Skip to main content
close
Font size options
Increase or decrease the font size for this website by clicking on the 'A's.
Contrast options
Choose a color combination to give the most comfortable contrast.
Image for event: My Life with Riley

Registration now closed

My Life with Riley

In-Person Lecture and Q&A Session

2024-10-06 15:00:00 2024-10-06 16:15:00 America/Indiana/Indianapolis My Life with Riley Join us at Central Library with James Whitcomb Riley biographer Elizabeth J. Van Allen, PhD. She'll share her journey of discovery regarding the complexities of the Hoosier poet’s personality, his rise to fame, his work, and his continuing importance and legacy. Central Library -

Sunday, October 06
3:00pm - 4:15pm

Add to Calendar 2024-10-06 15:00:00 2024-10-06 16:15:00 America/Indiana/Indianapolis My Life with Riley Join us at Central Library with James Whitcomb Riley biographer Elizabeth J. Van Allen, PhD. She'll share her journey of discovery regarding the complexities of the Hoosier poet’s personality, his rise to fame, his work, and his continuing importance and legacy. Central Library -

Join us at Central Library with James Whitcomb Riley biographer Elizabeth J. Van Allen, PhD. She'll share her journey of discovery regarding the complexities of the Hoosier poet’s personality, his rise to fame, his work, and his continuing importance and legacy.

Culture, History, and Society: Rare Books and Special Collections—James Whitcomb Riley experienced fame and fortune as few writers do in their lifetimes because he provided messages that endeared him to a wide range of Americans in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. His unprecedented popularity as a poet led many critics and authors to believe that Riley would forever be recognized as a major figure in American literature. Although his status in the literary canon has dwindled, Riley’s writing, which expresses the “local color” of the region, holds a particularly special place for Hoosiers. During this program, Riley biographer Elizabeth J. Van Allen, PhD will share her journey of discovery regarding the complexities of the Hoosier poet’s personality, his rise to fame, his work, and his continuing importance and legacy.

Previewing Materials and Online Resources:
Riley Collection (IndyPL)
James Whitcomb Riley, 1849-1916 (Digital Indy)
James Whitcomb Riley: The Hoosier Poet (Encyclopedia of Indianapolis)
Riley, James Whitcomb: Biography (Gale In Context)

Location: Held in the Indianapolis Special Collections Room (ISCR) on the 6th floor within Central Library located at 40 East Saint Clair Street, Indianapolis, IN 46204.

Parking: The Central Library has a parking garage available to patrons during their time at the Library. Garage pricing information. The garage can be accessed on Pennsylvania Street.

This free in-person lecture is part of the Culture, History, and Society: Rare Books and Special Collections programs hosted by the Indianapolis Special Collections Room (ISCR) located on the 6th floor within Central Library. Made possible by Friends of the Library through gifts to The Indianapolis Public Library Foundation

Age Group: Adults

Contact: Special Collections Librarian Montoya Barker

Central Library

Phone: 317-275-4100

Hours
Skip opening hours widget
Mon, Feb 23 10:00AM to 8:00PM
Tue, Feb 24 Closed
(interior repairs)
Wed, Feb 25 Closed
(interior repairs)
Thu, Feb 26 Closed
(interior repairs)
Fri, Feb 27 Closed
(interior repairs)
Sat, Feb 28 Closed
(interior repairs)
Sun, Mar 01 Closed
(interior repairs)

About the branch

As the hub of the Indianapolis Public Library system, Central Library showcases renowned architecture and services. The original 1917 building, designed by Paul Cret and constructed of Indiana limestone in the Greek Doric style, was considered one of the most outstanding secular buildings in the U.S. Its six-story glass and steel-framed addition, designed by Evans Woollen, opened in 2007.

Upcoming events

Skip Branch Events widget
Rescheduled
Thu, Feb 26, 4:30pm - 5:30pm
New date Thursday, March 12, 4:30pm - 5:30pm

Rescheduled
Fri, Feb 27, 11:00am - 11:30am
New date Friday, March 20, 11:00am - 11:30am

Cancelled
Sat, Feb 28, 10:00am - 11:00am

Rescheduled
Sat, Feb 28, 10:30am - 12:30pm
New date Saturday, March 28, 2:00pm - 4:00pm

Cancelled
Sat, Feb 28, 1:00pm - 4:00pm

Sat, Feb 28, 2:00pm - 4:00pm
Makerspace
This event is full

Rescheduled
Sat, Feb 28, 2:00pm - 4:00pm
New date Saturday, April 18, 2:00pm - 4:00pm

Cancelled
Sat, Feb 28, 2:00pm - 4:00pm

Mon, Mar 02, 5:30pm - 7:30pm

Tue, Mar 03, 5:00pm - 7:00pm

Tue, Mar 03, 5:30pm - 7:30pm

Tue, Mar 03, 6:00pm - 7:30pm

Wed, Mar 04, 3:00pm - 5:00pm

Thu, Mar 05, 11:00am - 12:00pm

Fri, Mar 06, 11:00am - 11:45am

Sat, Mar 07, 10:00am - 11:00am

Sat, Mar 07, 12:00pm - 4:00pm

Sat, Mar 07, 1:00pm - 4:00pm

Sat, Mar 07, 2:00pm - 4:00pm

Sat, Mar 07, 2:30pm - 4:30pm
This event is full

Sun, Mar 08, 2:00pm - 5:00pm

Mon, Mar 09, 5:30pm - 7:30pm

Tue, Mar 10, 2:00pm - 4:00pm

Tue, Mar 10, 5:00pm - 7:00pm

Tue, Mar 10, 5:30pm - 7:30pm

Tue, Mar 10, 6:00pm - 7:30pm

Wed, Mar 11, 3:00pm - 5:00pm

Thu, Mar 12, 4:30pm - 5:30pm

Fri, Mar 13, 11:00am - 12:00pm

Sat, Mar 14, 10:00am - 11:00am

Sat, Mar 14, 10:30am - 12:30pm

Sat, Mar 14, 1:00pm - 4:00pm

Sat, Mar 14, 2:00pm - 4:00pm

Sun, Mar 15, 1:00pm - 4:00pm

Mon, Mar 16, 1:00pm - 3:00pm

Mon, Mar 16, 2:00pm - 4:00pm
This event is full

Mon, Mar 16, 5:30pm - 7:30pm

Mon, Mar 16, 5:30pm - 7:30pm
This event is full

Tue, Mar 17, 1:00pm - 3:00pm

Tue, Mar 17, 2:00pm - 4:00pm

Tue, Mar 17, 5:00pm - 7:00pm

Tue, Mar 17, 5:30pm - 7:30pm

Tue, Mar 17, 6:00pm - 8:00pm

Wed, Mar 18, 1:00pm - 3:00pm

Wed, Mar 18, 3:00pm - 5:00pm

Thu, Mar 19, 1:00pm - 3:00pm

Fri, Mar 20, 11:00am - 11:30am

Sat, Mar 21, 10:00am - 11:00am

Sat, Mar 21, 1:00pm - 4:00pm

Sun, Mar 22, 1:00pm - 4:00pm

Mon, Mar 23, 2:00pm - 4:00pm
This event is full

Mon, Mar 23, 5:30pm - 7:30pm

Mon, Mar 23, 5:30pm - 7:30pm
This event is full

Tue, Mar 24, 2:00pm - 4:00pm

Tue, Mar 24, 5:00pm - 7:00pm

Tue, Mar 24, 5:30pm - 7:30pm

Tue, Mar 24, 5:30pm - 7:30pm

Tue, Mar 24, 6:00pm - 8:00pm

Wed, Mar 25, 3:00pm - 5:00pm

Fri, Mar 27, 11:00am - 11:45am

Fri, Mar 27, 2:00pm - 4:00pm
This event is full

Sat, Mar 28, 10:00am - 11:00am

Sat, Mar 28, 1:00pm - 4:00pm