USA > Indiana > The Indiana centennial, 1916; a record of the celebration of the one hundredth anniversary of Indiana's admission to statehood > Part 2
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George Ade, Chairman of the State Committee on Home Coming, did a valuable piece of work for the Commission in giving publicity to the Centennial, without as well as within Indiana. He compiled a unique series of Hoosierly greeting and invitation, contributed by Governor Ralston, Vice-Presi- dent Marshall, Ex-Vice-President Fairbanks, and by a galaxy of Indiana literary celebrities, which was published by the Bobbs-Merrill Company as "An Invitation to You and Your Folks, from Jim and Some More of the Home Folks." The Commission distributed about five hundred copies of the Ade booklet to newspapers and magazines over the United States and a somewhat less number to the press of Indiana. The
Riley Telling the Story of Indiana
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THIE COMMISSION'S ACTIVITIES
Bobbs-Merrill Company published two editions of the book, aggregating eleven thousand copies. Several counties used it in connection with their own celebrations, as a home coming invitation to former residents.
An effective means of education was found in the arrange- ment of a set of lantern slides, illustrating the historical de- velopment of Indiana. These slides have been circulating among schools and clubs of the State and have been in con- tinuous use. They were provided by the Commission but handled through the Department of History and Archives of the State Library. In this connection it should be said that the State Library has cooperated heartily with the Com- mission in its educative activities, particularly in the issue of bulletins which ably supplemented the Commission's publications.
Under the general head of publicity and education, should be mentioned the promotion of the moving picture, "Indiana." The visualizing of the history of the State by the movie ap- pealed strongly to the Commission as a popular and impres- sive means of education. But it was evident that the Commission was in no position to handle directly so big a project, and that the enterprise, if it should materialize, would have to be promoted as a business venture by private capital.
A company known as the Inter-State Historical Pictures Corporation was formed by Indiana citizens, which entered into contract with the Commission to operate under its auspices and sanction. The Corporation commissioned the Selig Polyscope Company of Chicago to produce the picture, on the basis of a scenario passed upon by the Commission. Work was begun in the Spring, and a seven reel film was com- pleted by about the first of June. Owing to a combination of a late start and inclement weather, the picture was pro- duced under somewhat unfavorable circumstances, causing some otherwise needless imperfections. On the whole, how- ever, it presents a suitable and commendable picture show, suggestive of incidents in the historical life of Indiana. The picture featured James Whitcomb Riley telling the story of Indiana to a group of Hoosier children. It has been shown in connection with many celebrations and is in great demand generally.
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The National Conference of Charities and Correction met in Indianapolis in the centennial year of 1916. On this occa- sion an extensive exhibit, illustrating the century's develop- ment in social work, was displayed on three floors of the State House, and a 156-page pamphlet called "A Century of Prog- ress" was presented each delegate. These led to the following paragraph in the resolutions adopted by the Conference:
We congratulate the State of Indiana in view of the amazing achievements of the past twenty-five years in the development of a state-wide program of social work. We believe that it is fair to say that no State in the Union has accomplished more in this direction in the same length of time and that no State, with the possible exception of Massachusetts, has come nearer to the development of a universal social * program. * * The splendid accomplishments of Indiana have been due largely to the leadership of the governors and citizens who have devoted themselves to this cause and to the wisdom with which the executive officers of the Board of State Charities and the public insti- tutions have been selected.
In conclusion it must be stated that the newspapers of Indiana were naturally an important factor in whatever success the Commission achieved in carrying its Centennial message to the people. For the most part they manifested a patriotic and progressive interest in the cause, in the aid of which many were most generous.
WORK IN SCHOOLS AND CLUBS
Whatever an individual's knowledge of the world and its history in general, his education and culture cannot in any- wise be called complete unless he knows his own State and immediate community, the past out of which they have developed, and the present which so vitally affects him and his neighbors. With this fundamental conception the Indiana Historical Commission started out in its propaganda for a statewide Centennial observance. The prime object there- fore was to create a greater interest in, and more thorough knowledge of, our State and its local units.
The natural place of beginning was found in the schools, since one has only to interest and direct the school children of a Commonwealth to reach almost directly the whole citizen- ship. The problem was attacked in various ways. It has already been stated how the Commission appealed to the teachers of Indiana through the county institutes. In the first place a great need was felt of giving pupils a knowledge of some of the fundamental facts in the history of their State. As a means and a basis of such, the Commission prepared a rather comprehensive outline or course of study in Indiana history for use throughout the grades, which the State Board of Education placed in its manual for teachers. For the fur- ther assistance of the latter, the Commission arranged a se- ries of topics for discussion by teachers in their monthly institutes.
The extent to which the history of the State was seriously undertaken in the schools was dependent largely upon the ca- pacity and alertness of the school authorities in the counties as well as upon the ability and fitness of teachers. It would be idle to claim that such study was nearly universal, but we do confidently assert that such an interest in Indiana and her history has been awakened in all our educational institu- tions, as has never been known and such as will mean much to our future citizenship. In fact, the Commission looks upon this as one of the most permanent and beneficial phases of its work. An immediate and concrete result in this awakened
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interest is found in the fact that the State Board of Educa- tion has already arranged for the inclusion in the United States history text-book of an adequate supplement on In- diana history. This action was taken on the recommendation of the conference of County Centennial Chairmen held in De- cember, 1915. Furthermore, the Board adopted an "Indiana" speller, the words in which have to do with the life and en- vironment of the State.
In another way the educational feature has been made ef- fective by encouraging pupils to work up their own local his- tory in connection with their school work. This has put them in closer touch with their elders to whom they have gone for information. It has been not only instructive and beneficial to them, but in many cases the result has been very desirable in the contribution which has been made to the history of our local communities. In some schools of the State all eighth grade students have been required to prepare their graduating essays on some phase of Indiana history, general or local. In another way the past has been visualized for them in the collection of pioneer relics and mementoes which have been arranged in Centennial exhibits to which the pub- lic has been invited. In a more spectacular manner, the schools have done much, and worthily, in the way of dramatiz- ing events in Indiana history. This work, being accomplished almost altogether by local initiative, has resulted in those who participated being able really to live the life of their State and community.
Growing out of the study and more intimate knowledge of Indiana history, Centennial exercises were held far and wide. In a large number of counties special days were set apart for such observance throughout the schools. Not only did they have their own programs, but the pupils very gener- ally had a very large part in the general celebrations of city and county. In both secondary and higher institutions of learning, commencement exercises were often featured by Centennial addresses in keeping with our anniversary.
The observance of December 11 as Admission Day was largely and properly an observance on the part of the schools of Indiana. Here again a suitable program for the day's ex- ercises was outlined by the Commission and inserted in the Teachers' Manual of the State Board of Education.
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The educational features of the year's work were by no means confined to the schools. The Centennial idea was made much of generally in the club activities in the State, both in their regular programs and in their conventions. Many or- ganizations shaped their whole year's programs in harmony with the Centennial, studying various phases of Indiana's development. Others held one or more meetings, which were given special prominence. New "Indiana Study Clubs" were organized which have done effective work. 89599
The Indiana Federation of Clubs established regular departments having to do with Centennial interests. To those they have given prominence in State and district meet- ings. Miss Dye, who was the leader in the Federated Club activities of the State, addressed ten of the thirteen district conventions, representing in all some seventy-five of the ninety-two counties. In gauging the effectiveness of club activity it must be remembered the very important part which club women have played in the various Centennial celebra- tions and in other forms of observance. They have invari- ably been leaders and in many cases have been very largely responsible for the success of the work in the counties.
PAGEANTRY
Two years ago he who spoke to Hoosiers of pageantry, spoke in an unknown tongue. The word was vaguely asso- ciated with those old worthies, "the boast of heraldry, the pomp of power," "magnificent spectacle," "fanfare of trum- pets," etc., but was popularly synonymous with our old friend, tried and true, the "Peerade." Today we laugh at such crass ignorance, for the Indiana Centennial has made "pageant" one of the commonest of Hoosier household words, the pro- nunciation of which is the shibboleth, dividing the Centennial elect from the medievalists.
When discussion became general as to ways and means of observing our Centennial anniversary, this old but distant ac- quaintance made its appearance, but in new clothing. In order to give it a proper and somewhat formal introduction, the State University brought William Chauncy Langdon of New York to Bloomington to give a course at the summer term of 1915 on the general subject of pageantry. It should be noted that the University had just issued a comprehensive bulletin on the subject by Dr. Withington of its English De- partment. Through these and other agencies, the general content, scope and purpose of the pageant became known. It was explained that a pageant is a dramatic portrait of the community, past and present-a mirror in which the com- munity sees itself as it has been, is, and as it may be. The possibilities of pageantry appealed very strongly to the Com- mission as a means of drawing attention to Indiana history and of providing a form of Centennial observance which would draw whole communities together in a better under- standing and appreciation of the history of their own neigh- borhood on the background of that of their State. It, there- fore, decided to feature the pageant in such celebrations as should come more directly under its own auspices.
But pageantry as a real community effort and expression is a very recent development, and there was felt the need of having some one with experience to set the pattern in Indi-
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William Chauncey Langdon, Pageant Master
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THE COMMISSION'S ACTIVITIES
ana. The Commission, therefore, in conjunction and with the financial help of the State University and Mr. Hugh McK. Landon, secured the services of Mr. Langdon, who was the first president of the American Pageant Association, as State pageant master. Especial mention should be made of the generous contribution by Mr. Landon of money and time and effort in furthering the pageant movement in the State and of his able service as chairman of the State Pageant Committee. The duties involved on Mr. Langdon's part were primarily the writing and directing of three pageants-one at the Univer- sity, one at the old Capital, Corydon, and one at Indianapolis. At the same time the Commission carried on a campaign of education over the State, through bulletins, its weekly News- Letter and through lectures, with the purpose of impressing the citizenship generally with the possibilities of the pageant as an agency of Centennial observance. Very effective work in this direction was done over Indiana by Miss Charity Dye of the Commission, who had written the New Harmony pageant two years before. She traveled extensively over the State in the cause and was also the author of a very helpful bulletin, "Pageant Suggestions for the Indiana Statehood Centennial Celebration," published and distributed by the Commission.
In these ways the leaven was applied and interest in pageantry over Indiana was soon manfest. The first fruitage of all this propaganda was in the University pageant at Bloomington, or more properly speaking, the Bloomington pageant. In a large sense it was what it was intended to be-a laboratory pageant, an object lesson to the people of Indiana in pageantry. After having read and studied about pageantry, interested people went to Bloomington from far and near, to see and study at first hand.
One striking and significant development in the work should be noted. In the early stages of preparation, the one great problem which presented itself to the various communi- ties was that of authorship and direction. So serious it was that for a time it seemed probable that relatively few pageants would be attempted. Professional pageant masters were not at hand, and imported ones constituted a luxury that few places could afford, even had they been available. But Hoosiers are nothing if not resourceful and versatile, particu-
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larly when a pad and pencil are involved. In short they were quick to "catch on," with the result that pageant writing was soon in progress by the home product route, from the Ohio northward. In all, some forty-five pageants were pre- sented in Indiana in 1916, and aside from those over which Mr. Langdon had control, all but about a half-dozen, were written and directed by home talent. In some cases the re- sults were somewhat crude to be sure, but they were the ex- pression of the community. In others, however, the "made in Indiana" pageants compared very favorably indeed with any given in the State. As an indication of the scope of the move- ment in Indiana, it is estimated that two hundred and fifty thousand citizens saw at least one pageant during the year, and that from thirty thousand to forty thousand people par- ticipated therein.
For the most part, these pageants, while presenting the broad outlines of the history of the State as a whole, have at the same time depicted the history of the more immediate neighborhoods in which they were given. In this way the local history of a very considerable part of the Common- wealth was dramatized, since the geographical distribution of the pageants has been rather surprisingly uniform, although the pageant area par excellence was that of the Pocket, or southwestern section of Indiana.
The most difficult problem in pageantry but the one in which the possibilities were greatest, was that of the county, participated in by the respective townships. It was a problem in unity and organization, but where successfully solved, the results achieved in bringing the whole county together as an organic community, were in proportion to the difficulties over- come. The county pageants were those of Bartholomew at Columbus, Dubois at Huntingburg, Johnson at Franklin, Henry at New Castle, Montgomery at Crawfordsville, Parke at Rockville, Perry at Cannelton, Posey at Mt. Vernon, Spen- cer at Rockport, Warrick at Boonville, Shelby at Shelbyville, Grant at Marion and White at Monticello.
City or regional pageants, or both, were those of Fort Wayne, New Albany, Vincennes, Michigan City, Bloomington, Peru, South Bend, Purdue University, Evansville and Earl- ham College; State pageants those of Corydon and Indian- apolis.
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County pageants, but put on largely by the county seats, were those of Decatur at Greensburg, prepared but not given, Elkhart at Goshen, Fayette at Connersville, Marshall at Ply- mouth, Owen at Spencer, Pike at Petersburg, Porter at Val- paraiso, and Washington at Salem. Local community pageants were given at Syracuse in Kosciusko, Irvington in Marion, Troy in Perry, Owensville and Oakland City in Gibson, Roann in Wabash, Richmond in Wayne. That given by the Boys' School at Plainfield was in a sense local, but dealt with state history. Those of Cass and Clinton counties were school pageants.
The Commission considers this an excellent showing for one year's work, the merits of which are evident. By thus visualizing the past, its chapters have been made more intelli- gible and strikingly interesting. As nothing else has done, the pageant has brought all classes of a community together with a common purpose. Indeed whole counties have thus been brought together, old rivalries being forgotten in a closer acquaintanceship and a better understanding. And all has been done in the name of Indiana, for which a deeper devo- tion has been inspired.
PERMANENT MEMORIALS
So long as gratitude and reverence and patriotism shall endure among people, so long will they give expression to these sentiments through the erection of memorials. The latter are the concrete evidences of the fact that a people is still worthy of a glorious past. They are also silent harbing- ers of a future of continued achievement.
It would thus be strange and a source of some inquietude, had the year 1916 seen no Centennial markers and memorials placed here and there throughout Indiana. The Commission early called attention to the subject of permanent memorials, giving all encouragement possible toward their erection. As is shown elsewhere in this general report, one of the most far-reaching results of its activity has been the promotion of a system of State parks as a great popular Centennial memorial. Thus encouraged, many places over the State have done good work in marking historic spots, and in thus memoralizing men and events in our history. It is too early yet to give a complete report of what has been accomplished in this respect, but the nature and trend of the work may be indicated. The results will by no means be limited to 1916. Such an interest has been aroused that we believe that the permanent memorials put up during the past year will serve as a great impetus to further efforts. In fact, certain worthy projects have been launched this year in the hope of future fulfillment.
In honor of prominent characters in our history, may be cited the following: Fort Wayne erected a monument in memory of Johnny Appleseed, "St. Francis of the Orchards." South Bend placed a tablet on the home of Schuyler Colfax. Tipton placed a stone in honor of General John Tipton, for whom the county was named. Washington county placed a beautiful marker in the yard of the old John Hay home in Salem. At Delphi a massive stone was placed in memory of the old Milroy family, prominent in the early history of the State. In Spencer county memorials have been placed on the sites of the Lincolns' home and of their landing in Indiana.
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A state-wide movement has been undertaken for the erec- tion at the Capital of a suitable monument commemorating the heroic virtues of the Pioneer Mother.
Several markers have been placed on historic highways and trails, as in Marion county on the National Road; in Marion, Jefferson and Decatur counties on the Old Michigan Road; in Parke, on the William Henry Harrison Trail to Tippecanoe; in Dubois on the Freeman boundary survey line; in Porter on the Old Sac Trail; in Wabash at the Treaty Spring; and in Jackson at the intersection of the Ten o'clock and Grouseland Indian Treaty boundary lines. The Daugh- ters of the American Revolution, who have done good work in this direction and who placed some of the above, also placed a marker at the Van Buren Elm on the National Road as it goes through Plainfield.
In north Indianapolis a stone was placed with due cere- mony, marking the site of Camp Morton. In Hancock county an Indiana Centennial memorial stone was placed at the pub- lic library in Greenfield. In Boone county, tablets were placed on the site of the first schoolhouse in Lebanon and on that of the first church in Jefferson township. In Mont- gomery a marker was placed at Crawfordsville, in honor of the founding of Wabash College. In Porter the site of the first schoolhouse was appropriately marked, and in Spencer that of the first settler.
Some permanent memorials have been erected with the philanthropic motive of human betterment in view. Fayette county is building a Centennial memorial hospital and has dedicated a public drinking fountain at Connersville. Jay county raised funds for a hospital at Portland. Owen county contributed generously toward the purchase of McCormick's Creek Canyon as the first public park. Tipton county raised a Centennial memorial fund for the purpose of erecting an auditorium at the Tipton city park. A new Moose Lodge home was dedicated as a part of the Centennial exercises at Fort Wayne. In Jay and Carroll counties new court houses will stand as Centennial projects, and in Parke a new Carne- gie Library.
There is one possibility in permanent memorials, for which a desire has been expressed in different sections, which appeals strongly to the Commission and toward which it
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would offer a word of encouragement. One of the most worthy features of the many celebrations, one common to nearly all of them, was that of the collection of pioneer relics. Excellent exhibits were made in nearly every county. Many of these could easily be made permanent, were there a place in which to house them properly. What better and more ap- propriate Centennial memorial could be made than the erec- tion of a building as the home of a county museum and of a county historical society? Efforts are being made in some places in this direction and deserve hearty support.
STATE PARKS AS A CENTENNIAL MEMORIAL
The Indiana Historical Commission has found a most com- mendable spirit manifest in the scores of cities, towns and country districts to make memorable the Centennial of In- diana Statehood in 1916, by the creation of permanent me- morials such as libraries, school buildings, churches, bridges and parks. Some of these memorials are of such durable and monumental nature, that the year 2016 will find them in such lasting form, that they will proclaim to the people of that generation the wisdom, culture and character of our own time.
This activity on the part of communities serves to empha- size the fact that only one movement has been inaugurated to memorialize the State as a whole in 1916, and that movement is to create a system of State Parks. It is true that even before the first steps were taken looking to Centennial activi- ties, earnest and repeated efforts were made by many loyal and patriotic citizens to obtain, through legislative action, the erection of a State Library and Museum as a Centennial Memorial. That the movement failed is not in any sense proof that public sentiment is against doing anything in the way of a permanent memorial. It only indicates that a ma- jority of the people appeared to be opposed to doing the thing which was proposed at that time.
The Commission is convinced that the concensus of Hoosier opinion is that some dignified and worthy perma- nent memorial should be established. Of the various proposi- tions suggested none has met with such general and hearty commendation, or seemed so likely of successful accomplish- ment, as the creation of State Parks. Some of these might include tracts or buildings associated by history or tradition with the development of the State. Others should be selected because of scenic or primeval charms, thus preserving for all time, some of the beauty spots and virgin forests which com- mercial invasion will soon destroy forever, and which can- not be reproduced.
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