In this first crowdsourced book about Indiana, ordinary Hoosiers from all corners of the state share the eclectic, wonderful, and sometimes wacky stories that are undeniably Indiana. These true tales highlight the variety of Hoosier life—fond recollections of hometowns, legendary anecdotes of the past, Indiana's unpredictable weather, favorite foods (there's more than corn!), and chance encounters with unforgettable and infamous people. And, of course, there's always basketball. Written for anyone who has ever called this great state home, Undeniably Indiana provides the answer to the widespread question, "What is a Hoosier?"

Where in Indianapolis can you find a disappearing painting, a towering “ice tree,” or a giant pink elephant holding a martini? What caused the Great Squirrel Invasion of 1822, and why did Hollywood celebrities once flock to an Indianapolis cottage called Tuckaway? Where can you find a hidden museum dedicated to antique fire extinguishers? And what, exactly, is a Recordface? You’ll find the answers to these questions, and many others, in this guide to Indy’s overlooked, offbeat, and unknown. Secret Indianapolis profiles the city’s best-kept restaurant secrets, strangest parks and museums, creepiest urban legends, and weirdest works of art. It also tells the stories of forgotten local heroes, and it reveals the secrets behind beloved Indy landmarks. You’ll discover the only place in the world where it’s still possible to order Choc-Ola, explore the most haunted house in Indiana, and hear about the very dirty prank Hoosiers once pulled on a former president. Written by lifelong Hoosier and local author Ashley Petry, Secret Indianapolis offers a new way to explore the Circle City—from the quirks of local history to bizarre activities you can try today.

KOKOMO KID Still Has Something to Say ~ THE SEQUEL is from the same writer who authored KOKOMO KID ~ Reflections of Growing Up in Indiana’s City of Firsts. Cheryl Soden Moreland’s second book is a continuation of growing up not only in Kokomo with her grandparents as guardians but also delves more into the childhood visits she had with her parents and siblings in Indianapolis’ historic and popular Fountain Square neighborhood. Cheryl gives glimpses into the personalities of those she grew up with while telling of the places she frequented in Indiana’s capital city, along with her experiences of sharing her days and nights with those closest to her. This book is intended for anyone who has ever been a child; for anyone who has made memories during their childhood. That would include just about all of us. Whether the moments we have created and recall are ones we cherish or would soon rather forget, this book might help you to revive some of those beloved memories held deep which may have been lost in time and place. You may be able to relive some of your own past that was forgotten, holding close the best of moments while overlooking, even letting go of, the worst of times. It is in the understanding and ability to empathize with not only those who came before us decades ago who had our best interests in mind and heart, but also to come to terms with ourselves and how we perceive the child we were yesterday to the adult we have become today. No matter how many lemons we have been dealt with while growing up, just take them and turn them into pitchers of lemonade. Extract the sweetness from your life by adding your own sugar to the sour. Make it palatable. That is what this author has done, showing how life – even with all its ups and downs and sometimes wild roller coaster rides – is still a pretty good gig. It’s not always wrapped tightly and neatly with a big beautiful bow, so it is up to each of us to make our little world what we want it to be. Continue walking along that sometimes crooked yellow brick road to find the life that has been paved just for you. An excerpt from between these covers.... I looked over at the front yard and suddenly felt like I was in a dream, experiencing a replay of a piece of my past that created smiles and tears at the same time. I was “seeing” Baby Brother, having died just four months before Daddy, running around the side of the house to the backyard, with his toy gun in hand, either chasing me or being chased by me. I heard our screams and laughter, while seeing Lil Sis and my other brother playing outside, too, with Big Sis sitting on the front porch with Mom and Dad. I felt all was well as it was before, or as any child could imagine their life to be at that innocent stage, with everyone happy and healthy in their youth with so much life to look forward to.

The first in-depth look at how women have shaped the history and legacy of Indiana University. Women first enrolled at Indiana University in 1867. In the following years they would leave an indelible mark on this Hoosier institution. However, until now their stories have been underappreciated, both on the IU campus and by historians, who have paid them little attention. Women at Indiana University draws together 15 snapshots of IU women's experiences and contributions to explore essential questions about their lives and impact. What did it mean to write the petition for women's admission or to become the first woman student at an all-male university? To be a woman of color on a predominantly white campus? To balance work, studies, and commuting, entering college as a non-traditional student? How did women contribute to their academic fields and departments? How did they tap opportunities, confront barriers, and forge networks of support to achieve their goals? Women at Indiana University not only opens the door to a more inclusive and accurate understanding of IU's past and future, but also offers greater visibility for Hoosier women in our larger understanding of women in American higher education.

An answer to the assault on voting rights—crucial reading in light of the 2024 presidential election The Voting Rights Act of 1965 is considered one of the most effective pieces of legislation the United States has ever passed. It enfranchised hundreds of thousands of voters, particularly in the American South, and drew attention to the problem of voter suppression. Yet in recent years there has been a continuous assault on access to the ballot box in the form of stricter voter ID requirements, meritless claims of rigged elections, and baseless accusations of voter fraud. In the past these efforts were aimed at eliminating African American voters from the rolls, and today, new laws seek to eliminate voters of color, the poor, and the elderly, groups that historically vote for the Democratic Party. Uncounted examines the phenomenon of disenfranchisement through the lens of history, race, law, and the democratic process. Gilda R. Daniels, who served as Deputy Chief in the United States Department of Justice Civil Rights Division and has more than two decades of voting rights experience, argues that voter suppression works in cycles, constantly adapting and finding new ways to hinder access for an exponentially growing minority population. She warns that a premeditated strategy of restrictive laws and deceptive practices has taken root and is eroding the very basis of American democracy—the right to vote!