The October decision prompted great celebrations in Indiana's gay community. The U.S. Supreme Court, by letting stand a lower court ruling, in effect legalized same-sex marriage in Indiana. The doings were front page news for days.

But another, quieter LGBT victory is unfolding in a different and less obvious setting — the halls of history.

Indiana Landmarks, the state's largest historic preservation group, a year ago launched its LGBT Heritage program and began tracking down sites that played a role in Indianapolis' gay culture in years past. And last month the Indiana Historical Society announced it is launching its own effort to gather artifacts and documents of local gay history.

"There's a realization that there's a whole culture here, and it's significant and interesting," said Steven L. Tuchman, an Indianapolis immigration attorney, civic leader and arts patron who as a 68-year-old gay man has seen a transformation in the area's attitudes.

At a party a year ago Tuchman ran into the historical society's CEO, John A. Herbst. Tuchman wondered if the historical society would be interested in a donation of his personal papers.