Franklin College proudly introduces the Thomasine Allen Online Collection, a student-led project celebrating the remarkable legacy of Thomasine Allen, a 1911 graduate whose work bridged cultures and transformed communities. Created by Franklin College student researchers, this project was funded by the 2024 Council of Independent Colleges’ Humanities Research for the Public Good Initiative.
The collection is hosted in Hyku Commons, a shared repository service based on the Samvera Community’s Hyku software. This service is provided by the Private Academic Library Network of Indiana (PALNI) and the Partnership for Academic Library Collaboration & Innovation (PALCI). Franklin College’s B.F. Hamilton Library, in partnership with PALNI and its network of collaborators, played a vital role in bringing this project to fruition.
Allen’s lifelong mission included ministry work in Japan, service at the Tule Lake Relocation Center during World War II, and the establishment of a sister-city relationship between Kuji, Japan, and Franklin, Indiana. Allen’s achievements earned recognition from the Japanese government and Franklin College, which awarded her an honorary doctorate in 1959.
“Experiential learning is at the heart of what we do at Franklin College, and our on- and off-campus partnerships enhance these student experiences,” says Jessica Mahoney, director of library services and assessment, a 1996 alumna and a PALNI Board Director. “This support and expertise give us the power to provide our students with engaged learning opportunities and expand access to archival materials throughout our community.”
The students worked closely with community partners, including David Pfeiffer of the Johnson County Museum of History, Susan Sutton, with the Indiana Historical Society and a 1982 alumna, and Greg Moore of the Johnson County Historical Society.
Faculty and staff mentors also played key roles in guiding the project. Mahoney and Dr. Meredith Clark-Wiltz, professor and Roger D. Branigin Chair in History, provided academic oversight. Doug Jaggers, assistant director of the Pulliam School of Journalism, offered hands-on photography support, while Betsy Schmidt, a 1985 alumna and director of academic partnerships, ensured seamless project administration.
The collection’s student researchers include:
- Junior Grace Allen from Greenwood.
- Sophomore Allison Meyer from Columbus.
- Junior Hannah Phegley from Brownsburg.
Visit the Thomasine Allen Online Collection to explore Allen’s legacy and its lasting impact.
For more information, contact the Franklin College Office of Communications at (317) 738-8185.
Founded in 1834, Franklin College is a residential liberal arts and sciences institution located 20 minutes south of Indianapolis. Franklin offers a wide array of undergraduate majors as well as master’s degree programs in Physician Assistant Studies and Athletic Training. The unique curriculum merges classroom instruction with immersive experiences, research opportunities and study away programs. Students participate in 22 NCAA Division III sports, esports, Greek life, musical and theatre productions and more than 40 student organizations. As the first college in Indiana to become coeducational with the admission of women, Franklin welcomes diversity of thought, belief and person into a community that values equity and inclusion. Franklin College maintains a voluntary association with the American Baptist Churches USA. For more information, visit www.FranklinCollege.edu. Find Franklin College on Facebook, follow @FranklinCollege on X and watch FranklinCollegeGrizzlies on TikTok.