Chronicling Hoosier: Chasing Hoosier Usage Through Texts, Time, and Across Geographies

Abstract

The origin of the word hoosier has been long sought by historians and native Indianans alike. In 2016 two colleagues, Ted Polley and Caitlin Pollock and I conducted a research project which began as a technology supported, big data hunt for the earliest appearance and original meaning of the word. Ultimately the most intriguing discoveries were the variety of meanings hoosier has encompassed through time and by geography. Today’s presentation is based on that research originally shared via a website in 2017 but with significant revisions and additions for a Fortnightly audience. Today using digital historic newspapers, magazines, and correspondence as exemplars I will share early text appearances of the word hoosier, follow theories of the word’s origin, and highlight positive and negative uses of the word over time.