Register 45 Seats Remaining

James E. Roberts School and Its Legacy

Indianapolis Special Collections Room (ISCR) Program

Join us in person at Central Library to learn about the James E. Roberts School, Indiana's first public school for children with physical disabilities, featuring a presentation by public historian, writer, and preservation activist Glory-June Greiff.

Expanding Our Story—The James E. Roberts School for Crippled Children, located on East 10th Street, opened in 1936, marking the first public school in Indiana dedicated to children with physical disabilities. Completed with the aid of a Public Works Administration (PWA) grant of $98,000, the structure contained all the accoutrements of a regular school building with additional rooms for occupational therapy, physical therapy, home economics, industrial arts, and a “rhythm room.” The building was in danger of being demolished for several years after the school closed, but it now houses apartments. On September 23 at 6:30 pm, historian Glory-June Greiff will present an illustrated talk on its history, the reasons for its construction, and the reasons for its abandonment. Registration is required.

Presenter: Glory-June Greiff is a public historian, writer, and preservation activist, whose several areas of interest and research include the work of the New Deal, historic architecture, public sculpture, transportation corridors, parks, and environmental history on which she has written numerous articles, papers, and discrete studies, as well as scores of National Register nominations. A native of Hudson Lake in northern Indiana, Greiff earned a B.S. in Radio-Television/English from Butler University and an M.A. in Public History from Indiana University. She is also a professional narrator and a performer of song and story. She writes regularly for Living New Deal, a website dedicated to documenting and promoting the works of the New Deal around the nation. She is the author of two books: People, Parks, and Perceptions and Remembrance, Faith, and Fancy: Outdoor Public Sculpture in Indiana, and has recently released a spoken-word CD.

Parking: The Central Library offers a parking garage for patrons during their visit. See our Garage pricing information. The garage can be accessed on Pennsylvania Street.

This in-person program will be held at Central Library in the Indianapolis Special Collections Room (ISCR) and made possible by a grant from The Clowes Fund.

Age Level: Adults

Contact: Special Collections Librarian Montoya Barker

Further Reading:

• Hulvershorn, Newell E. The Educational Facilities for Crippled Children in Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Michigan and Ohio. Graduate Thesis Collection. Butler University: Indianapolis, 1942.
• Indiana Landmarks. Roberts School Rehab Earns High Marks, August 30, 2018. 

Upcoming events