Collections : [Center for Documentary Research and Practice]

This project, sponsored by a CLIO grant from the Indiana Historical Society, consists of interviews with Indian Americans living in Indiana. The interviewees, the majority of whom were born in India and immigrated to the United States, discuss a variety of topics including: Indian foodways, Indian traditions, Indian national politics, education, career choice, family history, parenting philosophy, reasons for coming to the United States, reasons for remaining in the United States, citizenship and naturalization, marriage and dating customs. media coverage of India, and differences between Indian and American cultures. This project was co-directed by Professor M. Gail Hickey of the School of Education at Indiana University-Purdue University at Fort Wayne.

The Indian American Community in Fort Wayne interviews focus on those Indian persons who have either permanently or temporarily made Fort Wayne, Indiana their home. These people have moved to Fort Wayne mostly for job-related purposes but have stayed on for other reasons: the excellent education system, the nice environment, and friendly community. The interviewees, some of whom were born here or have spent most of their lives here, share a common respect for Indian religious and social customs, diet, and language. These interviews thus provide keen insight into the ways Indian Americans shape their lives in the American context and how they combine Indian and American culture. This project was co-directed by Professor M. Gail Hickey of the School of Education at Indiana University-Purdue University at Fort Wayne.

This project consists of Indian American views of all aspects of life in the United States and India. Most interviewed in this project were born in India and came to America in search of better education, or because their spouse came for more educational and business oppurtunities. They discuss their reasons for immigrating to the United States, and their reasons for remaining to raise their children. They talk about the ways they practice Indian traditions and values in an American context and the importance of the larger Indian American community in their lives. They also discuss advantages and disadvantages of living in America, and what they miss or don't miss about their homeland of India. Other topics discussed are educational background, work history, religion and religious practice, and raising children. This project was co-directed by Professor M. Gail Hickey of the School of Education at Indiana University-Purdue University at Fort Wayne.

These interviews were conducted in order to reconstruct the history of the Stones River National Battlefield and the surrounding Murfreesboro area.

This project consists of Southern Indiana inhabitants discussing their life histories and their affiliation with area churches. Many of the interviewees discuss growing up on a farm and community cooperation during butchering and threshing seasons. Throughout these interviews they discuss church history, church picnics, and the church community. They also talk about the merger of the Congregational, Reformed and Evangelical churches into the United Church of Christ. The interviewees discuss the changes this had on the church ceremonies and activities. Two of the interviewees attend the Catholic Churches in the area and they discuss traditions and changes that they have seen in the Catholic Church since Vatican II and throughout their lifetimes.

Indian American Communities in Indiana provides a sampling of Indian American voices, most of whom were born in India and now reside in the United States. Among the topics discussed are maintaining Indian cultural values in an American context, religious beliefs and practices, imparting Indian traditions and values to children born to Indian parents but are growing up in the United States, differences between Indian born and American born Indian Americans, educational and career choices, politics of India and America, current events, Indian community associations, and cultural differences between India and America. his project was co-directed by Professor M. Gail Hickey of the School of Education at Indiana University-Purdue University at Fort Wayne.

The project, Dubois County: A Home for God's People, consists of interviews of residents, most of whom could trace their ancestry back to the original German settlement of the area. The interviewees shared their German heritage and discussed the almost clan-like German Catholic communities, and how they grew and changed over the years since there first establishment. The Catholic church was discussed as a central point of the communities, as was the German language and its various dialects and farming as a way of life.

This project contains information about the movie theater industry in Bloomington, Indiana in the 1930s to present. Interviewees discuss their remembraences of movie theaters: the movies they saw, the people they worked with, the fires that periodically destroyed the theaters, and their interior decoration. Interviewees also talk about the theater business today and how it has changed over the years.

Ruth Rives discusses her life history growing up in Germany during the World War II era. She speaks of her family and living environment, and the confusion, fear, and hardships she faced. She speaks of the experiences of her young adult life nursing, doing missionary work in Iran, and immigrating to the United States. She talks about her life as it unfolded in America and her return trips to Germany.

This collection of interviews gathers information about economic development from some key locations in southwestern Indiana, Indianapolis, and northwestern Indiana, among others. Topics include environmental issues, Brownfield redevelopment, tax incentives, and labor unions. Many issues are the same from one region to another, but some regions, such as northwestern Indiana, emphasize environmental or Brownfield redevelopment over unions or workforce training.