Indiana State Library and Historical Bureau

{{Short description|Library and historic building in Indianapolis, Indiana, US}} {{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}} {{Infobox NRHP | name = Indiana State Library and Historical Building | nrhp_type = | image = Indiana State Library.JPG | caption = | location = Indianapolis, Indiana | locmapin = USA Indianapolis central#USA Indianapolis#Indiana#USA | coordinates = {{coord|39|46|10.55|N|86|9|49.66|W|display=inline,title}} | area = | built = 1934 | architect = Pierre, Edward Dienhart Joseph; Wright, George Caleb | architecture = Classical Revival, Art Deco | added = March 3, 1995 | refnum = 95000207 <ref name="nris">{{NRISref|2007a}}</ref> | website = {{Official URL}} }}

The '''Indiana State Library and Historical Bureau''' is a public library building, located in Indianapolis, Indiana. It is the largest public library in the state of Indiana, housing over 60,000 manuscripts. Established in 1934, the library has gathered a large collection of books on a vast variety of topics.

==History== The Indiana State Library and Historical Bureau has been open to the public since 1934.

The first attempts to have a state library started when Indiana was still a territory with its capital in Corydon, making it the oldest agency of the Indiana government.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.statelib.lib.in.us/www/isl/history/islhist.html|title=The Indiana State Library and Historical Building|website=statelib.lib.in.us|access-date=2007-05-19|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070520025432/http://www.statelib.lib.in.us/www/isl/history/islhist.html|archive-date=2007-05-20|url-status=dead}}</ref> However, the first actual Indiana state library would not be opened until the capital had moved to Indianapolis, starting on February 11, 1825, with the secretary of state acting as librarian. In 1867, the library's law books were transferred to the Supreme Court to begin the Supreme Court Law Library, which has grown to 70,000 volumes.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.in.gov/judiciary/library/about.html|title=Supreme Court Law Library|publisher=IN.gov|access-date=2008-08-08 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080719011924/http://www.in.gov/judiciary/library/about.html |archive-date = 2008-07-19}}</ref> The library became its own institution in 1841. The State Board of Education gained control of the library in 1895, with the Department of Education gaining control in 1933. Between 1895 and 1933, the library amassed more material than it had in all its previous existence. Originally, the library was only for the use of state employees and government officials. After assigning a two-cent tax to attain funds in 1929, and having architects send proposals for a new building in 1931, it was built to designs by Pierre & Wright Architects.

In 1945 the library was directed by Howard Henry Peckham, an early American historian who was the first to publish the Revolutionary War journals of Henry Dearborn, a revolutionary war officer and Secretary of War under President Thomas Jefferson.<ref>The Clements Library Associates, 1995, p.4</ref>{{efn|Peckham is also widely noted for discovering that American revolutionary war deaths were much higher than previously assumed.}}

The building is made of Indiana limestone, sandstone, and walnut. Interior features include brass accents, fanciful murals, walnut-paneled walls, stained glass windows, and woodcarvings. The external architectural sculpture was created by Leon Hermant and carved by Adolph Wolter.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.archsculptbooks.com |title=Sculpture |website=Arch Sculpture Books |access-date=August 21, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071123194828/http://www.archsculptbooks.com/ |archive-date=November 23, 2007}}</ref>

The library has seven main divisions: Talking Book and Braille Library, Genealogy, Indiana Collection, Rare Books and Manuscripts, Reference and Government Services, Professional Development, and Library Development.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Library |first=Indiana State |date=2021-09-29 |title=Services for Libraries |url=https://www.in.gov/library/services-for-libraries/ |access-date=2023-02-23 |website=Indiana State Library |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Library |first=Indiana State |date=2022-02-22 |title=Talking Book & Braille Library |url=https://www.in.gov/library/tbbl/ |access-date=2023-02-23 |website=Indiana State Library |language=en}}</ref>

A 1993 inventory of the library's holdings included 60,000 books and pamphlets, 3,500 collected manuscripts, 1.5 million images, and 1,000 maps. Some of this included not only the history of Indiana, but that of the Old Northwest as well.<ref>Bodenhamer, David. ''The Encyclopedia of Indianapolis'' p. 739, 740</ref>

It has been on the National Register of Historic Places since 1995.

The '''Indiana Historical Bureau''' has a home at the library. Founded in 1915 as the '''Indiana Historical Commission''', its initial purpose was to prepare for the centennial of Indiana's statehood. The bureau largely concentrates on the placement of new historical markers across Indiana and encourages education in Indiana history. The bureau runs a gift shop at the library.

thumb|right|Martha E. Wright Conservation Lab The library's Martha E. Wright Conservation Lab has specialized equipment devoted to conservation and restoration of historic documents.<ref>[https://www.in.gov/library/collections-and-services/preservation/ Indiana State Library Preservation Services]</ref>

==References== {{Reflist}}

==Sources== *{{cite book |title=In Memory of Howard Henry Peckham |publisher=The Quarto |year=1995 |url=http://clements.umich.edu/Quarto/Quarto%204_September,%201995.pdf |access-date=April 7, 2016 |ref=Quatro |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151029052219/http://clements.umich.edu/Quarto/Quarto%204_September,%201995.pdf |archive-date=October 29, 2015 |url-status=dead }}

==Notes== {{notelist}}

==External links== {{commons category}} * {{Official website}} *[https://web.archive.org/web/20070818043943/http://www.nps.gov/nr/travel/indianapolis/index.htm Indianapolis, a National Park Service ''Discover Our Shared Heritage'' Travel Itinerary]

Category:Education in Indianapolis Category:Library buildings completed in 1934 Category:National Register of Historic Places in Indianapolis Category:Public libraries in Indiana Category:State archives of the United States Category:State libraries of the United States Category:Tourist attractions in Indianapolis Category:1934 establishments in Indiana