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Fortnightly Literary Club

The Fortnightly Literary Club is an Indianapolis women’s , founded in the late 19th century amid the height of the US . In its early years, the club provided opportunities for educated white women, most of whom did not work outside the domestic sphere, to debate current works of literature. By the early 20th century, meeting agendas more regularly addressed written works on social issues such as women’s suffrage, war, and women’s employment. In the 21st century, the now-integrated club continues to foster members’ exploration of literary works while seeking… Read More »Fortnightly Literary Club

Herbert G. Hawkins

Herbert Grigsby Hawkins was an entrepreneur who, after working as an authorized taxicab operator, became widely known for his operation of a bootleg (or unlicensed) taxicab business headquartered on . At the time when African Americans faced barriers in access to and many could not afford personal vehicles, Hawkins’s bootleg cab service provided transportation to African American Indianapolis residents with few other options. Hawkins also advocated for an expansion of municipal taxicab licenses in order to legitimize and professionalize the African American taxicab business, much of which operated without official… Read More »Herbert G. Hawkins

James Raleigh “Biz” Mackey

James Raleigh Mackey played three seasons as the catcher for the . Known as a master catcher and adroit switch-hitter, Mackey’s keen sense for the game led him to a lifetime batting average of .335 in the Negro Leagues and .326 in 14 exhibitions games played against white major-league baseball teams. In recognition of achievements as a respected strategist and mentor during his 30-year baseball career, Mackey was posthumously inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 2006. James Raleigh Mackey was born on July 27, 1897 on a cotton… Read More »James Raleigh “Biz” Mackey

Percussive Arts Society

The Percussive Arts Society (PAS), headquartered in Indianapolis, is an international organization for percussionists and percussion educators, which maintains a significant presence in the local arts community. Established in 1961, the group moved to Indianapolis in 2007. PAS educates and supports percussionists in the areas of performance, pedagogy, and research. The organization hosts its annual Percussive Arts Society International Convention (PASIC) each November in Indianapolis, bringing percussionists and drummers throughout the world to the city. The organization’s origins came from discussions at the 1960 Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic in… Read More »Percussive Arts Society

Seymour Friedberg

Seymour Friedberg was the first director of the Medical Educational Resources Program. He transformed medical education in Indiana by building a groundbreaking statewide television network that connected the with 17 teaching hospitals throughout the state. A New York City native, Friedberg was born on August 16, 1920, to Emanuel Joseph Friedberg and Minnie Berkowitz Friedberg. Friedberg attended grade and high schools in New Jersey, then attended Rutgers and New York Universities before enlisting in the Army. During World War II, from 1943 to 1945, he was a clinical lab technician… Read More »Seymour Friedberg