The Cornelius O'Brien Lecture Series is administered through NCPH.
Established in 1972, the Cornelius O'Brien Lecture Series offers support for historic preservation in Indiana. Cornelius O'Brien (1883-1953), a successful banker, farmer, and manufacturer, was among the first to recognize the need for preserving Indiana's historic buildings and sites. He was active in the Indiana Historical Society, serving for many years as an officer and a member. Among his major interests was the restoration of a portion of the Whitewater Canal near Metamora, in Franklin County. As a personal project, he enlarged and preserved historic Veraestau, home of the Holman, Hamilton, and O'Brien families.
The O’Brien Lecture Series was established by Mr. O’Brien’s daughter Mary (1915-2007), Mrs. John Timberlake Gibson of Washington, D.C., from whom it received generous support and permanent endowment beginning in 1984. For many years, the series enjoyed special assistance from the late Mrs. Cornelius O’Brien as well.
Mrs. Gibson's interest in historic preservation also found expression in her support for
the Cornelius O’Brien Conference on Historic Preservation each fall, sponsored by Indiana University, Indiana Main Street, and the Indiana Department of Historic Preservation and Archaeology.
How to Arrange for a Cornelius O’Brien Lecture
With funding from the series, approved groups and organizations throughout Indiana are encouraged to sponsor speakers experienced in historic preservation for presentations bearing directly on that subject. Except in rare instances, O'Brien lecturers reside in states other than Indiana and, without the support of the lecture fund, would be unavailable to the local organizations desiring their services.
The Cornelius O'Brien Lecture Series Committee supports speakers on the basis of their qualifications and does not advocate any particular approach or philosophy concerning historic preservation. The committee requires only that when requesting O'Brien lecture funding the sponsor explain how the proposed topic is relevant to local preservation efforts. This information should be accompanied by a summary of qualifications of the proposed speaker.
If you are interested in receiving O’Brien Lecture Series funding, follow the guidelines in the
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O’Brien Lecturer Forms
Once funding has been approved, lecturers will receive a packet containing required paperwork.
Travel Reimbursement Form
IRS W-9 Form (Request for Tax Payer ID)
Indiana University’s Independent Contractors Form
O’Brien Requestor Forms
Requesting agencies or individuals must complete a report after the commencement of the speaking event. Reimbursement and honorarium fees will not be submitted for payment without a report.
Report Concerning the Cornelius O’Brien Lecture Series on Historic Preservation