Charles E. Gerard, 1949 – 2005

Local historian, photographer, writer, and political activist, Charles E. Gerard was the only son of Ed and Mary (Timmons) Gerard. He was a graduate of Delphi Community High School in 1967 and of Indiana University where he majored in History and Economics. Somewhat of a renaissance man, Charles was fluent in both Russian and German and read widely on a multitude of subjects. He was also interested in art and music and was a gifted photographer. He was a dispatcher with the Delphi Police Department for several years and worked in the Circulation Department at the Purdue University Libraries for more than 25 years.

A student of local history, Charles was active in the Wabash & Erie Canal Association, the Carroll County Historical Society, and the Delphi Preservation Society. On many an afternoon, he would lead groups on historic walking tours in Delphi. He authored the publication Mystique of Deer Creek, and was co-author of The Carroll County Sesquicentennial Publication along with Michael G. Griffey.

An avid collector, Charles Gerard amassed a large collection of documents, prints, photographs and books which he donated to the Delphi Preservation Society before he succumbed in September 2005 to ALS. The Gerard collection will be temporarily housed at the ServiceMaster warehouse in Delphi. There DPS volunteers will be able to sort through and organize the large number of books and documents. Items that are selected for the permanent collection will be cataloged and housed in The Charles E. Gerard Research Archives within the City Hall building once it is restored.