The Friends of the Frankfort Public Library are pleased to announce the program for their Annual Meeting on Friday, May 6, 2016. We have been working with the United States Naval Institute to bring you a very special tribute to the USS Indianapolis featuring the photography from the Alfred J. Sedivi Collection. We are truly honored that we will be hosting this inaugural event. 

The U.S. Naval Institute’s exhibit will consist of selected images from the Sedivi Collection. Sedivi was the ship’s photographer on board the USS Indianapolis and he documented the sailors’ lives while on the ship and also the aftermath on the Pacific battlefields. Sedivi’s photos survived the war because he routinely sent them home to his family in Nashville, Tennessee. Some photographs were taken up to three days before the ship was sunk. The original photographs were cared for by his family for nearly seventy years and recently entrusted to the Naval Institute for preservation. This collection is brought to you through the generosity of numerous private donors to the Naval Institute. Although Sedivi did not survive the attack, his photographs will continue to educate future generations of the contributions & sacrifices of the crew of the USS Indianapolis. 

The USS Indianapolis remains dear to the hearts of Frankfort residents. Our own Adrian Marks, a Navy pilot, was dispatched regarding the sighting of Indianapolis survivors. Piloting his PBY5A Catalina seaplane, known as a Dumbo, Adrian & his crew disobeyed orders to make an open sea rescue. 56 survivors were rescued due to their heroic actions. A special tribute to Adrian will also be in the gallery as well as some informative videos and books. 

The exhibit and reception will begin at 5 p.m. on May 6th in the Anna & Harlan Hubbard Art Gallery. The Friends will conduct a brief meeting to elect new board members at 6:30 p.m. in the Elizabeth O’Rear Skanta Theatre. At this time, the Derrick/Fullerton Volunteer of the Year Award will be presented.

The award recognizes outstanding volunteer service to the library. The USS Indianapolis program will follow in the theatre including the U.S. Naval Institute’s Communications Director, S. Scot Christenson & survivor, Edgar Harrell. On May 20th at 12 p.m. our guest speaker will be survivor, Richard Thelen. Additional programs during the term of the exhibit are being planned as well. 

This event is open to the public and we are looking forward to unveiling this exhibit to our community, the state of Indiana, and the survivors of the USS Indianapolis. The exhibit will remain on display through June 30, 2016. Please feel free to contact us with any questions.