E.B. and Bertha C. Ball Center

E.B. and Bertha C. Ball Center

Tuesday, September 2, 6-7:30 p.m.
Held at the E.B. and Bertha C. Ball Center
No Charge—Reservations Required
Please register online at: https://commerce.cashnet.com/BALL_EMS057   (under “History”)

When Bracken Library opened on September 9, 1975, the move of thousands of books, periodicals, and microfilm from the library in North Quad was organized by Phyllis Harland, head of the Division of General Collections for Ball State University Libraries.

In its 50-year history, scores of other notable women have worked behind the scenes to make Bracken Library the research and learning center of campus. This program will highlight stories of some of its librarians, archivists, catalogers, and other staff and some of the unique collections and resources they curated and preserved. 

Presenter: Melissa Gentry, Supervisor, Map Collection, Ball State University Libraries

E.B. and Bertha C. Ball Center

Wednesday, October 1, 2-3 p.m.
Held at the E.B. and Bertha C. Ball Center
No Charge---Reservations Required
Please register online at: https://commerce.cashnet.com/BALL_EMS057   (under “History”)

Discover the rich, 150-year story of Muncie Public Library — a legacy shaped as much by the people of Muncie as by the books on its shelves. From its founding in 1875, Muncie Public Library has been shaped by the vision, advocacy, and support of the Muncie-Center Township community. Residents pushed for the creation of a public library and later championed the development of neighborhood branches and forward-thinking initiatives. This program explores how the library has grown in response to the community’s evolving needs — from literacy and learning to access to technology and enrichment opportunities. At every step, MPL has reflected the values and voices of Muncie, continually adapting to serve as a dynamic hub for information, innovation, and inclusion. Come hear the inspiring story of how a community built its library — and how that library, in turn, helped build a stronger community.

Presenter: Sara McKinley, Carnegie Library Manager and Archivist, Muncie Public Library

E.B. and Bertha C. Ball Center

Wednesday, October 15, 6 - 7:30 p.m.
Held at the E.B. and Bertha C. Ball Center
No Charge—Reservations Required
Please register online at: https://commerce.cashnet.com/BALL_EMS057   (under “History”)

In early 1900s Indiana, John Terrell was the wealthiest man in Wells County, thanks to oil discovered on his farm. But when his youngest daughter, Lucy, became pregnant and was forced into marriage with the abusive Melvin Wolfe, Terrell’s life and fortune began to unravel in a tumultuous spiral of murder, a dramatic trial, and madness.

On a summer Sunday afternoon in 1903, Terrell ambushed Wolfe along a roadside. He then followed the wounded man to a doctor’s office, broke into the operating room, placed a shotgun to Wolfe’s head, and pulled the trigger. The next day, the murder made headlines in hundreds of newspapers across the country, including the front page of The New York Times.

But the murder was only the beginning. Over the next decade, the case divided a community and drew in five judges, two Indiana governors, a prominent priest, and the Indiana Supreme Court.

Presenter: Stephen Terrell is a retired Indianapolis lawyer and Muncie native who now lives and writes in his hometown. A graduate of Muncie Central and Ball State University, he is the author of The Madness of John Terrell: Revenge and Insanity on Trial in the Heartland (Kent State University Press, 2024), as well as three novels, including two legal thrillers and Last Train to Stratton, an excerpt of which will appear in the 2025 edition of So It Goes, the Kurt Vonnegut Library’s literary journal.

Stephen’s short stories appear regularly in Speed City Sisters in Crime anthologies. His work has earned honors including a place on the Best Mystery Stories of the Year Honor Roll, the Manny Award for short fiction, and induction into the Indiana State Bar’s General Practice Hall of Fame. He also writes the column On Second Thought for the ABA’s Experience Magazine.

Ball State Alumni Center

Wednesday, December 3, 6 p.m.
Held at the Ball State Alumni Center
No Charge—Reservations Required
Please reserve your space at https://commerce.cashnet.com/BALL_EMS057
Refreshments served after presentation

For generations, holiday shopping in Muncie was more than a seasonal task—it was an experience filled with tradition, excitement, and community spirit. Downtown once sparkled with festive lights, and families crowded the sidewalks to admire elaborate window displays at Ball Stores and other local retail establishments. This program explores the history and experiences of holiday shopping in the “Magic City” through the combined resources of the Ball State University Libraries, Delaware County Historical Society, and the Muncie Public Library.

Presenters:
Melissa Gentry, Supervisor, Map Collection, Ball State University Libraries
Cody Sprunger, Archivist for Architectural and Design Records, Ball State Estopinal College of Architecture and Planning
Sara McKinley, Carnegie Library Manager and the Archivist for Muncie Public Library
Karen Vincent, Executive Director, Delaware County Historical Society and Delaware County Historian
Susan Smith, Archivist, Minnetrista Museum & Gardens