View source for Indiana State Library and Historical Bureau

{{Short description|Public library and historic building in Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S.}}
{{Infobox NRHP
| name         = Indiana State Library and Historical Building
| nrhp_type    =
| image        = Indiana State Library.JPG
| caption      =
| location     = [[Indianapolis]], [[Indiana]]
| locmapin     = USA Indianapolis central#USA Indianapolis#Indiana#USA
| coordinates  = {{coord|39|46|10.55|N|86|9|49.66|W|display=inline,title}}
| area         =
| built        = 1934
| architect    = Pierre, Edward Dienhart Joseph; Wright, George Caleb
| architecture = Classical Revival, Art Deco
| added        = March 3, 1995
| refnum       = 95000207 <ref name="nris">{{NRISref|2007a}}</ref>
| website      = {{Official URL}}
}}

The '''Indiana State Library and Historical Bureau''' is a public library building, located in [[Indianapolis]], [[Indiana]]. It 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 on 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, Indiana|Corydon]], making it the oldest agency of the Indiana government.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.statelib.lib.in.us/www/isl/history/islhist.html|title=The Indiana State Library and Historical Building<!-- Bot generated title -->|website=statelib.lib.in.us|access-date=2007-05-19|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070520025432/http://www.statelib.lib.in.us/www/isl/history/islhist.html|archive-date=2007-05-20|url-status=dead}}</ref> 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 [[Indiana Supreme Court|Supreme Court]] to begin the Supreme Court Law Library, which has grown to 70,000 volumes.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.in.gov/judiciary/library/about.html|title=Supreme Court Law Library|publisher=IN.gov|access-date=2008-08-08 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080719011924/http://www.in.gov/judiciary/library/about.html |archive-date = 2008-07-19}}</ref> 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 [[Vonnegut, Wright & Yeager#Works by Pierre & Wright Architects|Pierre & Wright Architects]].

In 1945 the library was directed by [[Howard Henry Peckham]], an early American historian who was the first to publish the Revolutionary War journals of [[Henry Dearborn]], a revolutionary war officer and Secretary of War under President [[Thomas Jefferson]].<ref>[[#Quatro|The Clements Library Associates, 1995, p.4]]</ref>{{efn|Peckham is also widely noted for discovering that American revolutionary war deaths were much higher than previously assumed.}}

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 [[woodcarving]]s. The external [[Carvings (Indiana State Library)|architectural sculpture]] was created by [[Leon Hermant]] and carved by [[Adolph Wolter]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.archsculptbooks.com |title=Sculpture |website=Arch Sculpture Books |access-date=August 21, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071123194828/http://www.archsculptbooks.com/ |archive-date=November 23, 2007}}</ref>

The library has seven main divisions: Talking Book and Braille Library, Genealogy, Indiana Collection, Rare Books and Manuscripts, Reference and Government Services, Professional Development, and Library Development.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Library |first=Indiana State |date=2021-09-29 |title=Services for Libraries |url=https://www.in.gov/library/services-for-libraries/ |access-date=2023-02-23 |website=Indiana State Library |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Library |first=Indiana State |date=2022-02-22 |title=Talking Book & Braille Library |url=https://www.in.gov/library/tbbl/ |access-date=2023-02-23 |website=Indiana State Library |language=en}}</ref>

A 1993 inventory of the library's holdings included 60,000 books and pamphlets, 3,500 collected manuscripts, 1.5 million images, and 1,000 maps. Some of this included not only the [[history of Indiana]], but that of the [[Old Northwest]] as well.<ref>Bodenhamer, David. ''The Encyclopedia of Indianapolis'' p. 739, 740</ref>

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 [[U.S. state|statehood]]. The bureau largely concentrates on the placement of [[List of Indiana state historical markers|new historical markers across Indiana]] and encourages education in [[Indiana history]]. The bureau runs a gift shop at the library.

[[File:Wright-conservation-room-Indiana-State-Library.jpg|thumb|right|Martha E. Wright Conservation Lab]]
The library's Martha E. Wright Conservation Lab has specialized equipment devoted to conservation and restoration of historic documents.<ref>[https://www.in.gov/library/collections-and-services/preservation/ Indiana State Library Preservation Services]</ref>

==See also==
{{Portal|Indiana}}
*[[List of Indiana state historical markers]]
*[[List of U.S. state libraries and archives]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Sources==
*{{cite book |title=In Memory of Howard Henry Peckham |publisher=The Quarto |year=1995 |url=http://clements.umich.edu/Quarto/Quarto%204_September,%201995.pdf |access-date=April 7, 2016 |ref=Quatro |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151029052219/http://clements.umich.edu/Quarto/Quarto%204_September,%201995.pdf |archive-date=October 29, 2015 |url-status=dead }}

==Notes==
{{notelist}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
* {{Official website}}
*[http://www.nps.gov/nr/travel/indianapolis/index.htm Indianapolis, a National Park Service ''Discover Our Shared Heritage'' Travel Itinerary]

{{Historic Places in Indianapolis}}

{{US state libraries}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Education in Indianapolis]]
[[Category:Library buildings completed in 1934]]
[[Category:National Register of Historic Places in Indianapolis]]
[[Category:Public libraries in Indiana]]
[[Category:State archives of the United States]]
[[Category:State libraries of the United States]]
[[Category:Tourist attractions in Indianapolis]]
[[Category:1934 establishments in Indiana]]