Goals/Mission 

The Encyclopedia of Indianapolis (EOI) serves as an active and constant witness to the development and evolution of Indianapolis history. Updated continuously, EOI connects locals, students, educators, and visitors with the city’s past and helps them engage more effectively in its present and future. 

History

Front cover of the print version of the Encyclopedia of Indianapolis. It features an image of the Soldiers and Sailors monument in the circle downtown.

A legacy project of the Indianapolis Bicentennial Commission, the Encyclopedia of Indianapolis (EOI) was initially developed by the Polis Center at Indiana University Indianapolis in collaboration with the city’s major cultural and heritage institutions. It is sustained by The Indianapolis Public Library as a civic resource. 

EOI builds on the success of the 1994 print version of the Encyclopedia of Indianapolis, also developed by the Polis Center. Planning for the digital version began in 2018 among a coalition of Indianapolis heritage, cultural, and educational organizations. Three goals emerged from this process: 

  • Create an innovative digital platform to serve as a sustainable, dynamic, and reliable source of information about the city and region. 
  • Develop a collaborative framework among the city’s heritage, cultural, and educational institutions to support the encyclopedia’s growth. 
  • Involve citizens in developing accurate, inclusive, and comprehensive content, with special attention to traditionally underrepresented voices and experiences. 

Content creation began in January 2019, with a variety of citizens’ advisory groups guiding the work, while the Polis Center developed the website. The EOI launched in November 2021 and in January 2022, the Indianapolis Public Library became community trustee of the encyclopedia. 

Founding Creators 

Civic Advisory Committee Chairs:  

Sarah Evans Barker, Rick Fuson, Lacy Johnson 

Founding Editorial Board:  

James Madison (Chair), Keira Amstutz, A’lelia Bundles, Marlene Dotson, Charlene Fletcher, David Hampton, Sean Huddleston, John Krull, Anita Morgan, Richard Pierce, Sandy Eisenberg Sasso, Gail Thomas Strong, David Wantz, Robert G. Barrows (Special Advisor) 

Founding Editorial Staff:  

David Bodenhamer (Editor-in-Chief), Elizabeth Van Allen (Managing Editor), Jyoti Verderame (Assistant Managing Editor), Jessica Fischer (Editorial Assistant) 

Founding Donors:  

Lilly Endowment, Inc., Allen Whitehill Clowes Charitable Foundation, The Indianapolis Foundation Library Fund, R.B. Annis Educational Foundation, Nicholas H. Noyes, Jr. Memorial Foundation, Penny & David Bodenhamer, M. Jacqueline Nytes, G. Marlyne Sexton, Friends of the Library