Batesville Memorial Public Library
131 North Walnut Street :: Batesville, IN 47006
Hours
Sunday (October - April) :: 1:00 - 5:00 pm
Monday - Thursday :: 9:00 am - 9:00 pm
Friday :: 9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Saturday :: 10:00 am - 5:00 pm
Special Collections @ the Library
Aviation Collection | Hillenbrand Family Collection | Miriam E. Mason Collection | Oral Histories
352nd Fighter
Group Memorial Aviation Collection
This
special collection of aviation books, videos and magazines has been
donated to the library by Al Giesting and Jim Mahle of Batesville,
Indiana, Richard DeBruin of Wisconsin, Joe Noah at the Preddy Memorial
Foundation, and others, and is dedicated to the 352nd Fighter Group VIII AAF
that flew over Europe during the Second World War.
Our
collection contains over 600 items, including circulating non-fiction
books on military, commercial and private aviation, fiction books,
videos and copies of The Bluenoser, a newsletter from the
352nd Fighter
Group Association, and Friends Journal, a magazine from the
US Air Force Museum.
A plaque with the names of present and former Batesville, Indiana area members of the 352nd hangs above the collection. Those honored are:
- T/Sgt. Albert Giesting, Bronze Star, Crew Chief for Capt. Virgil Meroney 487 Sqd., Pilot - Sweet Louise P-47 & P-51-B
- 1st Lt. Malcolm Pickering, Pilot - Gracie P-51-B
- Col. McDonald Godfrey, USAF Ret., Pilot - Candy Lamb P-51-B
The
plaque contains an illustration of the Sweet Louise in flight.
Models of the planes flown by Pickering and Godfrey are also part of the
collection.The photo at left shows Chief Sgt. Al Giesting with Capt. Virgil Meroney, the 352nd's first Ace. (photo courtesy of 352nd Fighter Group Association)
On display are squadron patches from the 352nd Fighter Group, prints drawn by John "wily" Mollison, of the P-51 Mustangs as flown by: Raymond Mitchell, George Preddy, Dean Houston, Alden Rigby, and Ray Littge, and a print of "Top Mustang Ace" Maj. George Preddy, drawn by Lonnie Ortega, along with a plaque and brochures from the Preddy Memorial Foundation.
At
right is a photo of our exhibit that highlights the 352nd Fighter Group
story along with our collection.Our thanks to those who have donated these valuable materials to the library. If anyone has items that they would like to add to this collection, please contact the library.
A
Brief History of the 352nd Fighter Group [pdf]
For more info on the 352nd Fighter Group and
other aviation history, try these links:
- 352nd Fighter Group Facebook Page
- 352nd FG Association
- Legends of the 352nd Fighter Group
- 352nd Fighter Group
- Little Friends - 8th Air Force Fighter Groups
- 8th Air Force in World War II
- Mighty Eighth Air Force Heritage Museum
- 352nd FG page from Stardust Studios
- Preddy Memorial Foundation
-
Synopsis of George Preddy, Top Mustang Ace by Joe Noah
- The Aviation History Online Museum
- National Aviation Hall of Fame
- Timeless Voices of Aviation
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Hillenbrand Family Collection
This non-circulating collection of books is from the Hillenbrand family's former home on Walnut Street (photo at right), the site of the current Batesville Memorial Public Library.
The collection is displayed at the library
along with busts of John A. and Clara M. Hillenbrand and a stained-glass
window from their home (photo at left).
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Miriam E. Mason Collection
A
portrait of Miriam E. Mason (Miriam Mason Swain), a resident of
Batesville and author of children's books from the 1930's to the 1960's,
is exhibited near the library's Hillenbrand Family Collection along with an original manuscript of Caroline and the
Seven Little Words (1967). The portrait and manuscript were presented to the library by
The Woman's Study Club of Batesville.
We
gratefully acknowledge the donation of another Miriam Mason manuscript
by the
Stockton-San Joaquin County Public Library in California. Along
with the manuscript of Little Jonathan (1944), they also donated
an original drawing from the book and a letter documenting Ms. Mason's
gift of the manuscript
and illustration to a sorority. The items were
purchased from the sorority at a sale, and were given to the
Stockton-San Joaquin County Library. The manuscript, illustration and
letter are now part of our Miriam E. Mason display, housed in a display
case which was generously donated by the
Friends of Batesville Memorial
Public Library.
Books by Miriam Mason are part of our Youth Fiction Collection, and may be checked out. A series for young people, the Young Patriots Series by Patria Press, has re-printed Miriam Mason's John Audubon : Young Naturalist with illustrations by Cathy Morrison. Our thanks to the family of Miriam Mason for donating two copies for BMPL users to enjoy.
A brief biography of Miriam Mason Swain.
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Oral Histories Collection
The Batesville Memorial Public Library has collected
over 40 interviews with people who recall local events, people,
organizations, churches, schools, and businesses throughout Batesville's
history. This circulating collection is on audiotape, some with
accompanying materials and photographs, and is shelved in the Local
History / Genealogy area of the library. Thanks to WRBI 103.9FM, for
helping us convert the taped interviews to a digital format.
 The collection includes an oral history of the train depot in Batesville, IN |
Oral History Subjects |
 The collection includes an oral history of The Eureka Band |
|
 The collection includes an oral history of Batesville's Gibson Theatre |
|
 The collection includes an oral history of downtown Batesville, IN |
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