Irven Armstrong

Irven Armstrong and the Armstrong family were an important part of the Westfield community. We are always trying to collect more information and history about all members of the community, but especially due to the different representations over the decades, I believe we should make extra efforts to collect information about our African-American community members. Because we should, but also because most likely Westfield was founded to be part of the Underground Railroad and to help fight the enslavement of people. - Michael Kobrowski

Irven Armstrong and the Armstrong family were an important part of the Westfield community. We are always trying to collect more information and history about all members of the community, but especially due to the different representations over the decades, I believe we should make extra efforts to collect information about our African-American community members. Because we should, but also because most likely Westfield was founded to be part of the Underground Railroad and to help fight the enslavement of people. - Michael Kobrowski

BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH (From IHS https://indianahistory.org/wp-content/uploads/irven-armstrong-collection-1918-1996.pdf)

Written by Wilma Gibbs

Irven Armstrong (7 March 1892-10 May 1996) was born in Westfield, Hamilton County, Indiana. He was the second son of Edward "Ned" Armstrong (1844-1924) and Sarah Roberts Armstrong (1856-1939). Four other sons were born to this union including Isaac, Ezekial "Zeek," Charles, and Lindzey. Edward Armstrong was married previously to Laura Bell Hord. Their children were Orvid Woody Armstrong and Harvey L. Armstrong. Irven Armstrong and his brothers were educated in the Westfield schools. Before graduating from Indiana University in 1915, Irven Armstrong was a schoolteacher in Westfield and Indianapolis. After he received his degree, he taught at Indianapolis Public School #17 before serving in the United States Army during World War I. All five sons of Edward and Sarah Armstrong served during World War I. (A photograph of the parents flanked by their five sons in uniform appears in Coy D. Robbins's Black Heritage in Westfield, Indiana [page 8]). 

After the War, Armstrong returned to Indianapolis to teach. In 1921, he went to work for the Liberty Life Insurance Company (later Supreme Life Insurance). Armstrong returned to Indianapolis to teach in 1928. He taught history at Crispus Attucks High School. He retired as the head of the History Department in 1959. Following his retirement, he taught veterans of the Vietnam War. Armstrong married Alberta Parham in 1938 after meeting her at a dance at the Madam Walker building in Indianapolis. They were married until her death in 1995. Irven Armstrong, a lifelong educator, was an active member of the Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity. Prior to his death, he was the oldest living member of the organization. He was the fraternity's second grand polemarch. He was instrumental in the establishment of the Indianapolis Alumni chapter of the Kappas. He served as the polemarch for the Alpha chapter (Indiana University) and the alumni chapters in Baltimore, Chicago, and Indianapolis. He was an early advertising manager of the Kappa Alpha Psi Journal. 

In 1911 he was elected Grand Keeper of Exchequer and he was elected to the Grand Board of Directors in 1921. Armstrong received the fraternity's prestigious Laurel Wreath Award at the Diamond Jubilee conclave, celebrated in Indianapolis in 1986. Sources: Materials in the collection; Kim Hooper, "Birthday for a Fraternity Brother," Indianapolis Star, B1, 8 March 1995; Irven Armstrong obituary, Indianapolis Star, C8, 16 May 1996; Coy Robbins, Black Heritage in Westfield, Indiana, Bloomington: the author, 1984 (F534 .W54 R6 1984); E-mail from Coy Robbins indicating that there is pertinent family information in Edward Armstrong's Civil War pension application filed in 1915, 29 March 2000.