Unbound: A Collection of Indiana Stories

Have Comments, Questions, or Anecdotes? Send 'em our way we'd love to hear them! In this literary episode of Unbound, Regan and Casey are doing something they’ve never done before, have a guest host! Welcome to the podcast Jess Baloun, former preliminary editor of Unbound and now host of Unboxed a new YouTube Series from Indiana Historical Society. First, Jess tells about the life of Kurt...

Have Comments, Questions, or Anecdotes? Send 'em our way we'd love to hear them! On this Paul filled episode of Unbound, Casey and Regan explore the world of Indiana symbolism. First, Regan goes into the history of the Indiana state flag designed by Paul Hadley. Then, Casey talks about the once incredibly popular state song “On the Banks of the Wabash, Far Away” by Paul Dresser.  Paul Hadl...

Have Comments, Questions, or Anecdotes? Send 'em our way we'd love to hear them! In this episode of Unbound, we are talking cold hard cash. First, Regan tells us the story of master counterfeiter Peter McCartney, who distributed forged bank notes during the Civil War. Then, Casey regales us with the story of a bank crash that occurred in 1884, which uncovered the stories of many families i...

Have Comments, Questions, or Anecdotes? Send 'em our way we'd love to hear them! Get into the swing of this new season with two new and exciting stories, first we go back to the racetrack with Betty Cadou. The first woman ever to be allowed in the pits and garages at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Then we take you out to the ball game with the story of Cliff Robinson the official batboy...

Have Comments, Questions, or Anecdotes? Send 'em our way we'd love to hear them! We are off to the races on this season finale of Unbound! First, Casey explores the rich history of African American racers and the Colored Speedway Association. Then, Regan recounts the story of the races that took place in the air at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Balloons Over Indianapolis Further Informa...

Have Comments, Questions, or Anecdotes? Send 'em our way we'd love to hear them! This episode Casey and Regan are on the lam exploring the histories of prisons and prison reform in Indiana. Regan begins by telling us the story of two prison reformers Rhoda Coffin and Sarah J. Smith who helped to found the first women's prison in Indiana; which spurs a conversation into the complexitie...

Have Comments, Questions, or Anecdotes? Send 'em our way we'd love to hear them! Casey and Regan dive into the rich world of Indiana's Syrian immigrant communities. First, Casey looks at the immigrant community that existed in Indianapolis in the early 1900s, through the lens of a local celebrity, Ramanos the Fencer. Then, Regan tells about the largest Syrian community outside of New...

Have Comments, Questions, or Anecdotes? Send 'em our way we'd love to hear them! Have you ever looked at a photograph and wondered what, where, or who you were looking at in the image? Join Regan, Amy, and Director of Access and Preservation, Susan Sutton, as they talk about falling down the rabbit hole and discuss the tips and tricks they’ve used to provide a better description or answer...

Have Comments, Questions, or Anecdotes? Send 'em our way we'd love to hear them! Trigger Warning: Death, War, Gun Violence. This week Casey and Regan look at Hoosiers’ experiences with war abroad. First, Casey takes you behind the Iron Curtain, in Cold War Russia, with the story of an US Diplomat from Indiana. Then through their letters home, Regan shares the stories of three young Hoosier...

Have Comments, Questions, or Anecdotes? Send 'em our way we'd love to hear them! Casey and Regan are running away with the circus in this episode of Unbound. First, Casey looks at how the Women's Franchise League of Indiana utilized a circus and their elephants in their fight to gain the right to vote. Then Regan tells us the story of Buckskin Ben Stalker, an Indiana man who traveled...

Have Comments, Questions, or Anecdotes? Send 'em our way we'd love to hear them! Join Casey and Regan on a journey through some Indiana architecture. First Regan explores the life of architect and visionary Avriel Shull. Then Casey looks into the story of our very own building, Eugene and Marilyn Glick Indiana History Center. Live Furiously: The Design Life of Avriel Shull  A Living Room f...

Have Comments, Questions, or Anecdotes? Send 'em our way we'd love to hear them! Have you read a book written by a ghost, attended a seance (or wanted to), had your palm read? Join Regan, Amy, and Director of Collections Management, Maire Gurevitz, as they discuss some rabbit holes they’ve encountered related to Spiritualism in the IHS collections. Further Information: Psychopathy, or, Spi...

Have Comments, Questions, or Anecdotes? Send 'em our way we'd love to hear them! This week on Unbound, Casey and Regan are going off the beaten path with this week’s episode. First, Regan explores the history of Indiana’s first brewers in New Harmony, IN. Casey will then tell you about the rise and fall of the Auburn Rubber Company whose toy empire stretched all over the country.  Indiana&...

Have Comments, Questions, or Anecdotes? Send 'em our way we'd love to hear them! This week Casey and Regan dive into the stories of two trailblazing women from Indiana. First, Regan looks at the life of pioneer lumberwoman Helen Pike Utter who took over her father’s lumber company and grew it into an empire. Then, Casey explores the career of Valeska Suratt, an alluring vamp and self-procl...

Have Comments, Questions, or Anecdotes? Send 'em our way we'd love to hear them! Welcome back for Season 3 of Unbound! We are excited to be back and to be bringing you brand new stories. This season will also be including new special episodes called,  Unbound: Down the Rabbit Hole   where members of our collections staff share times where they have fallen down the research rabbit hole. On...

Have Comments, Questions, or Anecdotes? Send 'em our way we'd love to hear them! Casey and Regan close out Season 2 on a high note by discussing the lives and careers of two Indiana musicians. First, we will discuss pianist and teacher Bertha Jasper Mehrlich. Then we will close out the season with music and film legend Phil Harris.  Further Information: Phil Harris Phil Harris with friends...

Have Comments, Questions, or Anecdotes? Send 'em our way we'd love to hear them! On this Independence Day, Casey and Regan look at some other celebrations that occur throughout Indiana. First looking at a celebration of Mexican Independence Day called Fiestas Patrias which celebrates its 100th anniversary this year in Northwest Indiana. Then Regan tells us about the Indiana Black Expo whic...

Have Comments, Questions, or Anecdotes? Send 'em our way we'd love to hear them! Join Casey and Regan as they explore two forms of protesting in Indiana. First we will look at Eugene V. Debs rail road union leader, and then we will look at the East Chicago Washington High School walk out. Further Information: Signed Debs Photo Debs for President Poster Free Debs Booth Support the show

Have Comments, Questions, or Anecdotes? Send 'em our way we'd love to hear them! Happy Pride Month from the Indiana Historical Society. This week we are delving into LGBTQ history in Indiana. Casey and Regan explore the stories of two queer Hoosiers, veteran Gerri Daniels and the Indianapolis icon from the 1980s Kenn E King. You might know him better as Nurse Safe Sexx. We want to thank Ge...

Have Comments, Questions, or Anecdotes? Send 'em our way we'd love to hear them! We’ve got civics on the brain today; Casey and Regan look at the long history of women practicing law and their fight for the right to practice law in Indiana. Then we look at Harry Truman’s famous whistle-stop campaign, which helped him win the presidency in a race he was predicted to lose.  A Century of Chan...

Have Comments, Questions, or Anecdotes? Send 'em our way we'd love to hear them! ALL ABOARD! Casey and Regan explore the story of the expansive interurban network that ran all through Indiana and beyond. Then they will examine a streetcar system which connected Terre Haute and became a source of recreation for those in the community.  Trials and Tribulations: The Interurban in Indiana   I...

Have Comments, Questions, or Anecdotes? Send 'em our way we'd love to hear them! The afterlife is explored in this death-defying episode of Unbound, Casey and Regan dive into the story of May Wright Sewall. A famous spiritualist from Indiana who wrote the book on spiritualism and how she used it to speak with her husband who had passed. Then we will look into the evolution of cemeteries to...

Have Comments, Questions, or Anecdotes? Send 'em our way we'd love to hear them! I hope you’re hungry! In this episode, Regan and Casey are serving up two stories detailing some of Indiana’s food traditions. For the main course we are heading down to Vincennes for a steaming hot bowl of their famous Fricassee, better get it while they’ve got it. Then get ready for a delicious desert of an...

Have Comments, Questions, or Anecdotes? Send 'em our way we'd love to hear them! Welcome back to Season 2 of Unbound: A Collection of Indiana Stories ! Regan and I are excited to be back in the studio. In our kickoff of the season, we will be looking into some of the hobbies that Hoosiers have had throughout our state’s history. Dive into our complicated history with gambling and our less...

Have Comments, Questions, or Anecdotes? Send 'em our way we'd love to hear them! In the season finale, Casey and Regan take on the bright lights of Hollywood. Recounting the memories of “The King’s” last concert which took place in Indianapolis and what that legacy has meant to those who were in attendance. Then we examine the life and career of Anne Baxter star of stage and screen who was...