DALE OGDEN
Chief Curator of Cultural History
Curator of Americana
KATHERINE GOULD
Assistant Curator of Cultural History
Collection highlights
The Americana collection of the Indiana State Museum consists of objects that represent Indiana-specific persons, events or trends of significance to the history of the state. Emphasis is placed on material with a documented association to individual Hoosiers and/or specific Indiana organizations and institutions. The museum will engage in the acquisition of these objects as they reflect contributions made to American culture.
Encompassing nearly 10,000 objects, the Americana collection focuses on, but is not limited to, areas of communication and broadcast history, military uniforms and accoutrements, weaponry, sports and athletics, popular culture, paper documents and photographs. Key examples of artifacts include Indiana-made and owned televisions and radios, broadcast equipment and personal memorabilia of significant Indiana broadcasters; over 1,100 uniform components, including the 1850 Indiana militia uniform of Col. John Swain, as well as multiple uniforms of sailors who served aboard the WWII-era U.S.S. Indiana (BB-58); approximately 166 edged weapons and 180 firearms; over 2,800 sports-related uniforms, equipment and awards, 
including equipment c. 1890 from the Indianapolis-based North American Gymnastics Union and a 1997 Indy car driven by Stephan Gregoire.
The objects of the Americana collection document and interpret the human experience in Indiana and contribute to a more complete understanding of the development of the state and its surroundings. The collecting emphasis is on each object’s ability to relate the stories of Indiana and its peoples.