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The central focus of this project is the life of William Fortune, who lived from 1863 to 1942. Interviewees are the daughters of Indiana businessman William Fortune, a friend and father-in-law of Eli Lilly. They tell about their life in Indianapolis at the turn of the century and offer recollections of associations with famous people like the Lillys and James Whitcomb Riley.

This project contains interviews of members of Indiana county historical societies. The counties included are La Porte, Monroe, Noble, Jefferson, Wells, Randolph, Tippecanoe, Vigo, and Johnson. The interviewees discuss local history and the development of the historical society in their area. They describe society events, funding, exhibits, and publications. The members also describe their connections to their local history. They explain why they believe local history should be preserved and the role of the historical society.

This collection of interviews addresses historic preservation in a handful of Indiana towns, such as Madison, New Harmony, Vincennes, and Evansville. The broad emphasis is placed on how the preservation movement began, the major participants, and how it has changed. However, within this broad range, individual historic preservation organizations and projects are not only mentioned, but given much detail.

The Glenn Black Papers, 1917-1970 consists of the files of the first State Archaeologist for Indiana and former Indiana University professor, Glenn Black, 1900-1964, primarily relating to his research and archaeological digs at Native American sites.

Prior to the Glenn A. Black Lab of Archeology, the Indiana Historical Society was the only institution in Indiana assuming the responsibility for local prehistory including: an active program of site survey, excavation, preservation, basic research, publication, and student training. In the 1960s, the Indiana Historical Society proposed transferring their material holdings to Indiana University, which included a monetary grant to construct and equip an archeological laboratory on the Bloomington campus. Materials included in the transfer from the Indiana Historical Society to the Glenn A. Black Lab of Archeology included: state archeological survey files, the Society's artifact collection, library, physical equipment, and the Angel Mounds State Memorial. The archeological lab was named in honor of Indiana's Historical Society archeologist, Glenn A. Black and dedicated in 1971.

The collection consists primarily of interviews conducted by AAAMC Project Manager Jason Housley for the 2005-2006 Indiana Historical Society Exhibit, "Soul and Funk: The Naptown Sound," as well as related production materials and photographs.