Ned Griner research files for Gas Boom Society

A native of Delaware County, author Ned Griner was born and raised in Albany, Indiana. Griner was a Ball State professor in the Art department for 33 years and the Art Department Head from 1970-1981 before his retirement in 1994.

Griner also authored books about Ball State’s Museum of Art, including a book about the history of the Museum as well as a book about European and American selected works from the Museum. He also has authored books about Muncie’s art community, including The Bethel Pike Pottery business, J. Ottis Adams, Muncie’s most famous artist, and finally, a book about Muncie’s Art Movement entitled Side by Side with Coarser Plants: The Muncie Art Movement, 1885-1985.

It was when researching for Coarser Plants that he stumbled upon photos and negatives taken by John Rollin Marsh, a prominent Muncie citizen and amateur photographer. These photos and negatives--247 photos and 170 glass negatives--were eventually donated to the Archives and Special Collections.

His strong ties to the region would eventually lead him to write a social history of Muncie’s Gas Boom days. By using Marsh’s photography to illustrate daily life and culling information from newspaper clippings and diaries of prominent Muncie citizens, Griner hoped to shed new light on an already heavily researched city.