-round? The ebrate the 82nd anniversary of the monthlong celebration rolls around. significant events, people, and ratification of the 19th Amendment places in black history certainly that gave women the right to vote. Sal Cilella is president and CEO o f aren’t confined to February. It’s important that we acknowl­ the Indiana Historical Society. His It is true that in 1926 Dr. Carter edge these months set aside to rec­ comments were in the March/April Woodson created Negro History ognize significant aspects of 2002 issue of The Bridge and also Week, the precursor to today’s American history. Certainly public appeared as an opinion piece in Black History Month, in February awareness is higher during these several newspapers around the because it marks the birthdays of months because of media attention, state.

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