People of Allen County, Indiana

Hoosiers

HOOSIER - pronounced hoo'zher - is an inhabitant or native of the state of Indiana, and the name of our National Forest.

January 12, 2017 post by the Indiana Bicentennial Commission on Facebook:

CHECK THIS OUT // Have you heard?! As of today, Indiana residents are officially "Hoosiers" according to the federal government. This was at the request of Sen. Joe Donnelly and former Senator Dan Coats, who argued Indiana residents have proudly called themselves Hoosiers for more than 180 years, even if no one is sure where the term came from.

Don't call them Indianians; they're Hoosiers

December 15, 2023 post by the U.S. Forest Service - Hoosier National Forest on Facebook:

Ever Wonder How to Pronounce the Name Hoosier? Look No Further!

HOOSIER - pronounced hoo'zher - is an inhabitant or native of Indiana, and the name of our National Forest.

No one is quite sure where the term originated for certain, but more information about the word can be found at: Where did the Name Hoosier Come From?

#hoosiernationalforest

July 14, 2017 post by Indiana Historical Bureau on Facebook:

According to a 19th century source, one of the earliest purported references to a "Hoosier" appeared in a Fountain County schoolmaster's diary entry on July 14, 1827. In the passage, the diarist related an anecdote "about a squatter who gave a false alarm that Indians were coming, in order that he might ride to [the land office in] Crawfordsville and enter a claim for his land ahead of some speculators he had seen looking it over. Successful in his deceit, he boasted: "There is a Yankee trick for you -- done up by a Hoosier."

Read more about the possible origins and meanings of "Hoosier" via Jeffrey Graf's incomparable web page from the Herman B Wells Library http://www.indiana.edu/~librcsd/internet/extra/hoosier.html

Illustration of a "Hoosier" from an 1867 issue of Harper's Weekly, see the Indiana University url above. [link is broken - see the actual Harper's Weekly below]

Page 697 centerfold of the November 2, 1867 Harper's Weekly
Indiana State Fair at Terre Haute, October 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 -- Among the Hoosiers--sketched by J. F. Gooking--[See page 698] on Archive.org.
Historical Treasure: Among the Hoosiers: at the 1867 State Fair Randy Padgett Special to the Tribune-Star Aug 15, 2020 has a colorized image of the centerfold page.

February 18, 2018 and expanded February 19, 2019 post which included a photocopy of the original newspaper item by Indiana Historical Bureau on Facebook:

On February 19, 1831, the Vincennes Gazette ran a letter to the editorl with Hoosher the earliest-known printed variation of the word, "Hoosier." This discovery was made by Jonathan Clark Smith of Hanover College, who concluded that "Indiana's nickname originated not as a derisive term for the state's southern migrants but as an indication of local pride in those who sought to improve the state's economy."

To read more, check out his brief article on the discovery in the Indiana Magazine of History: https://goo.gl/HDGaN6.

You can also read the press release from IU: https://goo.gl/fHQeS1.

July 27, 2023 post by WANE 15 on Facebook:

For many first-time visitors to the state of Indiana, one question arises faster than just about any other.

What actually is a Hoosier?

  1. Hoosier: A Brief Overview including transcript at Talking Hoosier History at IN.gov.
  2. The Word Hoosier a 119 page paper by Jeffrey Graf Reference Services Department Herman B Wells Library Indiana University Libraries.
  3. According to a 19th century source, one of the earliest purported references to a "Hoosier" appeared in a Fountain County schoolmaster's diary entry on July 14, 1827. It comes from The Word Hoosier by Jeffrey Graf of Indiana University above referenced in a July 14, 2017 post by Indiana Historical Bureau on Facebook.
  4. The May 7, 1919 Indianapolis News newspaper front page headline was Indianians by Thousands Pay Tribute to Men and Women Who Helped Put the Huns to Rout on Hoosier State Chronicles Indiana's Digital Historic Newspaper Program.
  5. New Findings on the Earliest Written Uses of "Hoosier" by Jonathan Clark Smith published in Volume 104, Issue 3, September 2008, pages 293-295 of the Indiana Magazine of History.
  6. Hoosier is a name for a person from Indiana apparently became common after 1833, when John Finley, Richmond, Indiana published his poem The Hoosier’s Nest from Introducing Indiana Past and Present - State of Indiana page 10 IN.gov.
  7. Hoosier is one of the oldest of state nicknames according to What is a Hoosier? also on IN.gov includes some theories on the Hoosier origin on in.gov.
  8. What the Heck is a Hoosier? by Erin Heck on FunCityFinder.com references the 1986 movie Hoosiers about the Milan basketball state champions. Also the nickname for Indiana University.
  9. Hoosier on Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia has more.
  10. Donnelly, Young Announce Government Publishing Office to Call Indiana Residents “Hoosiers” Instead of “Indianans” Donnelly and then-Representative Young sent letters requesting change published January 12, 2017 on donnelly.senate.gov Press Releases. What’s in a name? Government Publishing Office officially recognizes Hoosiers as Hoosiers published January 26, 2017 on Indiana State Library blog.
  11. The Word “Hoosier:” An Origin Story by Lindsey Beckley posted June 12, 2018 on the Indiana Historical Bureau blog.
  12. THH Season 01 Bonus: Hoosier: A Brief Overview by Lindsey Beckley posted on July 2, 2018 on the Indiana Historical Bureau blog.
  13. The Word Hoosier; John Finley Indiana Historical Society Publications, Volume IV, Number 2 published on Internet Archive.
  14. The Origin of the Word ‘Hoosier’: A New Interpretation Published: Aug 30, 2018 by William D. Piersen. Abstract: Neither of these first two speculations was particularly complimentary of early Indiana life, so some state residents adopted more flattering explanations of Hoosier origin. Several argued that the word "hoosier" derived from a mispronunciation of the European term "hussar" attached to Hoosier boatmen in honor of their fighting hearts and manly prowess. Others contended that high-spirited Indiana boatmen were termed "hoosiers" because they liked to jump up and crack their heels together while shouting "Huzza!" But neither the "hussars" theory nor its "huzza" counterpart accounts for the derogatory way the term was actually used in the early Southeast, and neither has ever been taken seriously as a likely etymology by students of American usage. Volume 112, Issue 3, September 2016 of Indiana Magazine of History journal in the archives at Indiana University Scholarworks.
  15. Where did ‘Hoosier’ come from? An Indiana bill seeks to answer that question for good. A Republican state lawmaker wants to enshrine “The Hoosier State” as Indiana’s official nickname by Casey Smith - January 12, 2023 on Indiana Capital Chronicle..
  16. “Hoosier” is not official, but to formalize an origin story as the accepted version of how the name came to be is just so wrong according to Politician's proposal would take mystery out of 'Hoosier' by Leo Morris January 19, 2023 in The Journal Gazette newspaper.
  17. What is a Hoosier? Indiana bill — with a possible answer — dies in committee by Casey Smith - February 21, 2023 Indiana Capital Chronicle.

  18. February 21, 2023 post by Indiana Historical Bureau on Facebook:

    There has been a lot of interest recently in the Black Methodist preacher Harry Hoosier. Who was he? And is it possible that people from Indiana are named for him? The Indiana History Blog breaks it down: Who is Harry Hoosier? And Are People from Indiana Named for Him?

     

    Introduced Version HOUSE BILL No. 1143 DIGEST OF INTRODUCED BILL Citations Affected: IC 1-2-18. Synopsis: Designation of state nickname. Provides that "The Hoosier State" is designated as the official nickname of the state of Indiana. Provides that the designation is to recognize and memorialize the legacy of Harry Hoosier. Makes certain findings in recognizing Harry Hoosier as the namesake of The Hoosier State. Effective: July 1, 2023.

    December 21, 2023 post by Indiana Historical Bureau on Facebook:

    Our most-read #IndianaHistoryBlog post of 2023 addresses the age-old question: Where did the term “Hoosier” originate?

    This year, there was significant interest in the Black Methodist preacher Harry Hoosier. Jill Weiss Simins’s blog post addresses “Who is Harry Hoosier? And Are People from Indiana Named for Him?”

    Read it now: Who is Harry Hoosier? And Are People from Indiana Named for Him?

    The picture of Harry Hoosier is courtesy of the Indiana Magazine of History.

  19. December 11, 2023 post by Ray E. Boomhower on Facebook:

    "Probably 'Hoosier' is better known in the United States than any locale nickname save 'Yankee,' but in Indiana is is used seriously only by editorial writers, Fourth of July orators, and chamber-of-commerce propagandists, and in his private life any of these would shoot like a dog a man who called him a Hoosier. Why does the Hoosier whisper diffidently that he is from Indiana (whereas the Texan bellows that he's from Texas)?"

    ". . . America is a larger Indiana; and if we knew what had gone wrong--and right--with the nation, Indiana is a good place to look for clues, the Hoosier wind carries many a straw. This Indiana is in truth . . . 'down at the grass roots where it all emanates from.'"

    John Bartlow Martin, "Indiana: An Interpretation"

  20. December 21, 2023 post by WANE 15 on Facebook:

    At a banquet in 1888, General Lewis “Lew” Wallace spoke on the potential meanings of the word “Hoosier”, trying to steer away from the negative connotation.

    Changing the meaning of the term ‘Hoosier,’ the Lew Wallace way

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