Inventory

Celebrate the Century: Historical Surveys, Part 3 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.
 

Document Case 4 Organization Surveys
Folder 1	Inventory list of returned Organization surveys (Total = 77)	1998-1999
Folder 2	American Business Women's Association, Sycamore Chapter
	American Ex-Prisoners of War, West Central Indiana Chapter American Legion John E. Heyen Post #501 American Legion Krietenstein Post 104 American Society of Women Accountants Antique & Classic Automobile Club of the Wabash
Folder 3	American Legion Pioneer Post #340
Folder 4	Beta Sigma Phi, Indiana Eta Master Chapter
	Beta Sigma Phi, Laureate Iota Chapter Beta Sigma Phi, Laureate Omicron Chapter Beta Sigma Phi, Preceptor Gamma Omega Chapter Beta Sigma Phi, Preceptor Gamma Psi Chapter Beta Sigma Phi, Theta Tau Chapter Beta Sigma Phi, Xi Alpha Mu Chapter Beta Sigma Phi, Xi Beta Chi Chapter Beta Sigma Phi, Xi Epsilon Psi Chapter Beta Sigma Phi, Xi Eta Zeta Chapter
Folder 5	C.S. Lewis Society
	Carpe Diem Club
Folder 6	Covered Bridge Girl Scout Council, Inc.
Folder 7	Daughters of the American Revolution, Fort Harrison Chapter
	Delta Kappa Gamma Society, Delta Chapter of the Delta Kappa Gamma Society International
Folder 8	Daughters of the Nile, Badoura Temple #23
Folder 9	Eugene V. Debs Foundation
Folder 10	Eastern Star (Order of the), Pimento Chapter #516
	Eastern Star (Order of the), Riley Chapter #22
	Eastern Star (Order of the), Terre Haute Chapter #43
	Eastern Star (Order of the), West Terre Haute Chapter #428
Folder 11	Francis Vigo American-Italian Club
Folder 12	Freemasons: Ancient Accepted
	Scottish Rite Lodge
	Freemasons: Banks of the Wabash, York Rite College #72
	Freemasons: Edward C. Etchinson Council #326, Allied Masonic Degrees
	Freemasons: Euclid Lodge No. 573, F. & A.M.
	Freemasons: Terre Haute Chapter #11, Royal Arch Masons, York Rite
	Freemasons: Terre Haute Commandery #16, Knights Templar, York Rite
	Freemasons: Terre Haute Council #8, Cryptic Masons, York Rite
	Freemasons: Terre Haute Preceptory No. VI, Yeomen of York
	Freemasons: West Terre Haute Masonic Lodge #687, F. and A.M.
Folder 13	Gideon International
Folder 14	Gibault School for Boys
Folder 15	Honey Creek Garden Club
	Hoosier Heritage Spinners' and Weavers' Guild        (Parke County)
Folder 16	Hungarian Lodge of Terre Haute
Folder 17	Leadership Terre Haute
	Lost Creek Community Club
Folder 18	National Society of Colonial Dames of the XVIIth Century, Nathaniel Foote Chapter
Folder 19	P.E.O. Sisterhood, AW Chapter
	P.E.O. Sisterhood, B.N. Chapter
	P.E.O. Sisterhood, K Chapter
	P.E.O. Sisterhood, Z Chapter
	Professional Secretaries International, Heart of the Nation Chapter
Folder 20	Rotary Club of Terre Haute
Folder 21	Retired Railroad Men's Association
Folder 22	Sigma Kappa Alumnae, Terre Haute Chapter
	Sons of the American Revolution
	Swinging Mates Squaredance Club
	Sycamore A Region Model "A" Restorers Club
Folder 23	Society for the Preservation & Encouragement of Barbershop Quartet Singing in America, Terre Haute Chapter
Folder 24	Terre Haute Children's Choir
	Terre Haute Choral Society
	Terre Haute Day Nursery Association
	Terre Haute Miss Softball America
	Terre Haute Welcome Club
	Terre Haute Women's Club
Folder 25	Terre Haute Sinfonietta "Pops" Orchestra
Folder 26	The Travelers Protective Association of America
Folder 27	TREES, Inc.
Folder 28	United Way of the Wabash Valley, Inc.
Folder 29	Vigo County Quilter's Guild
	Vigo County Veterans Council
	Volunteer Action Center
Folder 30	Wabash Valley Art Guild
	Wabash Valley Ducks Unlimited
	Wabash Valley React, Inc.
	Wabash Valley Stamp Club
	Western Indiana Grotto
Folder 31	Y.W.C.A.
Folder 32	Zorah Shrine Temple
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