Welcome to the Indiana Jewish Historical Society!

The Indiana Jewish Historical Society was founded in 1972. The organization is headquartered in Fort Wayne, Indiana, however holds events throughout the state. IJHS's mission is to collect, preserve, and publish information on the 250 years of Jewish Life in Indiana. IJHS is the only organization in the state which focuses exclusively on the entire Hoosier Jewish experience.

The Indiana Jewish Historical Society's archive collection at the Indiana Historical Society in Indianapolis contains more than 7,000 items of Jewish interest and the society continues to seek materials for the collection. As such, all of the collections have been academically cataloged and are listed on the internet. The Indiana Jewish Historical Society continues to actively collect articles and information with the communities assistance. To see the listings of the IJHS collections at the Indiana Historical Society click here.

The IJHS is engaged in creating an inventory of every community in Indiana where there has been and is a Jewish presence. We encourage your participation with the assembly of this important database.

We are listing the institutions that flourished and sometimes faded; the locations and architects of communal structures built as well as listing the prominent members of these localities: Those who have become public officials and/or who have been recognized for outstanding achievements. Our search for the who's who encompasses a broad base of creative individuals, and the exhibition locations of their creations. Hence this is a call for artists, architects, writers, activists, Sagamores of the Wabash, musicians, inventors, nationally renown Jewish persons with connections or roots to your Indiana community.

We are also collecting information about Indiana's Jewish cemeteries (or Jewish gardens elsewhere), prominent homes or institutions influenced or designed by Jews.

The Trent D. Pendley Mapping Project gives a bird's eye view of the Jewish experience in Indiana. The results hereto are astounding and will result in tours and areas of study. Is your community or town listed? If not, please contact us to have your community listed.

The star burst Magen David stained glass window illustrated above once graced the entrace facade and sanctuary balcony of Hammond's Kneseth Israel synagogue designed by renowned architect Henry L. Newhouse in 1919. The building was a joint but short-lived effort of both the reform and orthodox camps, serving nonetheless as Kneseth Israel until 1958. Several Christian congregations made use of Newhouse's structure until the building was pulled down in 2003. The window had fallen into the street during the mid 1990s.

United States Post Offices built during the 1934-1945 term of Secretary of the Treasury Harry Morgenthau Jr, have his named on their cornerstone. Crown Point and Plymouth are two in Indiana. Is his name on your Post Office cornerstone?