Circle Side Chats: A Grave Matter in Indiana with Jeannie Regan-Dinius

Event Details

Join Indiana Humanities and local humanities scholars in the southwest quadrant of Monument Circle. Bring a lunch and listen to brief presentations from local experts on Indiana history and culture. Every Thursday from Sept. 7 through Oct. 19, stop by to reflect on fascinating Indiana topics, learn something new, and leave with a spark of appreciation for all that makes Indy unique. Presentations will be about 20 minutes long with plenty of time for discussion and Q&A after.

A Grave Matter in Indiana: Cemeteries and Hoosiers with Jeannie Regan-Dinius

Talk Description: Before most of any city was developed, the first thing our pioneers established was burial grounds.  Whether a family site, religious based, or community focused these essential spaces evolved in importance, design, and use. This Spark will explore the city’s relationship with these places.

Bio: Jeannie R. Regan-Dinius, Director of Special Initiatives, has a life-long interest in history, family history, and research. She earned her Bachelors in Public History from Ball State University, where she studied also anthropology and American Studies. She has her Masters in Urban Planning and Information Management/Library Science from Indiana University-Purdue University at Indianapolis.  

She is the Director of Historic Preservation for the Crown Hill Heritage Foundation, a role she started in 2022. Before that, she worked as the Cemetery and Burial Ground Registry Coordinator for the State of Indiana. Jeannie has served on the board of directors for the Indiana Women’s History Association, the Indiana Historical Society, and the Association of Indiana Museums. 

About: Circle Side Chats is in partnership with Big Car Collaborative and SPARK. SPARK is a partnership with Downtown Indy, the City of Indianapolis, and the Indiana War Memorials Commission and funded by the Capital Improvements Board.