About the Propylaeum Historic Foundation

The Indianapolis Propylaeum connects and celebrates women, by offering a welcoming place to use your voice, inspire leadership, and continue the legacy of women supporting women; providing arts & cultural programs to the diverse community of Indianapolis; and preserving our 1890’s historic mansion and carriage house. The Propylaeum has been the place for women since 1888.

We have been located at our historic home at 1410 N. Delaware St. for 100 years in 2023. We look forward to continuing our legacy of supporting women leaders, arts & culture, and historic preservation for the next 100 years. Will you join us?

Meet the Propylaeum Staff

  • Chelsea Marburger

    Executive Director

  • Kelsey Seger

    Events & Program Director

  • Stephanie Belko

    Innkeeper & Venue Coordinator

Our Mission

The place that connects and celebrates women.

Our Goals

  • A welcoming place for women to use their voice, inspire leadership, connect with others and continue the legacy of women supporting women.

  • Programs that offer opportunities for enrichment, education, exploration, culture, and community.

  • Preserve and maintain the place that has been the home for women since 1923.

Our Values

  • Collaboration – We believe that the sum of the whole is greater than its individual parts, and working together inspires creativity and community.

  • Inclusivity – We invite all people to experience our programs and facilities. We are enriched by people from different backgrounds and life experiences.

  • Leadership – We support women’s potential for leaderships in all their spheres of influence.

  • Stewardship – We are an important part of the cultural life of our community. We know and honor the legacy that came before us, foster the deep attachments to the Propylaeum, and embrace change for the future.

  • Integrity – We take our fiduciary responsibility seriously and are transparent in our communications, interactions, and intentions. We act in good faith and honor our commitments.

May Wright Sewall | Founder of
The Indianapolis Propylaeum

Careers & Internships

Employment Opportunities

None at this time

Internship Opportunities

If you are interested in internship opportunities at the Indianapolis Propylaeum, please email our Executive Director: chelsea@thepropylaeum.org

Areas of interest:

  • Marketing & Communications

  • Public relations

  • History and Women's studies

Meet the Board of Directors

  • Susan Fasig

    Board President

    Senior Advisor, FEG Investment Advisors

  • Angela Stephens

    Vice President

    Attorney, Bose McKinney & Evans LLP

  • Althea Cooper

    Treasurer

    Commercial Relationship Manager, Old National Bank

  • Becky Pettit

    Secretary

    Vice President, HSI Solar

  • Megan Anderson

    Sales Manager, Classy

  • Cynthia Castle

    Strategic Account Manager, Eli Lilly

  • Rachel Clark

    Director of Learning and Development, Katz, Sapper, & Miller

  • Gigi Cabello

    Healthcare Consultant, Milliman, Inc.

  • Laura Davenport

    Co-founder and Sales Director, Tulip Tree Creamery

  • Sarah Harrell

    Attorney, Barnes & Thornburg LLP

  • Gretchen Hueni

    Director of Individual Giving, The Children's Museum of Indianapolis

  • Grace Meils

    Vice President of Advancement, Newfields

  • Julie Petr

    Executive Director, Dress for Success Indianapolis

  • Barb Richardson

    Founder, Indy Encore

  • Dr. Matt Stegemiller

    Retired, Dentist

  • Chelsea Thompson

    Vice President of Development, Browning

2023 Annual Report

2023 was a big year for the Indianapolis Propylaeum. As we celebrated our 100th year at 1410 North Delaware and our 135th as an organization, our membership numbers swelled by nearly 30%. We saw a record number of attendees at our programs, exceeded our private event goals, created new and strong partnerships with likeminded organizations such as the Girl Scouts of Central Indiana. The enthusiasm and momentum are with us and we are ready to continue building as we work towards our nextbig milestone.

As you read through this annual report, please note the tremendous work of our staff in rising to this occasion. They have worked so hard to make our space welcoming to everyone and to build a reputation as the place for women and our history in Indianapolis. We could not accomplish our goals without the amazing volunteers that have led committees, dedicated their time to mansion, volunteered at events, brought new friends across the threshold, and were there for us when we just need a helping hand.

The Propylaeum can only continue to thrive if our members and friends continue to share their time, talent, and treasure. So, thank you. We appreciate all of you, more than you’ll ever know. We will continue to grow and thrive because of you.

Thank you,

The Indianapolis Propylaeum

Click above for a PDF of the 2023 Annual Meeting Slides.