Jeff Tenuth was born in Wisconsin and educated at South Illinois University (at Edwardsville), Indiana-Purdue University at Indianapolis, and the University of Indianapolis where he earned a master’s degree in history. He spent more than thirty-five years working in museums in a variety of positions including registrar, historian, curator, and collection manager. He has previously authored a history of Indianapolis as well as many articles on Indiana history and various aspects of museum work.
The nineteenth century in Indiana was a century of change as it was throughout the country. When Indiana became a state in 1816, it was heavily forested with about 60,000...
