Research Blog : evansville history

WWII Rosie the Riveters

just_renny@evpl — Tue, 19 Mar 2013 19:15:00 GMT

Dr. Heidi Strobel will be presenting a program titled "Harmony of the Homefront: Homegrown Rosie the Riveters" tomorrow (March 20, 2013) starting at 6:30 in the Browning Room at Central Library. This program will feature information from an oral history research project Dr. Strobel conducted in 2008 and 2009. Dr. Strobel is currently Associate Professor of Art History in the Department of Archaeology and Art History at the University of Evansville.

The Evansville in WWII Digital Collection was funded with a grant from the US Institute of Museum and Library Services, administered by the Indiana State Library. The WWII Speaker Series is part of the promotional events for the grant.

Ms. Mary Sims, Welder.

Evansville in WWII Digital Collection

just_renny@evpl — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 20:24:00 GMT

EVPL worked with the University of Southern Indiana and the Evansville Museum of Arts, History, and Science for the last year on the "Evansville in WWII" Digital Collection. The collection was funded with a grant from the US Institute of Museum and Library Services, administered by the Indiana State Library.

EVPL digitized their collection of newsletters from Evansville factories producing for the war industry. The newsletters contain information about safety on the job, awards and goals acheived in production, recreational activities, comics, and photographs of laborers and their families. The newsletters can be searched by word which greatly helps when searching for something specific.

USI owns a collection of war bond posters produced and distributed nationally by the Government Printing Office. The posters are colorful and show a variety of topics that were important to the patriotic feelings of Americans during the war. A few of these posters are recognizable as they were created by Norman Rockwell, famous for his Saturday Evening Post (among other magazine) covers.

The Museum allowed EVPL to scan their collection of Evansville Shipyard photographs which were commissed by the Navy at the beginning of the shipyard construction in Evansville. The collection includes nearly 10,000 pictures of the shipyard, building construction, laborers, office workers, ship building, ship christening, recreational activities, war ships on the Ohio River, and much more. Many of these pictures contain names of workers or people involved in the ship christenings which can be searched.

In support of the efforts to bring to light Evansville's participation in WWII, EVPL is also hosting the WWII Speaker Series. The first speaker will by Mike Linderman from Angel Mounds discussing the WPA and Angel Mounds. Coming up later in March are Tom Lonnber from the Evansville Museum and Heidi Strobel from the University of Evansville. April features the final three presenters: Jennifer Greene from USI, local author Harold Morgan, and EVPL digitization clerk Lauren Weingart.

If you have questions or comments submit them to Renny in Reference Services.

EVPL Photo Collection

just_renny@evpl — Mon, 18 Feb 2013 18:52:00 GMT

In honor of the Library's 100th year, we created an online collection of the library from past to present. The collection started with 98 pictures and the first two annual reports (1913 and 1914). We uploaded another 8 pictures this afternoon. This collection will continue to grow throughout the year, so check back often to make sure you don't miss any new additions! The collection can be found here. Just click "search" if you want to browse the entire collection. If you have any questions or feedback you can contact Renny in the Reference Services Department at Central (428-8218).

Do You Know Your Local History?

just_renny@evpl — Sat, 02 Jun 2012 22:39:00 GMT

Test your knowledge of Evansville history by attending the Do You Know Your Local History quiz show in Browning Room B at 6:30 on Tuesday. I have designed a lot of tough questions to test your knowledge. This program is part of the Evansville Bicentennial, Historic Preservation Month, and the Summer Savvy Senior Series.

I look forward to challenging you!!

Do You Know Your Local History?

wag.mado@evpl — Mon, 06 Jun 2011 17:34:00 GMT

Do you know the name of the restaurant that was located at 218 N.W. Fourth in the 1950's? Hint: The owner's last name was Topper. Well, if you'd like to take a stroll down "memory lane" and discover the answer to this question and many more, please join us for our next Savvy Senior's Series program. We will be meeting at Hickory Lake Apartments this Thursday, June 9 at 10:00 AM. This program is free, open to the public and does not require registration. Renny McBride, EVPL's local history librarian will present a quiz show format program about people/places in Evansville's history. She will also discuss the many library resources that are available to our community regarding local history. Come and share the memories with us.

Local Yearbooks at EVPL...

SuDocQueen@evpl — Fri, 17 Apr 2009 16:11:00 GMT

Just this week I was helping a library user who was very grateful, but surprised to discover we had a collection of local yearbooks. Their surprise and gratitude made me wonder how many others out there aren't aware of this wonderful resource.

So for those who didn't know or have forgotten, yes, we have a very nice collection of local yearbooks in our Indiana Room at Central. Made up primarily of high school yearbooks, the collection also boasts some local college yearbooks and even a couple for elementary/middle schools. Looking at them can be a hilarious and poignant walk down memory lane as well as a handy resource for those doing research.

Now, before you rush downtown to view yourself in all your high school glory, I need to give you a couple of caveats. First, be sure the Indiana Room is open before you make the trip here (if that's the only reason you're coming to Central). The Indiana Room is only open when our Special Collections Librarian can be present to help you with your research, so be sure to check here for the Room's hours of operation.

And, the second caveat, before rushing down, you might also want to make sure we have the yearbook you're interested in. Our collection has been built from donations and unfortunately we are missing some years for all the schools. Here is the list of those books we have.

Speaking of those missing years, we're always looking to fill those holes and continue to grow the collection. If in your spring cleaning you run across an old yearbook you no longer want and wonder what to do with it, donate it to us! We'd be thrilled to have it.