The Indiana Jewish Historical Society is a 501(c)3 not-for-profit educational organization with a stated goal to collect, preserve, publish, and share the Jewish experience in Indiana.
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The Indiana Jewish Historical Society, or IJHS, was founded in
Fort Wayne, Indiana, in 1972. The Indiana Jewish Historical Society's first Executive Director was Joseph Levine who formerly was the executive director of the
Fort Wayne Jewish Federation. The IJHS was launched with help from
B'nai Brith and financial support from the
Lilly Endowment. In 2017, the Indiana Jewish Historical Society moved its headquarters from Fort Wayne to
Indianapolis
Indianapolis (), colloquially known as Indy, is the state capital and most populous city of the U.S. state of Indiana and the seat of Marion County. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the consolidated population of Indianapolis and Marion ...
, where they remain today.
Archives
IJHS's archival holdings, representing Indiana's entire state, have been housed at the
Indiana Historical Society
The Indiana Historical Society (IHS) is one of the United States' oldest and largest historical societies and describes itself as "Indiana's Storyteller". It is housed in the Eugene and Marilyn Glick Indiana History Center at 450 West Ohio Street ...
in Indianapolis since 1999. The IJHS collection contains thousands of Jewish life items across the state, and the society continues to seek materials for the collection. The IJHS also promotes and encourages the preservation of historically Jewish buildings, markers, and cemeteries.
Publications
The IJHS publishes a quarterly newsletter, The ''Historical News'', and the journal ''Indiana Jewish History''.
Programs
The society hosts history education programming of interest to the Indiana Jewish Community, including Holocaust Education, such as 2021's ''Hoosiers and the Holocaust'' program.
Society staff and members also participate in historical radio and podcast programming.
The IJHS engages in community advocacy supporting preservation of historic buildings of interest to the Jewish community, such as the recently protected Loeb Mansion.
Awards
The society hosts an annual program and the Hoosier Jewish Legends Awards, a hall of fame program honoring eminent Hoosiers who influenced Jewish life in Indiana through their work and life.
Funding
An endowment was established in January 2002 to sustain the IJHS, but the organization still relies on and seeks public support for its programs and services.
References
{{Reflist, 1
External links
Official IJHS website
Historical societies
Jews and Judaism in Indiana
Jewish organizations based in the United States
Historical societies in Indiana
Non-profit organizations based in Indianapolis
Religion in Indianapolis
Jewish history organizations
Jewish organizations established in 1972
1972 establishments in Indiana