Collection Hightlights

Early farm equipment, homestead furniture, period clothing, household necessities, political buttons, vintage toys, and tornado memorabilia can all be found in our collection of White County historical items.

When the Nation called the citizens of White County answered. Items from the  Civil War, Spanish American/Cuban War, WWI, WWII, Korean War & Vietnam Conflict, and Desert Storm are represented in our collection that includes uniforms, photos, medals, documents, memorabilia, and more.

The history of human activity in Indiana began with migratory tribes of Native Americans who inhabited Indiana as early as 8000 BC. Tribes succeeded one another in dominance for several thousand years and reached their peak of development during the period of the Mississippian culture. White County is rich with archaeological evidence of their habitations.  All of our artifacts have all be found in White County and donated to the collection. Included are items that were found in 1993 when Lake Freeman was lowered to the original riverbed

This beautifully, crafted 6-point, star quilt was created by in the 1930s by May Mary (Smith) Myers. Mary was born in Madison County, Ohio on February 29, 1864.  She was living with her parents Isaac and Nancy Smith in Round Grove Township for the 1870 census. She married Charles F. Myers in 1889. They established their home on the farm of Mr. Myer's parents in Badger Grove and lived there for 30 years before retiring and moving to Lafayette in 1919. She passed away in 1951 and is buried in the IOOF Brookston Cemetery.

Donated by Ruth (Myers) Shultz.

The collection includes paintings and photographs of White County residents like this painting of Dr. William Edward Biederwolf.
Born in 1867 in White County, the son of German immigrants, Dr. Biederwolf was a widely traveled evangelist. He was President of the Winona Lake Christian Assembly, Dean of the  Winona School of Theology, President of the Family Altar League of Chicago, and Director of the American Mission of Lepers. He attended Wabash College and Princeton University.  During the Spanish-American War, he served as chaplain.  He died in Septemeber 1939 at the age of 71. He is buried in the IOOF Riverview Cemetery.

White County is comprised of 12 townships. Big Creek, Cass, Honey Creek, Jackson, Liberty, Lincoln, Monon, Prairie, Princeton, Round Grove, Union, and West Point and is home to towns such as Brookston, Burnettsville, Chalmers, Monon, Monticello, Reynolds, and Wolcott. The collection contains pieces for various communities in the county like this gavel. The inscription reads "PRESENTED TO MOTHERS OF WORLD WAR NO. 2 MONON UNIT NO. 60 BY LAFAYETTE UNIT NO.  17  1949".