Diversity in Law 2024

The majority of this year’s Indiana Lawyer Diversity in Law photos were taken at the Indiana State Library, 315 W. Ohio St., in downtown Indianapolis.

The library’s history goes back to June 28, 1816, when a first official mention of a state library for Indiana was made in the Journal of the Constitutional Convention. The original concept for the library was to be an institution for the use of legisla-tors and state officials.

It was established in 1825 and was housed in the Statehouse until 1934. It was one of the first six state libraries established in the U.S.

It wasn’t until more than 100 years after it was first established that plans for a physical building at Senate Avenue and Ohio Street began to take shape. In 1929, the General Assembly authorized a special levy of 2 cents spread over three years that would be used to raise $1 million to pay for the cost of purchasing land and building a structure.

Construction began in 1932, and the building opened in 1934.

The original building was designed by Pierre & Wright with a façade of Indiana limestone. Panels tell the story of Indiana’s settlement and development through carvings of the Indiana citizen: an explorer, soldier, pioneer, farmer, legislator, miner and more. The interior is Indiana walnut and Monte Cassino sandstone quarried from St. Meinrad in Southern Indiana.

The state expanded the library significantly with a modern addition in 1976.

Today, the library is listed on the National Register or Historic Places.

IL Lead Designer Audrey Pelsor and photographer Eric Learned used the library’s warm tones and collections as backdrops for this year’s shoot.

We’d like to thank the Indiana State Library staff for hosting us, and we’d also like to thank Image Resources Inc. for providing video services.

—Samm Quinn,

IBJ managing editor