Indianapolis Star, 27 October 1945.

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In the 1880 census of Greencastle township, Putnam County, Indiana: farmhand Jonathan Artis, 47; wife Margret, 39; and children Evert, 19, Gray, 16, Sarah, 14, Tamer, 12, Minnie, 10, Rose, 8, John, 6, Jonathan, 4, and Willie, 2.

In 1894, Jonathan Artist graduated from Brightwood School’s eighth grade class.

Indianapolis News, 6 June 1894.

He was the sole “colored” member of the Brightwood High School graduating class of 1896. Per an article printed in the 6 June 1896 of the Indianapolis Journal, as part of commencement exercises, he read an eight-minute essay on “The New Lochinvar.”

Indianapolis News, 22 May 1896.

In the 1900 census of Indianapolis, Indiana: at 2419 Oxford, Margret Artis, 57, widow, and children John, 24, day laborer, Jonathan, 22, grocery deliverer, Willie, 20, railroad section hand, and Sarrah, 34, all born in North Carolina.

On 3 December 1902, Jonathan Artist married Carrie Broshiers in Marion County, Indiana.

Indianapolis Sun, 1 December 1902.

Twelve years after graduation, Artist was advocating on behalf of children at school in the Oak Hill neighborhood. The school site was too far from the homes of the children it served, he complained. Though the school board’s business director was instructed to consult a house mover about relocating the building, “it is not likely that the school will be moved.”

Indianapolis Star, 15 July 1908.

Elliott Artist was born 4 July 1909 in Indianapolis, Indiana, to Jonathan Artis, 32, of North Carolina, a laborer, and Carrie Broshier, 27, of Indiana. The family resided at 2623 North Oxford, and Elliott was the fifth of five children, all of whom were surviving. [This child was later known as Francis Artist.]

In the 1910 census of Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana: at 2623 North Oxford, grocery company laborer Jonathan Artist, 29; wife Cary, 28; children Cecil, 7, Thelma, 6, Raymond, 4, Juanita, 2, and Francis, 9 months; father-in-law Abner Broshier, 65; sister-in-law Alice Broshier, 34; brother-in-law David Broshier, 21; and sisters-in-law Maiza, 19, and Eva Broshier, 16.

George Gilbert Artist was born 8 June 1911 in Indianapolis, Indiana, to Jonathan Artis, 32, of North Carolina, a laborer, and Carrie Broshears, 29, of Indiana, a housewife. The family resided at 2623 Oxford Street, and George was the sixth of six children, all of whom were surviving.

Leslie Artist was born 25 November 1912 in Indianapolis, Indiana, to John Artis, 31, of North Carolina, a grocery driver, and Carrie Broshier, 29, of Indiana, a housewife. The family resided at 1930 Columbia Avenue, and Leslie was the seventh of seven children, all of whom were surviving.

An unnamed male child was born 7 December 1915 in Indianapolis, Indiana, to Jonathan Artis, 38, of North Carolina, and Carrie Brochere, 29, of Indiana. The family resided at 1930 Columbia Street, and the child was the eighth of eight children, of whom seven were surviving. [This child’s birth certificate was not filed until 13 December 1915 and in the intervening week the attending physician misremembered the baby’s birthdate. Per his death certificate, “Infant Jonathan Artist” was born premature on 6 December 1915 and died 7 December. ]

Juanita Artis died 26 August 1916 in Indianapolis of tetanus contracted from a splinter in her foot. Per her death certificate, she was born 9 September 1906 in Indianapolis to Jonathan Artist and Carrie Broshears and lived at 2148 Arsenal Avenue.

An unnamed male child was born 5 December 1916 in Indianapolis, Indiana, to Jonathan Artis, 38, of North Carolina, a porter, and Carrie Broshire, 30, of Indiana. The family resided at 2144 North Arsenal, and the child was the ninth of nine children, of whom seven were surviving. [This was son Cornelius “Neal” Artis.]

An unnamed male child was born 6 July 1919 in Indianapolis, Indiana, to Jonathan Artis, 41, of North Carolina, and Carrie Broshire, 33, of Indiana. The family resided at 2508 Euclid, and the child was the ninth of nine children [sic, he was tenth of ten], of whom eight were surviving.

In 1919, Cleveland, Cincinnati, Chicago & Saint Louis Railroad Company police snatched up Artist while he was walking near the railway and locked him on a vagrancy charge. The city court threw out the case, and Artist sued for false imprisonment.

Indianapolis Star, 29 May 1919.

In the 1920 census of of Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana: on Phipp Street, grocery driver Jonethan Artist, 48; wife Carrie, 34;  and children Cecil, 17, Thelma, 15, Raymond, 14, Francis, 10, George, 8, Leseley, 7, Cornelius, 3, and Burton, 6 months.

Seven months later, Artist’s case was “compromised,” or settled, when he accepted a $250 payment from the railroad company.

Indianapolis News, 16 February 1920.

In 1923, Jonathan Artist took on the school board, filing suit for equal treatment for his children. Though they were allowed to attend School No. 51 (now James Russell Lowell School No. 51) with white children, they were excluded from classrooms and forced to sit in closets to receive instruction.

Indianapolis News, 28 November 1923.

Cecil Artist died 17 December 1924 in Indianapolis. Per his death certificate, he was born 4 January 1903 to John Artist of North Carolina and Carrie Broshears of Indiana; was a school boy; and resided at 2508 Euclid.

Carrie Artist died 3 October 1928 in Indianapolis. Per her death certificate, she was born 8 January [1881] in Indiana to Abner Broshiers of Kentucky and Luella Winfrey of Kentucky; was married to Jonathan Artist; and lived at 2508 Euclid Avenue.

In the 1930 census of Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana: at 2508 Euclid Avenue, owned and valued at $1800, grocery salesman Jonathan Artist, 51, widower; and children Thelma, 25, Raymond, 24, coal yard chauffeur, Francis, 20, odd jobs laborer, George, 18, dog pound chauffeur, Leslie, 17, garage repairman, Cornelius, 13, and Vincent, 10.

Raymond Artist died 21 August 1933 in Indianapolis. Per his death certificate, he was born 31 December 1906 in Indianapolis to Jonathan Artist of North Carolina and Carrie Broshear of Evansville, Indiana; worked as a mechanic; and was single.

In the 1940 census of of Indianapolis, Marion County, Indiana: at 2508 Euclid Avenue, retail grocery clerk Johnathan Artist, 54, widower; and children Cornelius, 23, coal yard foreman, Vincent, 20, and Leslie, 26, both glass manufacturing laborers, and daughter-in-law Sarah, 18.

Indianapolis Recorder, 29 January 1944.

Leslie Artis died 30 October 1961 in Indianapolis. Per his death certificate, he was born 24 November 1913 in Indianapolis to Jonathan Artist and Carrie Broshiers; lived at 222 1/2 West 18th Street; and worked as a fertilizer company laborer. Widow Sadie  Artist was informant.

Thelma Artist died 28 April 1978 in Indianapolis. Per her death certificate, she was born 32 March 1904 in Indianapolis to Jonathan Artist and Carrie (last name unknown); lived at 2508 North Euclid Avenue; and worked as a domestic worker. Vincent Artist was informant.

Francis Artist died 27 May 1981 in Indianapolis. Per his death certificate, he was born 4 July 1909 in Indianapolis to Jonathan Artist and Carrie (last name unknown); was divorced; and worked as a construction worker. Vincent Artist was informant.

Vincent Artist died 15 April 1986 in Indianapolis. Per his death certificate, he was born 6 July 1919 in Indianapolis to Johnathan Artist and Carrie Brosheres; was never married; worked as a automotive repairman; and lived at 2508 North Euclid. Brother Neal Artist was informant.

George G. Artist died 19 June 1991 in Indianapolis. Per his death certificate, he was born 8 June 1911 in Indianapolis to Jonathan Artist and Carrie Breshere and was a U.S. post office mail handler. Informant was daughter Roselyn Artist.

Neal C. Artist died 6 December 2006 in Indianapolis. Per his death certificate, he was born 5 December 1916 in Indianapolis to Jonathan Artist and Carrie (last name unknown); was a widower; and worked as a tool and die inspector.