All information on this site came out of a research-based course at the University of Evansville in the spring of 2019. We looked through local archives, searched historical newspapers, talked to local experts, visited historical sites, and read primary and secondary sources to piece together a narrative of music-making in Evansville, Indiana. We set out to examine musical activity from mid-nineteenth century through World War II, but we found so much information that we only made it through the 1930s or so. On this site, you’ll find students’ written discussions of their findings, along with images from historical newspapers and documents, as well as our site visits. Finally, you’ll also find our recordings of sheet music written and published in Evansville around the turn of the century.

Instructor: Dr. Kristen Strandberg

Student contributors: Melanie Baker, Madeline Cox, Devyn Haas, Morgan O’Beirne

Thanks also to: Josh Myers and Clay Steenbergen

Local experts and organizations who helped us along the way: Wayne Jones, Stan Schmidt (Willard Library), Chris Cooke (Oak Hill Cemetery), Robert Nicholls (First Presbyterian Church), Reitz Home Museum, Evansville Museum