Indiana Quick Quiz
From the names below, select the FOUR who have served Indiana in the United States Senate.
- Homer Capehart
- Maurice Thompson
- Benjamin Harrison
- Dan Coats
- Booth Tarkington
- Vance Hartke
Answers Below
1817 Congress organized Indiana as one judicial district and a federal court was established. Benjamin Parke, a territorial judge from Vincennes, was appointed by President James Monroe to serve as the first district judge. The court met in the state capital of Corydon. It moved to Indianapolis when the seat of state government was transferred there.
Did You Know? Benjamin Parke was born in 1777 in New Jersey, but he certainly left his mark on Indiana. He moved to Vincennes in 1799 and, in 1804, became attorney general of the Indiana Territory. He was also a member of the Territorial House of Representatives. He soon was elected to serve as the first Territorial Delegate to the United States Congress in Washington, D. C. In 1808, he returned home to join the staff of Territorial Governor William Henry Harrison. He fought alongside Harrison at the Battle of Tippecanoe in 1811. Back in Vincennes, he founded the public library and was one of the first trustees at Vincennes University. A Territorial Judge for nine years, he was appointed to the Federal Court in 1817. He served in that position until his death in 1835. Parke County is named for this important Indiana pioneer.
MARCH IS WOMEN'S HISTORY MONTH
1913 On the same day that thousands of Suffragists were marching in Washington, D. C., over 500 women confronted lawmakers at the Indiana Statehouse. "Women to the right of them and women to the left of them," reported the Indianapolis Star, "women in the corridors and in the doorways, women everywhere, and on every woman a yellow streamer bearing in black letters, 'Votes for Women.'" Governor Samuel Ralston cheerfully agreed to wear one of the streamers on his coat.
100 YEARS AGO
1921 Will Hays, from Sullivan, Indiana, became United States Postmaster General. Appointed by President Warren G. Harding, he was sworn in by another Hoosier, Supreme Court Justice Willis Van Devanter from Marion. The following year, Hays became Chairman of the Motion Picture Producers and Distributors of America. In that position, he enforced what became known as the "Hays Code," which set moral standards for Hollywood movies.
1932 Indiana Governor Harry G. Leslie offered all state resources to Colonel Charles Lindbergh and his wife Anne in the aftermath of the kidnapping of their 20-month-old son. The Lindberghs had been guests at the Governor's Mansion and were widely admired by Hoosiers. The baby's abduction from their New Jersey home dominated the news, commanding banner newspaper headlines and front-page stories for the next six weeks.
1941 Helen Keller was the honored guest at Memorial Stadium in Gary. She had recently been named one of the 10 outstanding women in the world. Though blind and deaf, she was an inspirational and successful author, political activist, and lecturer. She was accompanied on her trip to Gary by her long-time secretary, Polly Thomson.
1972 Indiana United States Senator Birch Bayh introduced amendments to the Higher Education Act of 1965. The new legislation, classified as Title IX, called for an end to gender discrimination and provided equal opportunities to women in public education. Signed into law in June of 1972, Title IX has had a far-reaching effect, especially in women's sports.
Hoosier Quote of the Week
"The First Amendment should give us all equal voice. A millionaire should not get a million-dollar voice."
- - - United States Senator Birch Bayh (1928-2019)
Abe Martin Sez: Folks that think it's fashionable t' be late must feel simple when they git someplace an' find ever'thing gittin' along fine without 'em. (Indianapolis News, March 3, 1920)
ANSWERS: Homer Capehart, Benjamin Harrison, Dan Coats, Vance Hartke
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