Inventory

Celebrate the Century: Historical Surveys, Part 2 of 3
Dates:  1998-2000
Accession Number:  20001231; Sm. D.C. 26
Description:  Four document cases and one small document case


Project History

In 1998, a "Celebrate the Century" steering committee was formed to develop a year-long series of programs, events, and special projects in 1999 to celebrate the end of the 20th century. The steering committee was comprised of community leaders from various local institutions and organizations and included Betty Martin, Chris Schellenberg, and board member Dorothy Jerse from the Vigo County Public Library.

The mission and goals developed for the entire project are as follows:

Mission:  Celebrate the past, enjoy the present and meet the wave of change in our future

Goals:    

• Show the importance of history.

• Add to local historical resources

• Make residents aware of their successes and the advantages their area offers

• Open a dialogue: past into the future

• Explore the potential for the future

The Historical Survey Project was developed as one major component of "Celebrate the Century." Susan Dehler (Special Collections Archivist, Vigo County Public Library) drafted three separate questionnaires or surveys to be sent to local churches, businesses, and organizations. The objective was to obtain historical information about community institutions that could be deposited in the Community Archives at the Vigo County Public Library as a valuable resource for future generations.

The steering committee finalized the format of the questionnaires to be sent out. Institutions were encouraged to donate original materials, photographs, and printed histories to complement the information provided by the survey.

Approximately 800 surveys were sent to local businesses; the mailing list was developed from the 1998 membership directory of the Terre Haute Chamber of Commerce. Approximately 316 surveys were sent to local clubs and organizations; the mailing list was developed from the Vigo County Public Library's clubs and organizations database maintained in the Community Services Department. Approximately, 208 surveys were sent to local churches; the mailing list was donated by community member, Dick Pierard.

Additional surveys were distributed by some steering committee members to a few random local organizations not on any of the mailing lists. Some institutions (such as, Gibault School for Boys and Covered Bridge Girl Scout Council) were on both the business and organization mailing lists and received two surveys, but there is very little redundancy in the collection beyond this.

A total of 233 surveys were returned to the Vigo County Public Library (23 churches, 133 businesses, and 77 organizations). These historical surveys along with some of the original material donated with them have become a permanent collection in the library's Community Archives. Throughout the year 1999, a Timeline of Vigo County History was displayed in the main lobby of the Vigo County Public Library. Historical information for the timeline was based on the information provided by the historical surveys, additional material in the Community Archives, and data supplemented by local historian Dorothy Jerse.

The Timeline has become a part of the Vigo County Public Library's WEB page and the information and materials that were part of the original Timeline display have been deposited at the Historical Museum of the Wabash Valley.

Content and Scope of Collection

This collection contains the 233 returned historical surveys and any additional historical material included with them by the responding church, business, or organization. The survey includes the name, title, and date of the person who filled out the form and the amount of information submitted by each institution varies widely. Some forms contain scant information while others are fairly complete and include printed institutional histories, original programs or brochures, company logos and graphics.

The surveys are arranged by type (church, business, organization) and within each category are presented in alphabetical order by name of organization. Also included with the collection are the master mailing lists, the inventory lists of surveys as they were received, and the working file of Susan Dehler, Project Archivist.
 

Small Document Case Business Surveys
Folder 1	Inventory list of returned Business surveys (132 total plus 1 unidentified)	1998-1999
Folder 2	A-1 Sanitation, Inc. AmBank American Red Cross of the Wabash Valley Ampacet Corporation Apartment Owners and Managers Association of Greater Terre Haute, Inc. Associated Design Professionals, Inc. Associated Door and Plywood Company of Indiana, Inc.
Folder 3	B & A Electric Big Brothers Big Sisters of Vigo County, Inc. The Box Store Brattain & Nattkemper Law Firm
Folder 4	C & E Environmental, Inc. CDI, Inc. The Callahan Funeral Home The Callahan & Hughes Funeral Home Catholic Charities of Terre Haute Christman Company Computer Creations Construction Technology Associates, Inc. Computer Solutions Systems Co., Inc. Construction Aggregate Trucking The Country Club of Terre Haute Cummins Mental Health Center
Folder 5	Covered Bridge Girl Scout Council
Folder 6	Dentists: Thomas A. Layman, DDS
Folder 7	Earl C. Rodgers & Associates, Inc. Engineered Homes Inc. Ermisch Cleaners & Shirt Laundry
Folder 8	Family Service Association of the Wabash Valley, Inc. Forrest Sherer, Inc. Forsyth Brothers Concrete Products, Inc. Foxes of Fire Furnas Pet Care
Folder 9	Forest Management Services, Inc.
Folder 10	Garmong Design/Build Construction G.E. Engine Services - Tri Remanufacturing The Great American Carpet Store, Inc. Great Wheels, Inc. Gurman Container & Supply Corp.
Folder 11	Gibault School for Boys (See also D.C. 3)
Folder 12	Glas-Col Apparatus Company

Document Case 2 Business Surveys
Folder 1	Heartland Steel, Inc. Heinl's Flower Shop Herm Rassel Mens & Ladies Fashions Hillman Jewelers, Inc. Hoosier Handpak, Inc. HPS Office Systems
Folder 2	Hamilton Center, Inc.
Folder 3	Happiness Bag, Incorporated
Folder 4	Ideas Incorporated Illiana Truck Parts, Inc. Imperial Lanes, Inc. Indiana-American Water Company, Inc. Indiana Wholesalers of Terre Haute, Inc. Inland Aquatics Ivy Tech State College, Region 7
Folder 5	Jack and June's Poplar Flower Shop Johnstone Supply Jones Tool & Machine, Inc. Joseph Realtors, Inc. Junior Achievement of the Wabash Valley, Inc.
Folder 6	J.C. Penney Company, Inc.
Folder 7	Kadel's Hallmark Kamikaze Karate Martial Arts Emporium Kelly Metal Products, Inc. Kessco Water, Inc. Kirkham Hardwoods, Inc. Kitchen Interiors, Inc. Kleptz Aluminum and Vinyl Products, Inc. Koenig Scale Company, Inc.
Folder 8	L A Stained Glass
Folder 9	Zuerner's Lawn & Garden Tractor Co., Inc./ dba Lawn & Garden Tractor Co., Truck Caps, & Marine
Folder 10	Mace Lincoln-Mercury Martin Luther Homes of Indiana, Inc. Michael R. Farr Agency, Inc. Microtel Information Systems, Inc. Miller & White Advertising, Inc. Miller Floral Co., Inc. Minnis International, Inc. Moore Photography Morris Trucking Myers Engineering, Inc.
Folder 11	NRK, Inc. Newlin-Johnson Co., Inc.
Folder 12	The Oakley Corporation Orthodontics: David M. Giltner, DDS, MS Overhead Door Company of Terre Haute, Inc.
Folder 13	Pfister & Company, Inc. Pfizer Inc. Pino's Il Sonetto Podiatry: David A. Pressley, DPM Popejoy's Music Center
Folder 14	Sackrider & Company, Inc. Sam's Club Sears, Roebuck and Co. (See D.C. 3) Shuck Insurance Agency The Signcenter, Inc. Spence/Banks, Inc. Summerlot Engineered Products Swope Art Museum Sycamore Engineering, Inc.
Folder 15	Schering-Plough Animal Health
Folder 16	TBM Building Services Terre Haute (City of) Terre Haute Convention & Visitors Bureau of Vigo County Terre Haute First National Bank Terre Haute Regional Hospital Terrell & Mardis, PC, CPAs Thiemann Office Products, Inc.
Folder 17	Terre Haute Brewery Civil War Museum
Folder 18	Terre Haute Savings Bank
Folder 19	Time Warner Cable
Folder 20	Uniquely Gourmet, Incorporated United Way of the Wabash Valley, Inc.
Folder 21	Van & Sons, Inc. Vigo County Federal Credit Union Vigo County School Corporation Vigo County Teachers Association
Folder 22	Wabash Products Wabash Valley Animal Hospital Wabash Valley Capital Management, Inc. Wabash Valley Harley Davidson Wabash Valley Pizza Hut, Inc. Walker Motor & Machine, Inc. Western Indiana Employment & Training Services, Inc. Westminster Village Whiteco Outdoor Advertising Williams and Associates, Inc. Williams Randall Marketing Communications Wilson (Robert L.) Insurance Agency Wolohan-Powell-Stephenson Lumber Co. Woodburn Graphics Wright, Shagley, & Lowery

Document Case 3 Business Surveys
Folder 1	Sears, Roebuck and Co.
Loose	Book: 1897 Sears Roebuck Catalogue, New York: Chelsea House Publishers, 1968.
Loose	Book: Weil, Gordon L. Sears, Roebuck, U.S.A.: The Great American Catalog Store and How It Grew. New York: Stein and Day Publishers, 1977.
Loose	Book: Worthy, James C. Shaping an American Institution: Robert E. Wood and Sears, Roebuck. Urbana, IL: University of Illinois Press, 1984.
Loose	Videotape (VHS): Gibault School 75th Anniversary. Real Images Video Productions, Indianapolis, IN. [circa 1996]
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