Primary Sources & DBQs

Sources with a red border may be difficult to view. Some of the materials relate to violent or graphic events. However, these materials are curated and included because of their historical significance. While some of the material is unsettling it is important to recognize that these are real events that occurred and affected real people, and they may help make sense of why our societies are the way they are.

Check out this playlist below to listen to some artists who frequently played on Indiana Avenue during this time period:

Indiana Avenue Spotify Playlist .

After reading the historical context information and reflecting upon the timeline, complete the following DBQs.

Context: The first picture is of the Montgomery Brothers and Willis Kirk performing in Henri's café on Indiana Ave. The second and third picture were taken in 1949 and 2016, respectively, of the same location.

Document Based Questions:

  1. Compare and contrast the third picture with the first two.

  2. What emotions arise when analyzing the differences between the first two pictures and the last picture?

  3. How does the first image highlight the impact of jazz music on the Black community of Indiana Ave?




Context: A newspaper clipping from the January 1968 edition of the Indianapolis Recorder

Document Based Questions

  1. What does the business man fear about the project?

  2. Does this article demonstrate resistance or conformity from the residents of Indiana Ave. impacted by the project?

  3. Do you believe the University took into account opinions, like the one in this article, of the residents they were displacing? Explain why/why not.











Context: This document is an IUPUI memo from 1970 about the upcoming project.

Document Based Questions

  1. Based on the comments from the informants, what was the university's reputation?

  2. How does this report frame the residents of Indiana Ave? How might this rhetoric be harmful?

  3. What recommendations does the report give to avoid negative titles from residents? Do you believe these recommendations were pursued?








References

Committee on University's Service to the Community. (1970). (rep.). Preliminary Report Regarding the Indiana Avenue Neighborhood (p. 4). Indianapolis, IN.

Fox, J. (n.d.). Sunset Terrace. IUPUI Public History. IUPUI.

IUPUI. (n.d.). Henri's Café. IUPUI Public History.

Meeting Set to Consider Operation Avenue. (1968, January 13). The Indianapolis Recorder, pp. 4–5.

Salla, K. (n.d.). Indiana Avenue Apartments. IUPUI Public History. IUPUI.