The mission of the Center for Middletown Studies is to build on the scholarship inaugurated by Robert S. and Helen Merrell Lynd in their landmark studies Middletown (1929) and Middletown in Transition (1937). These in-depth accounts of life in Muncie, Indiana, became classic sociological studies and established the community as a barometer of social trends in the United States.
In the years since, scholars in a variety of fields have returned to Muncie to follow up on the Lynds' work, making this small city among the most studied communities in the nation. The center continues this tradition by sponsoring and promoting research on Muncie as Middletown, on small cities generally, and on the themes and issues the Lynds explored.
The What Middletown Read database (www.bsu.edu/libraries/wmr) is now open for use. Praised by the New York Times as "one of the few authoritative records of American reading" and describe by Slate as "wondrous," the database reproduces the circulation records of the Muncie Public Library between 1891 and 1902. It includes individual details about each borrower and book, giving us an unparalleled glimpse into the world of readers as it existed more than a century ago. The database represents a unique digital resource for researchers interested in the cultural history of industrializing America and of Muncie, Indiana, the city made famous as "Middletown." For further details, go here. The Center has also made available the Main Street Public Library Database. Compiled by Wayne A. Wiegand, this database includes records of the collections for five Midwestern public libraries during the period from 1890 to 1970. For more details, go here. Essays on What Middletown Read from the Times and Slate are available here and here.
Changing Gears: The Center for Middletown Studies, in conjunction with Ball State's Institute for Digital Entertainment and Education, has produced the documentary film Changing Gears, End of an Era. It explores the significance and impact of the closing of the Borg Warner auto parts plant in Muncie, Indiana in April 2009. To order a copy contact idee@bsu.edu or call 765-285-1600. More details on the film are available here.
Other areas of research include:
Contact us for more information about our research and resources.