The Old Southside Neighborhood Art & History Exhibit, curated by Dr. Susan B. Hyatt, professor emerita of Anthropology at the IU School of Liberal Arts in Indianapolis, was on display on August 28, 2024, at the grand opening of the Rise on Meridian Apartments, located in the historic Old Southside area of Indianapolis.
The exhibit presents six themes illustrating the history of the Old Southside neighborhood, including “Jewish Migration,” “African American Migration,” “I-70 Splits the Neighborhood,” “The Institutions,” “The Businesses,” and “A Neighborhood Reunited.”
History and research of the Old Southside of Indianapolis
Dr. Hyatt directed a university-community collaborative research project called “The Neighborhood of Saturdays” to explore the histories of Jewish immigrants from Europe and African Americans from the South to what used to be one of the most multi-ethnic neighborhoods in Indianapolis. “By 1890 Indianapolis’ near Southside was densely populated and had the highest percentage of foreign-born residents of any district in the city,” her research showed.
IU Indianapolis students conducted oral history interviews and archival research to recreate a portrait of this distinctive area in Indianapolis. The Department of Anthropology at the IU School of Liberal Arts in Indianapolis worked in partnership with several community-based organizations, including the Concord Neighborhood Center, Etz Chaim Sephardic Congregation, South Calvary Missionary Baptist Church, the Southside Picnic Committee, the Old Southside Neighborhood Association, and the Stadium Village Business Association.
In 2010, this collaborative research resulted in the publication of “The Neighborhood of Saturdays: Memories of a Multi-Ethnic Community on Indianapolis’ Southside.” The book features oral histories, photographs, and other memorabilia from African-American and Jewish elders who were former residents of Indianapolis’ Near Southside, collected by IU Indianapolis Anthropology students.
New apartment building honors the history of its neighborhood
TWG real estate development, construction, and management company honors the history of the neighborhood where their new Rise on Meridian apartment building is located by installing several display boards based on “The Neighborhood of Saturdays” that describe the businesses and culture that existed in the area. Visit the building at 915 South Meridian Street to take a look at the displays and the building.