The Indianapolis Public Library Appoints New Editor-in-Chief for The Encyclopedia of Indianapolis

The Indianapolis Public Library has announced the appointment of Dr. Benjamin Looker as the new Editor-in-Chief of the Encyclopedia of Indianapolis.

Managed by The Indianapolis Public Library, the Encyclopedia of Indianapolis is a free, online encyclopedia that serves as the definitive repository of stories and insights about Indianapolis: its people, organizations, places, and events.

Benjamin Looker holds a Ph.D. in American Studies from Yale University and serves as an associate professor of American Studies at Saint Louis University. His academic research spans diverse areas, including 20th-century urban studies, jazz and other American music, the interplay between the arts and social movements, and the politics of culture in postwar America.

“Dr. Looker’s deep expertise and scholarly focus on the intersection of history and culture will enrich the Encyclopedia of Indianapolis and strengthen its role as the trusted source for understanding the Circle City’s past and present,” said Gregory Hill, CEO of The Indianapolis Public Library.

The Encyclopedia of Indianapolis currently features 2,310 entries, offering comprehensive insights into the City’s social, cultural, economic, historical, political, and physical landscapes. Since its launch on November 18, 2021, the Encyclopedia has welcomed more than 687,277 visitors and garnered 1,190,537 page views.

“It’s an honor to join the talented editorial team at the Encyclopedia of Indianapolis. Together, we’ll work to enhance the strong reputation that this digital project has enjoyed since 2021, as it expanded on the foundational print edition of 1994,” Looker said. “The Encyclopedia of Indianapolis offers a tremendous tool for Indianapolis residents — and, indeed, for users around the world — to engage with the complex histories, issues, institutions, and personalities that have made Indianapolis such a unique and endlessly fascinating place.”

Looker added, “Over the coming months, we’ll be widening our coverage of the many distinct cultural communities that have called Indianapolis home. We hope our efforts chronicling the Circle City will not only support the work of students, educators, journalists, and researchers, but will also give everyone exciting new avenues for getting to know their neighbors and neighborhoods more deeply.”

The Encyclopedia of Indianapolis is a legacy project of the Indianapolis Bicentennial Commission, developed by the Polis Center at Indiana University Indianapolis in collaboration with the city’s major cultural and heritage institutions, including SAVI, a program of The Polis Center, a research unit in the IU Luddy School of Informatics, Computing, and Engineering at Indianapolis, University of Indianapolis, Indiana University Indianapolis University Library, Indiana State Library, Indiana Historical Bureau, Indiana Landmarks, Butler University, Indiana Archives, and Indiana Humanities.

Major funding for the project was generously provided through The Indianapolis Public Library Foundation by Lilly Endowment Inc., Allen Whitehill Clowes Charitable Foundation, R.B. Annis Educational Foundation, The Indianapolis Foundation Library Fund, Nicholas H. Noyes, Jr. Memorial Foundation, M. Jacqueline Nytes, and an anonymous donor. The project is sustained by The Indianapolis Public Library as a vital civic resource and aligns with The Indianapolis Public Library’s mission to enrich and support communities by inspiring lifelong learning through stewardship and engaging service.

For more information about the Encyclopedia of Indianapolis, visit www.indyencyclopedia.org.