Indiana University South Bend

James Lewis Casaday (1907-1990) played a unique role in the life and culture of South Bend. Over a period of over 60 years, he mounted or participated in some 500 performances of school and community theatre groups. Casaday came back to South Bend after graduation with both a bachelors and masters degrees in theatre from Williams College and Iowa State University in the 1920's.

He began a long career as a drama teacher in the South Bend public schools. He taught theater and worked with students at South Bend's Central, Riley, and Adams High Schools. He also did much work with young people and theater in the Michiana area over the years, as well as helping to put on many many adult productions in the area over the years of his life.

He brought to these performances a thorough knowledge of theatrical literature, high standards of production, a vivid, highly developed visual imagination, a love of music, "hands-on" abilities in costuming, a contagious enthusiasm, a strong interest in the artistic and personal development of his performers, and a unique, dominant personality. His impact on those who worked with him was very great.

James Lewis Casaday came from a prominent South Bend family. His grandfather, William Lewis Casaday (1844-1910), founded the South Bend Chilled Plow Company. More cultural influences were absorbed from his mother, Emma Myer Casaday, who was a talented seamstress; and his aunt, Ada Myer, a singer and lover of opera and theater who made an independent life for herself in Chicago as proprietor of a tea room.

Casaday retired from his long teaching career at a massive city-wide celebration at South Bend’s Century Center in 1974. After retirement he was still very active in Michiana’s theatre community. Casaday died in 1990. The collection is a wonderful reflection on South Bend’s vibrant theatre and music scene.

In April 2006, Schurz Library of Indiana University South Bend celebrated the National Libraries Week (April 2nd to 9th) throughout the month of April with a display. All three of the glass-enclosed cases featured displays that celebrated libraries of all kinds. One case had a statement by an IUSB honors student, Rebecca Gerdes, with an essay written talking of the benefit that she has received from librarians' help in completing her honors thesis, as well as her picture. The second case featured IUSB History Professor Dr. Jonathan Nashel. Dr. Nashel had a recently published book, and he had a testament that he'd not have been able to complete his book without the help of the librarians and library staff at IUSB. The third case featured political commentator, media personality, and IU graduate as well as Sherman Alexie, Native American author and filmmaker. There was an anonymously-written essay in this same case attesting to the importance of and power of libraries for the author. The theme, "Change Your World @ Your Library" originated with the American Library Association's theme of the year's National Libraries Week.

In February 2006, the Library celebrated African American History Month with a display commemorating Black history and the Library's connection to it. The display featured Library holdings on Black history and culture - books, magazines, database pages. In addition, images of significant African Americans served as the back drop, including Coretta and Martin Luther King, Malcolm X, W.E.B. DuBois, Condoleeza Rice, and others. The exhibit was entitled, "Celebrate Black History Month at Schurz Library!"