This file is as complete and accurate as possible, however if you should find errors, have additions or deletions, send them to me and I will update the file. Bill Green bill90@Delphi.Com BillUSPS@AOL.Com Date of last update: 7 April 1995 ************************************************************************* GENEALOGICAL AND HISTORICAL SOCIETIES OF INDIANA 5 March 1989 Robert McLaren 7810 Kincardine Ct. Alexandria, VA 22310-4025 The following file contains a listing of genealogical and historical societies in Indiana. Included in the listing, where known, are telephone numbers and yearly dues. This listing is donated to the public domain and may be freely copied. Under no conditions can this listing be sold or used in any other commercial fashion. If you think this list has any value, then donate that value in helping your local genealogical society (or the National Genealogical Society). If you write to any of the societies on this list for information, remember to include a self addressed stamped envelop (SASE). Many of these societies work with a limited budget, supplemented by volunteers, and can not afford to respond unless a SASE is included in your letter. Indiana Genealogical Society P.O. Box 66 Tunnelton, IN 47467 Dues: Indiana Historical Society 315 West Ohio St. Indianapolis, IN 46202 (317) 232-1882 Dues: $15.00 per year The Indiana Historical Society has established a presence on the Internet through an IHS home page on the World Wide Web. The page offers: * collection guides (under development) * list of publications * sample articles and table of contents for popular history magazine _Traces of Indiana and Midwestern History_ * press releases of new projects, exhibits, and collections * names and addresses of Indiana's local historical societies and official County Historians * recently cataloged library materials * list of traveling exhibitions * links to many other Indiana and national web pages The URL is: http://www.spcc.com/ihsw/ihs.htm The Society Home Page is a cooperative venture between the IHS and Shepard Poorman Communications Corporation of Indianapolis. For more information call (317) 232-877, FAX (317) 233-3109, or e-mail Ray Boomhower, Public Relations Coordinator, at reboomer@indy.net. Comments are welcome! Northern Indiana Historical Society 112 South Lafayette Blvd. South Bend, IN 44601 Dues: North Central Indiana Genealogical Society 2300 Canterbury Drive Kokomo, IN 46901 Dues: Northwest Indiana Genealogical Society 154 Granite Street Valparaiso, IN 46383 Dues: Northwest Territory Genealogical Society Lewis Historical Library Vincennes University Vincennes, IN 47591 Dues: Jewish Genealogical Society of Indiana c/o Sharon Blitstein 3033 Bob-O-Link Road Flossmoor, IL 60422 Dues: Adams County Adams County Historical Society c/o Dick Heller 141 South 2nd Street Decatur, IN 46733 Dues: Allen County Allen County Genealogical Society of Indiana P.O. Box 12003 Fort Wayne, IN 46862 Dues: Bartholomew County Bartholomew County Historical Society c/o Sue Wilgus 524 Third Street Columbus, IN 47201 Dues: Benton County Benton County Historical Society 602 East 7th Street Fowler, IN 47944 Dues: Blackford County Blackford County Historical Society c/o Cecil Beeson P.O. Box 1 Hartford City, IN 47348 Dues: Brown County Brown County Genealogical Society P.O. Box 1202 Nashville, IN 47448 Dues: Brown County Historical Society, Inc. P.O. Box 668 Nashville, IN 47448 Dues: Carroll County Carroll County Historical Society P.O. Box 277 Delphi, IN 46923 Dues: Cass County Cass County Genealogical Society P.O. Box 373 Logansport, IN 46947 Dues: Clark County Clark County Historical Society P.O. Box 606 Jeffersonville, IN 47130 Dues: Southern Indiana Genealogical Society P.O. Box 665 New Albany, IN 47150 Dues: $10.00 per year Clay County Clay County Genealogical Society P.O. Box 56 Centerpoint, IN 47840 Dues: Clinton County Clinton County Historical Society 609 North Columbia Street Frankfort, IN 46122 Dues: Crawford County Southern Indiana Genealogical Society P.O. Box 665 New Albany, IN 47150 Dues: $10.00 per year Dearborn County Dearborn County Historical Society Courthouse Lawrenceburg, IN 47025 Dues: DeKalb County DeKalb County Historical Society Box 66 Auburn, IN 46706 Dues: Delaware County Delaware County (Ind.) Historical Alliance Genealogy Division P.O. Box 1266 Muncie, IN 47308 Dues: Fountain County Fountain County Historical Society c/o Davey Lee Puckett Box 148 Kingman, IN 47952 Dues: Floyd County Southern Indiana Genealogical Society P.O. Box 665 New Albany, IN 47150 Dues: $10.00 per year Fulton County Fulton County Historical Society c/o Shirley Willard 7th and Pontiac Rochester, IN 46975 Dues: Grant County Grant County Genealogy Club 1 Valley Court Marion, IN 46952 Dues: Greene County Greene County Historical Society P.O. Box 29 Lyons, IN 47443 Dues: Hamilton County Hamilton County Historical Society P.O. Box 397 Noblesville, IN 46060 Dues: Hancock County Hancock County Historical Society P.O. Box 375 Greenfield, IN 46140-0375 Dues: Harrison County Harrison County Historical Society 117 West Beaver Street Corydon, IN 47112 Dues: Southern Indiana Genealogical Society P.O. Box 665 New Albany, IN 47150 Dues: $10.00 per year Hendricks County Hendricks County Genealogical Society 101 South Indiana Street Danville, IN 46122 Dues: Hendricks County Historical Society P.O. Box 128 Danville, IN 46122 Dues: Henry County Henry County Historical Society 606 South 14th Street New Castle, IN 47362 Dues: Howard County Howard County Genealogical Society c/o Kokomo Public Library 220 North Union Kokomo, IN 46901 Dues: Jackson County Jackson County Genealogical Society Second and Walnut Streets Seymour, IN 47274 Dues: Jasper County Jasper County Historical Society c/o B. Arnatt Augusta Street Rensselaer, IN 47971 Dues: Jay County Jay County Historical Society Box 1282 Portland, IN 47371 Dues: Johnson County Johnson County Historical Society 150 West Madison Street Franklin, IN 46131 Dues: Kosciusko County Kosciusko County Historical Society P.O. Box 1071 Warsaw, IN 46580 Dues: $10.00 per year LaGrange County LaGrange County Historical Society, Inc. R.R. 1 LaGrange, IN 46761 Dues: La Porte County LaPorte County, Indiana Genealogical Society 904 Indiana Ave. LaPorte, IN 46350 Dues: La Porte County Historical Society La Porte County Complex La Porte, IN 46350 Dues: $1.00 per year Madison County Madison County Historical Society, Inc. P.O. Box 523 Anderson, IN 46015 Dues: Marion County Marion County Historical Society 140 North Senate Indianapolis, IN 46204 Dues: Martin County Martin County Historical Society, Inc. P.O. Box 84 Shoals, IN 46504 Dues: Miami County Miami County Genealogical Society P.O. Box 542 Peru, IN 46970 Dues: Monroe County Monroe County Genealogical Society Old Library East 6th Street and Washington Bloomington, IN 47401 Dues: Montgomery County Montgomery County Historical Society Genealogy Section 212 South Water Street Crawfordsville, IN 47933 Dues: Morgan County Morgan County Historical Society 5373 Old Smith Valley Greenwood, IN 46142 Dues: Newton County Newton County Historical Society Box 103 Kentland, IN 47951 Dues: Noble County Noble County Genealogical Society 109 North York Street Albion, IN 46701 Dues: Ohio County Ohio County Historical Society 218 South Walnut Street Rising Sun, IN 47040 Dues: Orange County Orange County Genealogical Society P.O. Box 344 Paoli, IN 47454 Dues: Perry County Perry County Historical Society c/o Mrs. James J. Groves Rome, IN 47574 Dues: Southern Indiana Genealogical Society P.O. Box 665 New Albany, IN 47150 Dues: $10.00 per year Pike County Pike County Historical Society c/o Marjorie Malottee R.R. 2 Petersburg, IN 47567 Dues: Posey County Posey County Historical Society P.O. Box 171 Mt. Vernon, IN 47620 Dues: Pulaski County Pulaski County Genealogical Society c/o Carolyn Case R.R. 4, Box 121 Winamac, IN 46996 Dues: Putnam County Putnam County Genealogical Club Route 1, Box 28 Bainbridge, IN 46105 Dues: Randolph County Randolph County Historical and Genealogical Society Route 3, Box 60A Winchester, IN 47394 Dues: $10.00 per year Ripley County Ripley County Historical Society, Inc. P.O. Box 224 Versailles, IN 47042 Dues: Rush County Rush County Historical Society c/o James Scott 614 North Jackson Street Rushville, IN 46173 Dues: St. Joseph South Bend Area Genealogical Society 53139 Oakmont Park Drive West South Bend, IN 46637 Dues: $8.00 per year Scott County Scott County Historical Society P.O. Box 245 Scottsburg, IN 47170 Dues: Southern Indiana Genealogical Society P.O. Box 665 New Albany, IN 47150 Dues: $10.00 per year Shelby County Shelby County Genealogical Society West Broadway Shelbyville, IN 46176 Dues: Shelby County Historical Society 108 West Broadway Shelbyville, IN 46176 Dues: $5.00 per year Spencer County Spencer County Historical Society c/o Rockport Library Walnut Street Rockport, IN 47635 Dues: Sullivan County Sullivan County Historical Society P.O. Box 326 Sullivan, IN 47882 Dues: $5.00 per year Tippecanoe County Tippecanoe County Area Genealogical Society 909 South Street Lafayette, IN 47901 Dues: Union County Union County Historical Society 6 East Seminary Street Liberty, IN 47353 Dues: Vanderburgh County Tri-State Genealogical Society c/o Willard Library 21 First Ave. Evansville, IN 47710 Dues: Vigo County Vigo County Historical Society 1411 South 6th Street Terre Haute, IN 47802 Dues: Wabash Valley Genealogical Society P.O. Box 85 Terre Haute, IN 47808 Dues: Wabash County Wabash County Historical Society Wabash County Museum 89 West Hill Street Wasbash, IN 46992 Dues: Warren County Warren County Historical Society Box 176 Williamsport, IN 47993 Dues: Washington County Washington County Historical Society 307 East Market Street Salem, IN 47904 Dues: Southern Indiana Genealogical Society P.O. Box 665 New Albany, IN 47150 Dues: $10.00 per year Wayne County Wayne County Historical Society 1150 North A Street Richmond, IN 47374 Dues: Wells County Wells County Historical Society P.O. Box 143 Bluffton, IN 46714 Dues: White County White County Genealogy Society 609 South Maple Street Monticello, IN 47960 Dues: ************************************************************************* VITAL RECORDS City and County Records of Births and Deaths A few cities began creating vital records in the 1870s. In 1882 the State Board of Health requested each county to register births, deaths, and marriages. Many of the records kept by the counties exist for the period 1882 to 1920. The Work Projects Administration extracted and compiled these records into one set. They are arranged by county, and then alphabetically by surname. Each county retained a copy of its records. The original typescripts are at the Indiana State Library. State Records of Births and Deaths The statewide registration of vital statistics began in 1899 (deaths) and 1907 (births), and was generally complied with by 1917. Records of births that occurred within the last 75 years are only available to the individual or a member of his immediate family. Death records to the present are available to all researchers. For copies of state records write to: Division of Vital Records State Board of Health P.O. Box 64-1964 Indianapolis, IN 42606-1964 Delayed registrations of births may be found in the county. Most registrations occurred after 1940. Contact the clerk of the circuit court if you want copies. Marriages There has been no state registration of marriages. These records are kept by the individual counties. Some county records have been destroyed, but for the most part the records date from the organization of each county. You can write to the clerk of the circuit court or the clerk of the superior court in the county where the license was issued. >From 1820 to 1940 members of the Society of Friends were not required to obtain a marriage license. See the church registers for these marriages. Divorces Divorces were granted by the Indiana State Legislature from 1817 to 1851. The court of common pleas in each county has had jurisdiction over these matters from 1853 to the present. (Source: FHC Research Guide) ************************************************************************* STATE ARCHIVES Archives Division, Commission on Public Records 140 North Senate Avenue Indianapolis, IN 46204 The Archives Division, Commission on Public Records, houses state and local records including land office, census, and military records for Indiana. Indiana State Library 140 North Senate Avenue Indianapolis, IN 46204 The Indiana State Library is located in the same building as the Archives Division, but is a separate organization. The library has two divisions that are important for genealogists. The Genealogy Division is well-known for its family and local histories, census, military, cemetery, and vital record collections. The Indiana Division has histories, periodicals, newspapers, maps, etc. INDIANA STATE ARCHIVES, COMMISSION ON PUBLIC RECORDS Room 117, State Library Building 140 N. Senate Avenue Indianapolis, IN 46204 Voice: 317.232.3660 Fax: 317.232.0002 ___________________________________ ONLINE ACCESS: http://www.state.in.us/acin/icpr/index.html Through the courtesy of the Information Services Division, Indiana Department of Administration, the Indiana State Archives has developed this online service. Available are a number of files - finding aids, database printouts, graphics and staff presentations - which may help patrons to understand the collections at the Archives. At present, this is an exploratory effort and the files online should not be considered either a complete or detailed account of the collections. The Archives is just starting to determine what files are appropriate for inclusion, what patrons want to see online and what collections ought to be developed with an eye to the Internet. To help us to improve this service, any and all comments would be welcome; address yours to Robert_Horton_at_icprlan@ima.isd.state.in.us. Please note, though, that research requests are still considered within the fee structures described below. LOCATION The Indiana State Archives is located in the State Library and Historical Building, at the corner of W. Ohio Street and N. Senate Avenue, on the northern edge of the Indiana Government Center complex in downtown Indianapolis. On street parking is metered and limited; patrons may use, at a reasonable fee, the state parking garage located across the street, with entrances from Senate Ave. and New York St. HOURS The State Archives is open from 8:00 to 4:30, Monday through Friday. It is closed on election days, weekends and federal and state holidays. THE COLLECTIONS The State Archives is the permanent repository for important records of state government. Its holdings include approximately 25,000 cubic feet of records dating from the territorial period to the present. Major collections begin with the records of the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of government from the 1790s through the present. These include papers of every governor; bills, acts and reports of the General Assembly; and proceedings of both the supreme and appellate courts. Military records include holdings from the War of 1812, Black Hawk War, Mexican War, Civil War, Spanish-American War and veterans' enrollments from 1886, 1890, and 1894. Use of service records of Indiana veterans from World Wars I and II and Korea is restricted under confidentiality requirements of the Federal government until seventy-five years after separation from service. The Archives has records of the General Land Office for Indiana, including microfilm copies of tract books and the original plats and field notes made by federal surveyors. Other public land records originated in the auditor of state's office: i.e. Wabash and Erie canal, Michigan Road and swamp lands. Among other topics, land office records can be used to explore the history of Native Americans in Indiana. Over 100,000 aerial photographs are in the Archives, including some of the earliest such photographs ever taken in Indiana. Photographs from the Department of Natural Resources and the State Fair Commission also comprise significant collections. The Archives has the 1820-1880 federal censuses of agriculture and manufacturers for Indiana, as well as substantial collections from more than 400 state agencies and 92 counties. Among these are corporation packets and election returns from the secretary of state's office, causes heard by the state public service commission, and important records for the history of health and welfare, education, crime and conservation. FINDING AIDS Collections in the State Archives are organized by the agency, organization or individual that created the records. There are no subject indexes, but the staff has prepared finding aids which provide access to the collections and which are available to the researcher at the Archives. Some principal finding aids are to land records, both state and federal, military records and aerial photographs. Brochures describing major family history sources and major genealogical and historical sources for African-American research are available upon request. POLICIES AND FEES The State Archives guarantees access to all its collections, subject to laws regarding confidentiality and preservation of records. Consequently, certain limits have been imposed on copying. Requests must be approved and the actual copying done by a staff member. Patrons are strongly encouraged to use materials in the Reading Room, as photocopying in lieu of research subjects records to stress which accelerates their deterioration. Because of constraints on personnel, copying will be done as time allows. No limits are imposed on copying from microfilm, as the concern with preservation does not apply. The Archives' reader/printer makes copies from a variety of microforms: aperture cards, microfilm and microfiche. Again, the staff will make copies as time allows. Photographic reproductions for all materials are done in house by a professional photographer. Prices vary in relation to the services requested. Copying fees: Original materials ........ $.15 to $1.00 per page, on a sliding scale From microfilm ............ $1.00 per page The State Archives' staff will answer specific questions relating to particular individuals and collections. A legal sized, self-addressed and stamped envelope should be included with the letter. Upon receipt of a request, the staff will notify patrons of the price for copies of records. Payment, including a charge for postage and handling, must be received before materials can be mailed. Checks should be made payable to the Commission on Public Records. The Archives will supply a list of researchers available for hire if a patron's request demands a significant commitment of time. INDIANA FRIENDS OF THE ARCHIVES While the state budget supports the basic functions of the Indiana State Archives, tax funds cannot cover all the services which patrons may desire. To help bridge that gap, the Indiana Friends of the Archives, a citizen-based, not-for-profit organization, has been established. Information on the IFA is available from the Archives; inquiries about membership and projects are welcomed. Robert_Horton_at_icprlan@ims.isd.state.in.us Although a public library, the Genealogy Department and its Reynolds Historical Genealogy Collection has an outstanding collection of midwestern and national sources. More than thirty county courthouses have had their records damaged by fire. These include: Brown (1873) Clay (1851) Dearborn (1826) Dubois (1839) Jasper (1864) Johnson (1849 & 1874) Knox (1814) Madison (1880) Miami (1843) Morgan (1876) Noble (1859) Parke (1833) Sullivan (1850) Wabash (1870) (Source: FHC Research Guide) Allen County Public Library 900 Webster Street Ft. Wayne, IN 46805 (219) 424-7241 Hours: (fall, winter, spring) Mon - Thu 9:00 AM - 9:00 PM Fri - Sat 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM Sun 1:00 PM - 6:00 PM ************************************************************************* NEWSPAPER GENEALOGICAL COLUMNS Indianapolis Star: Query must have Indiana connection and should be limited to 50 words, plus dates and sender's name and address. One query per letter clearly stated, with typed or printed surnames to minimize errors. Mulitlple queries whould be on separate pieces of paper. Query number and approximate date of publication will be sent if stameped, self-addresssed envelope accompanies request. Send all correspondence to Indiana Ancestors, The Indianapolis Star, PO Box 145, Indianapolis IN 46206-0145. Vicky Zuverink 3834 Dogwood Rd Floyds Knob, IN 47119 published in "Sunday Ledge Tribune", New Albany, IN and "Clark County Chronicle" -- **************************************************************************** * Bill Green Minot, North Dakota 58701 * Home of the * * BillUSPS@AOL.Com * NORSK H0STFEST * * Bill90@Delphi.Com * Velkommen! * ****************************************************************************