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Hoosier Basketball History
Indiana has been the basketball capital of the United States for years.
To celebrate Hoosier Hysteria, we’ve put together this Hoosier basketball resource page. While it isn’t a complete list of all IHS basketball-related items, it will help you get started and guide you through some of our most popular images, articles and historical gems.
Are you ready? Tip-off is now!
Media Inquiries
If you’d like to use an image from our collection or interview one of our experts, contact Charlie McAtee at Coles Marketing (charlie@colesmarketing.com).
Indianapolis Recorder Collection, Indiana Historical Society
Our digital collections has more than 500 images, articles and historical items about Indiana basketball. And it’s easy to access.
Simply visit our digital images here and search “basketball” or any of your favorite players or coaches. From Oscar Robertson to John Wooden to George McGinnis, chances are you’ll find some undiscovered nuggets.
From articles to an all-ages biography of an Indiana basketball legend, IHS can provide history and perspective on various aspects of Indiana’s game.
Traces of Indiana and Midwestern History
Traces of Indiana and Midwestern History is an award-winning popular history magazine for Indiana Historical Society members. Below are several basketball articles that are available in the IHS online archives.
“Everett Case Conquers Dixie: Hoosier Basketball in North Carolina,” by Jim Sumner, Fall 1993
“The Shot: Crispus Attucks Tigers vs. Anderson Indians,” by Randy Roberts (Oscar Robertson and Crispus Attucks basketball), Summer 1997
“Who Was Chuck Taylor?” by Abe Aamidor, Summer 2007
“The Sportswriter: Bob Collins of the Indianapolis Star,” by Zak Keefer (Collins had a close relationship with the Crispus Attucks team), Winter 2016
“An Indiana Temple: Butler University’s Hinkle Fieldhouse,” by Norman Jones, Spring 2016
“Everybody’s All-American: Bill Garrett,” by Rachel Graham Cody, Spring 2016
“A Perfect Match: Indiana and Basketball,” by J. Ronald Newlin, Fall 2016
“The Friends of Forkner and Fourteenth Streets: A Brooklyn Dodger and a Harlem Globetrotter,” by Norman Jones (friendship between Carl Erskine and “Jumping” Johnny Wilson), Fall 2017
“Gil Hodges: Basketball Was His First Love,” by Randy Mills, Spring 2020
Ray Crowe Interview with Tom Carnegie
Indianapolis Recorder Collection, Indiana Historical Society
Ray Crowe is a legendary coach who made history not only in Indiana, but in the United States. In this interview with Tom Carnegie (ca. 1965), hear how athletics played an important role in Crowe’s life as he went from coach to business leader to state legislator.
WRTV Collection, Indiana Historical Society.
Hinkle Fieldhouse Augmented Reality Mobile App
Indianapolis Recorder Collection, Indiana Historical Society
Hinkle Fieldhouse is an American landmark. It has hosted some of the country’s biggest games, and is arguably the most recognized gym in Indiana.
The Indiana Historical Society has an augmented reality mobile app, “Celebrate Indianapolis,” which includes a session with Tony Hinkle. GPS technology then leads users to sites relevant to the historical figures, where IHS Museum Theater actors digitally appear to bring them to life.
Simply download the mobile app through the App Store and Google Play, and head to Hinkle Fieldhouse to hear from Tony Hinkle.
Crispus Attucks Bicentennial Minute
Crispus Attucks High School in Indianapolis holds a special place in the history of Indiana basketball, as well as in U.S. history. In this Bicentennial Minute video, see how this school changed our state basketball tournament, and changed our country.
Explore Hinkle Fieldhouse, Crispus Attucks High School with Destination Indiana
Bass Photo Co Collection, Indiana Historical Society
Using innovative technology, Destination Indiana Journeys allow you to explore Indiana’s history and every corner of the state, including basketball. You decide where you want to travel and what you want to know more about. Here are a couple that we think you’ll like.
