Indiana State Library and Historical Building
Encyclopedia
The Indiana State Library and Historical Bureau is a public library building, located in Indianapolis, Indiana
, 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 a vast variety of topics.
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. 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 seventy-thousand volumes. 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 1934, when the current building was opened, the public in large were allowed to use it. The building is made of Indiana limestone
, sandstone
, and walnut
. Interior features include brass
accents, fanciful mural
s, walnut-paneled walls, stained glass
windows, and woodcarvings. The external architectural sculpture
was created by Leon Hermant
and carved by Adolph Wolter
The library has six main divisions: Braille
, Genealogy
, Government Services, Library Development, State History, and State Demographics.
A 1993 inventory of the library's holdings included 60,000 books and pamphlets, 3,500 collected manuscripts, 1,500,000 images, and 1,000 maps. Some of this included not only the history of Indiana
, but that of the Old Northwest as well.
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 encourage education in Indiana history. The bureau runs a gift shop at the Library.
Indianapolis, Indiana
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
, 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 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
Corydon, Indiana
Corydon is a town in Harrison Township, Harrison County, Indiana, United States, founded in 1808, and is known as Indiana's First State Capital. After Vincennes, Corydon was the second capital of the Indiana Territory from May 1, 1813, until December 11, 1816. After statehood, the town was the...
, making it the oldest agency of the Indiana government. 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 seventy-thousand volumes. 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 1934, when the current building was opened, the public in large were allowed to use it. The building is made of Indiana limestone
Limestone
Limestone is a sedimentary rock composed largely of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of calcium carbonate . Many limestones are composed from skeletal fragments of marine organisms such as coral or foraminifera....
, sandstone
Sandstone
Sandstone is a sedimentary rock composed mainly of sand-sized minerals or rock grains.Most sandstone is composed of quartz and/or feldspar because these are the most common minerals in the Earth's crust. Like sand, sandstone may be any colour, but the most common colours are tan, brown, yellow,...
, and walnut
Walnut
Juglans is a plant genus of the family Juglandaceae, the seeds of which are known as walnuts. They are deciduous trees, 10–40 meters tall , with pinnate leaves 200–900 millimetres long , with 5–25 leaflets; the shoots have chambered pith, a character shared with the wingnuts , but not the hickories...
. Interior features include brass
Brass
Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc; the proportions of zinc and copper can be varied to create a range of brasses with varying properties.In comparison, bronze is principally an alloy of copper and tin...
accents, fanciful mural
Mural
A mural is any piece of artwork painted or applied directly on a wall, ceiling or other large permanent surface. A particularly distinguishing characteristic of mural painting is that the architectural elements of the given space are harmoniously incorporated into the picture.-History:Murals of...
s, walnut-paneled walls, stained glass
Stained glass
The term stained glass can refer to coloured glass as a material or to works produced from it. Throughout its thousand-year history, the term has been applied almost exclusively to the windows of churches and other significant buildings...
windows, and woodcarvings. The external architectural sculpture
Carvings (Indiana State Library)
Carvings , is a series of bas-relief limestone panels decorating the facade of the Indiana State Library in Indianapolis, Indiana, United States. The reliefs were designed by artist Leon Hermant and carved by German sculptor Adolph Wolter in 1934...
was created by Leon Hermant
Leon Hermant
Leon Hermant was a French-American sculptor best known for his architectural sculpture.Hermant was born in France, educated in Europe and came to America in 1904 to work on the French Pavilion at the Louisiana Purchase Exposition in St. Louis, Missouri...
and carved by Adolph Wolter
Adolph Wolter
Adolph Gustav Wolter van R Wolter German born American sculptor, educator and carver. Wolter was born in Reutlingen, Germany. His father was a stone carver and Wolter apprenticed with him before enrolling in the Academy of Fine Arts in Stuttgart. In 1922 he immigrated to the United States...
The library has six main divisions: Braille
Braille
The Braille system is a method that is widely used by blind people to read and write, and was the first digital form of writing.Braille was devised in 1825 by Louis Braille, a blind Frenchman. Each Braille character, or cell, is made up of six dot positions, arranged in a rectangle containing two...
, Genealogy
Genealogy
Genealogy is the study of families and the tracing of their lineages and history. Genealogists use oral traditions, historical records, genetic analysis, and other records to obtain information about a family and to demonstrate kinship and pedigrees of its members...
, Government Services, Library Development, State History, and State Demographics.
A 1993 inventory of the library's holdings included 60,000 books and pamphlets, 3,500 collected manuscripts, 1,500,000 images, and 1,000 maps. Some of this included not only the history of Indiana
History of Indiana
The history of human activity in Indiana, a US state in the Midwest, began with migratory tribes of Native Americans who inhabited Indiana as early as 8000 BC. Tribes succeeded one another in dominance for several thousand years and reached their peak of development during the period of...
, but that of the Old Northwest as well.
It has been on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
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
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
. The Bureau largely concentrates on the placement of new historical markers across Indiana and encourage education in Indiana history. The bureau runs a gift shop at the Library.