Clay County Historical Society, Brazil Indiana

04/22/2026

04/21/2026

04/21/2026

04/21/2026

HISTORICAL SOCIETY MEETING MAY 4, 2026 7:00PM
SPECIAL PRESENTATION BY PATRICIA WILKINSON
Evalyn Gertrude James, Artist, to make appearance!

The Clay County Historical Society will be meeting on May 4 at 7:00 pm in the meeting room of the museum. The guest speaker will be Patricia Wilkinson, the editor of the Clay County Genealogy Society's "Researcher" newsletter. Pat graduated from Washington Township High School in Bowling Green, in the last graduation class before it closed. She taught at Cloverdale and Clay City High School a combined 22 years.

Pat is portraying local artist Evalyn Gertrude James' life and times. Ms. James, a teacher, painter, illustrator and lecturer was born May 22, 1898, the daughter of John E. and Eva Gertrude Pruitt James. She graduated from John Herron Art Institute, earned her A.B. in
1918 at Earlham College in Richmond and received her M.A. from IU in 1920. Her paintings are known all over the United States, as well as her locally and still command a good price.

Pat has researched Ms. James extensively and will present an accurate portrait of this famous artist in her portrayal of this well known local artist. The public is invited to attend this meeting as all membership meetings are open to the public.

The Board and Membership of the museum would like to thank all who attended last month's meeting with Charlotte Ottinger's presentation of Madge Oberholtzer. It was a very interesting
program of a somewhat forgotten time in the history of our state.

The museum is now open on Thursday, Friday and Saturday noon to 5 PM. Tours may be scheduled by calling the museum during business hours and making arrangements. The Little Free Library in the Legacy Park, next to the museum, is also stocked with some
new books for the kids to choose from. There is also a LFL at the cabins in Forest Park.

(The painting featured is in the Clay County Courthouse Rotunda, and was restored by the local Eliza Rizley Stacey Chapter of the DAR in 2019)

04/01/2026

The Clay County Historical Society will be meeting April 6 at 7:00 PM in the lower level of the museum. A special presentation by Author Charlotte Halsema Ottinger discussing
her 2021 book, "Madge, The life and times of Madge Oberholtzer, the young Irvington woman who brought down D.C. Stephenson and the Ku Klux Klan". According to newsman Harold C. Feightner, “Few deaths of comparatively inconspicuous people have had the far-flung effects that [Oberholtzer’s] did. Her passing marked the beginning of the end of the Ku Klux Klan in Indiana; it resulted in the indictment of Governor Ed Jackson; the indictment and conviction of Mayor Ed L. Duvall, of Indianapolis, and other city officials and a complete change in the capital city’s administration, and it nearly wrecked a political party.” Ottinger will discuss Oberholtzer’s limited relationship with Stephenson, Grand Dragon of the Ku Klux Klan, her abduction and assault, her death bed declaration and the trial that sent D.C. Stephenson to prison for second degree murder. In addition to a display of related artifacts from the 1920s, Ottinger will share interesting aspects of Oberholtzer’s short life including her time studying under notable Indiana artists William Forsyth, Otto Stark and Clifton Wheeler. Special attention will be given to the legal precedents established during the trial and Oberholtzer’s lasting legacy that brought down D.C. Stephenson and the Ku Klux Klan,

There will be a time for questions and answers. You are welcome to bring your own copy to be signed or books will be available for sale at the program. Fifty percent of the proceeds go to the Irvington Historical Society.

The May 4th meeting will feature a local resident, Pat Wilkinson, portraying Evalyn Gertrude James, a well known local artist, with national notoriety. This will also be a very interesting program as we remember our local residents that had a broad reach not only in the State of Indiana.

The programs are always free, and the public is always invited to attend the membership meetings. There will be refreshments and a social time following the programs.

The museum opens April 2 and will be open Thursday, Friday and Saturday 12 to 5 on those days until December 1st.

03/30/2026

✨ We're excited to kick off something new: Flashback Fridays! A few times each month, we'll take a step back in time to celebrate the rich history of Terre Haute and Vigo County.

This week, we're spotlighting the Indiana Theater, a local treasure that has stood the test of time. 🌟

📸 Pictured here in 1942, the Indiana Theater was built in 1922 and designed by the famous architect John Eberson, known for his elaborate "atmospheric" theaters. The grand Spanish Revival style interior, complete with twinkling stars on the ceiling, created a magical movie-going experience for generations. 🎥🍿

Today, this iconic theater is still standing, a testament to Terre Haute’s history and charm. Stop by to admire its stunning architecture and snap a modern-day photo with this historic gem!

📍 Located at 683 Ohio Steet

Photo courtesy of VCPL Martin Collection

03/09/2026

SPECIAL PRESENTATION!! PUBLIC INVITED!

02/23/2026

CCHS MEETING MARCH 2 at 7:00PM

The Clay County Historical Society will have its first meeting of the year on March 2, at 7:00 pm in the lower level meeting room. The board of directors will meet at 6:00pm. The program will be "Forgotten Treasures of the Museum" and social time will follow the program.

The museum will open from the winter closing on April 2 and will begin regular hours of Thursday through Saturday, Noon to 5 pm.

On April 6, our program will be a special presentation by Author Charlotte Halsema Ottinger, who will discuss her 2021 book, "Madge: The life and times of Madge Oberholtzer, the young Irvington woman who brought down D.C. Stephenson and the Ku Klux Klan." As many historians know, Madge was born in Clay City, whose father was Postmaster in Clay City and at a young age, the family moved to Indianapolis as her father took a job at Union Station.

More information about this program will follow, so be sure and save the date! As always, all programs are free and the public is always welcome to our monthly membership meetings

12/01/2025

NOTICE!! Due to the incoming snow this afternoon, the Historical Society will NOT be meeting. We'll see you all in March!

10/28/2025

Clay County Historical Society Meeting ~ Annual Turkey Dinner
The Clay County Historical Society will be meeting November 3, at 6:00 PM for our annual Turkey Dinner. PLEASE NOTE TIME for this meeting.

The members are asked to bring a side dish or dessert of some kind, the main courses will be furnished. There may be a short meeting after dinner if we have any business to discuss. The scheduled speaker is postponed until we come back from winter break in the Spring.