Nina Mason Pulliam Indianapolis Special Collections Room facts for kids

The Nina Mason Pulliam Indianapolis Special Collections Room is a special part of the Indianapolis Public Library's Central Library. It's like a treasure chest filled with amazing historical items! You can find old books, photos, letters, newspapers, and even special items from famous people.

This collection has materials about well-known figures like Kurt Vonnegut, May Wright Sewall, James Whitcomb Riley, and Booth Tarkington. It's a great place to learn about Indiana's past and its important people.

About Nina Mason Pulliam

The special room and its collections are named after Nina Mason Pulliam (1906–1997). She was an American journalist, author, and newspaper leader. Nina was also known for her kindness and for helping her community in Arizona and Indiana.

Nina grew up in Indiana. When she was a teenager, she traveled to Arizona to get healthy. After returning to Indiana, she studied journalism in college. She started her career working for magazines and newspapers. Later, she became a very important person in a big newspaper company. When her husband passed away, she became the president of the company! Nina Pulliam was also the first woman to join a special journalism group at DePauw University.

Cool Mural in the Room

There's a fantastic new mural in the Indianapolis Special Collections Room. It's on the Sixth Floor of the Central Library. The artist, Tom Torluemke, calls it The Book of Life: The People We Know, the Experiences We Have, and the Conditions under Which We Live. It's a really interesting piece of art to see when you visit!

Explore the Collections

The Special Collections Room has many different types of collections. Each one focuses on a unique part of history or a special topic.

Indianapolis History Collection

This collection is all about the history of Indianapolis. You can find old city guides, stories about churches, and even yearbooks from colleges and high schools. It also has information and items related to the famous Indianapolis 500 race!

Indianapolis Authors Collection

This part of the collection features first editions of books by famous authors from Indianapolis. It includes works by Meredith Nicholson, James Whitcomb Riley, and Booth Tarkington. But it's not just books!

Kurt Vonnegut's Works

The Kurt Vonnegut Collection has many signed first editions of his books, even in other languages. You can also see some of his artwork. Plus, there are old magazines with his articles and stories, and copies of screenplays for his books like Slaughter House Five.

James Whitcomb Riley's Treasures

The James Whitcomb Riley Collection holds letters he wrote and photos from his last public appearance. You can even see his college diploma! There are also special recordings of him reading his own poems.

Meredith Nicholson's Writings

The Meredith Nicholson Collection includes letters and original manuscripts from this author.

Booth Tarkington's Manuscripts

The Booth Tarkington Collection has an original manuscript of his book Kate Fennigate. You can see typed pages with his corrections and the final typed version of the book.

Children’s Literature Collection

This collection is perfect for young readers! It has about 2,000 books, including works by Indiana authors and beautifully illustrated editions. You can also find some award-winning books and historical materials from famous Indianapolis children's authors like Eth Clifford and Mabel Leigh Hunt.

Fine Printing Collection

This collection shows examples of "fine printing," which means books that are made with special care and beautiful designs. It also includes books about how printing has changed over time. You can see examples from local printers too.

Cookbook and Menu Collection

Do you like food? This collection has old cookbooks and menus! Some of the cookbooks are very old, with the oldest one published in 1542. Imagine cooking from a book that old! There are also about 100 historic menus, including ones from old train dining cars, hotels, and special dinners.

You can also find digital versions of many valuable items online at http://www.digitalindy.org. This is great for seeing fragile items without touching them.

Images for kids

• 

  Nina Mason Pulliam Special Collections Room Sign

• 

  Nina Mason Pulliam Special Collections Room October 2007

• 

  Nina Mason Pulliam Special Collections Room - Reading Room October 2007