1851 – William H. Bass was born in Bartholomew County. After a few years in teaching, he went into the photography business in Indianapolis. His company took thousands of pictures around the city throughout the 20th century. This collection continues to be an invaluable resource for historians.
1875 – Zerelda Wallace, widow of Governor David Wallace, addressed the Indiana General Assembly and presented over 21,000 signatures on temperance petitions. Five years later, she testified before the United States Senate in favor of women’s suffrage.
1930 – Members of the Indiana Bankers’ Association met at the Claypool Hotel in Indianapolis to deal with the rash of bank robberies that had taken place during the previous two years. They recommended a statewide police radio system to address the problem, along with a “well-armed guard of volunteer vigilantes.”
1968 – Music legend Louis Armstrong performed on stage at Butler University’s Clowes Hall. The Indianapolis News reported that he “treated the capacity crowd with his golden trumpet jazz.” In an interview, Armstrong, known as “Satchmo,” said he started his career by playing on riverboats up and down the Mississippi River.
1978 – The state of Indiana was nearly paralyzed by a snowstorm that became known as the “Blizzard of ’78.” Schools were closed for several days after winds gusted to 55 mph and snow accumulated to as much as 20 inches or more.
1989 – Dan Quayle of Huntington took the oath of office as the 44th Vice President of the United States, serving under President George H. W. Bush. Quayle had spent eight years in the United States Senate and four years in the U.S. House of Representatives.