Historic Southern Indiana

Building The Story: Foundations of Interpretation
Abe Martin Lodge
Brown County State Park
Nashville, Indiana

Research-Indiana State Library

Indiana Division-Indiana State Library
140 North Senate Ave.
Indianapolis, Indiana 46204-2296

Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.. Closed on state holidays.

A trip to the Indiana State Library is worth your time when you need information on the Hoosier State! The Indiana Division of the Indiana State Library has one of the largest collections of material in existence on Indiana and its history. All materials are available for use by patrons in the historic Reading Room, with some materials available through interlibrary loan. In addition, the Division has added new online databases: Manuscripts Database, Indiana Biography Index (1990-), Indianapolis Newspapers 1848-1888, and Logansport Newspapers, 1848-1854.

One of the most used card indexes in the Division is the Indiana Biography Index, which finds citations for Hoosiers in a variety of print sources. The Indiana Division librarians have restarted the Index, which ended in 1990. An online version is now available for sources published in and after 1990, to supplement the card index. The online version is available from the Indiana State Library home page, www.statelib.lib.in.us.

The new Manuscripts Database, also available from the State Library's home page, provides keyword searching to over 700 of the 4,300 collections in the Manuscript Section, with more information added regularly. Scanned images from a number of the collections are available as well, including Civil War letters and documents.

Books, documents, and pamphlets on Indiana include historical materials predating the founding of the state to current directories and novels. The collections include histories, city and county directories, atlases and maps, state documents, and journals and newsletters.

The Indiana Division houses the largest collection of Indiana newspapers in existence, dating from the first paper published in the state in 1804 to the latest edition of the Indianapolis Star. In fact, the Newspaper Section holds 6,000 of the 8,000 newspapers published in Indiana since 1804. The majority of the newspapers are on microfilm, and copying is available at $.25 per shot, Microfilm reels of newspapers may be available through interlibrary loan as well.

Access to the newspaper collection is improved by several in-house card indexes, including the Indianapolis Newspaper Index (1898-1991). A variety of Works Progress Administration indexes provide additional access to births, deaths, and marriages form the 1840s through the 1880s for Indianapolis, Vincennes, Madison, New Albany, and Logansport. The Division also has several additional indexes for individual newspapers.

More online resources are added regularly. Now available are subject guides to materials in the Indiana Division on such topics as World War II, the Underground Railroad, the glass industry, and many more areas. An online exhibit on Indianapolis businesses at the turn of the 20th century is on the Web, with a new exhibit planned for early 2000.

Major Family History Sources

The Archives accessions, maintains, preserves, and makes available for use state and selected local government records. It has no non-governmental records. Military records are subject to confidentially restrictions for seventy-five years form termination of service.

Name Index-Extensive WPA project card file indexing personal names found in many Archives records series created prior to 1851. The major series include land office, judicial, military, treasury, and internal improvements.

Public Lands-Records for sales of land to individuals by the national government through federal land offices in Indiana, 1804-1876. Records include plat books, survey field notes, tract books, ledgers, and registers. State land records document the sale of Michigan Road, seminary, swamp, and canal lands. Microfilm.

Indiana Civil War Volunteers-Card file, arranged alphabetically, complied from the original muster rolls. The following information may be included: name of soldier, rank, company and regiment, period of original enlistment, place and date of enrollment, place and date of muster (swearing into federal service), age, physical description, nativity, and occupation. Date, place, and manner of leaving service is also given. Miscellaneous information on promotions, wounds received, etc., may also be entered. Microfilm.

Indiana Legion (Civil War State Militia)-Card file, arranged alphabetically, compiled from the original muster rolls. Information includes: name, company, periods of active duty, and age. It is possible in many cases to ascertain county and town where the unit was organized. Microfilm.

Civil War Substitutes-Card file of Indiana citizens who hired substitutes. The name of the individual, the name of the substitute, and the unit to which the substitute was assigned are given. Microfilm.

Veterans' Graves Registration File-Card file of veterans' graves located in 51 (of 92) Indiana counties. The cards generally give name, war in which served, unit, and cemetery location. Birth and death dates and next of kin are on some cards.

Veterans' Enrollments of 1886, 1890, 1894-Arranged by county and township within the county. There are individual books for each township, organized alphabetically be letter only. Lists veteran's name, company, regiment, state served from, and number of children under 16. Widows have husband's death given in many cases. Information is given on wounds or medical problems incurred while in the service, and current physical condition. Microfilm.

Indiana State Militia, 1812-1851-Alphabetical index of officers commissioned. Gives name, rank, and unit. It may be possible to identify county or residence from regimental unit.

Indiana Black Hawk War Militia Index, May-July 1832-Arphabetical card file includes name, rank, unit, term of enlistment and by whom enlisted.

Indiana Mexican War Volunteer Index, 1846-1848-Alphabetical card file for five Indiana Volunteer Regiments. Information given is name, rank, muster in and muster out dates. Microfilm.

Indiana Militia Index, 1877-1896-Alphabetical index by name. Information given includes name, rank, unit, unit location. May give date of muster, age, occupation.

Indiana Spanish-American War Volunteers, 1898-1899-Adjutant General's registration cards. Information given includes name, unit, rank, age, physical description, birthplace, occupation, and muster in and muster out dates. Microfilm.

United Spanish War Veterans-Membership records of the Indiana Department, United Spanish War Veterans, 1903 - ca.1964. Information includes name, rank, unit, date and place of death.

Indiana Legion and Indiana National Guard Service Records, 1880-1917-Alphabetical file. Service record includes name, unit, station, rank, residence, date of enrollment and discharge. May give physical description, birthplace, occupation. Microfilm.

Indiana National Guard Service Records, 1917-1940-Alphabetical file. Service record includes name, unit, station, rank, residence, date of enrollment and expiration, physical description, date and place of birth, and occupation.

Gold Star Roll of Honor, 1914-1918-Bound volumes arranged alphabetically by names of men and women who died during World War I. The manuscript was source material for the publication Gold Star Honor Roll, 1917-1918.

Registers of Visitors to the National Encampment of the Grand Army of the Republic at Indianapolis September 4-9, 1893-Thirty-three volumes, each devoted to an Indiana Civil War volunteer regiment or battery; gives veteran's name, company and regiment or battery, and usually his town and state of residence in 1893.

Indiana Adjutant General and Grand Army of the Republic Letter Books-Name index to correspondence of the Indiana Department, Grand Army of the Republic, 1895-1918, and Indiana Adjutant General, 1864-1914.

Grand Army of the Republic Post Records, 1879-1938-Records for individual Indiana posts, such as post file, descriptive books, minute books, post histories. Records frequently include personal date.

Names, addresses, and Serial Numbers of Indiana Persons Serving in World War I, 1917-1918-Four-volume listing prepared by Indiana Adjutant General. Arranged alphabetically by county. Includes service number, branch, and home address.

Indiana World War I Service Records, 1917-1918-Microfilm of U.S. Army, Navy, and Marine Corps service records.

Indiana World War I Draft Registration File, 1917-1918-Microfilm of index to registrants for the selective service first and second drafts, 1917-1918.

Indiana World War II Discharge Certificates, 1941-1945-Discharge certificates and separation records for Indiana residents on active duty in U.S. Armed Forces, December 7, 1941 - September 9, 1945.

U.S. Army and Navy Casualties, World War II, 1941-1945-Alphabetical card file of Indiana Army and Navy casualties. Includes rank, name and address of next of kin, date, and theater of military action. Separate card file for Marion County deaths. Supplements the publication Combat Connected Naval Casualties World War II.

Indiana Korean War Discharge Certificates, 1950-1955-Discharge certificates for Indiana residents on active duty with the U.S. Armed Forces in the Korean Theater, June 27, 1950 - July 27, 1953, or who suffered a disability on active duty, June 27, 1950 - January 1, 1955.

List of Names of Korean War Veterans From the State of Indiana, 1950-1953-Six-volume listing prepared by the Indiana Adjutant General. Arranged alphabetically by county.

U.S. Census of Manufacturers, 1820-1880-Microfilm of the decennial Census of Manufacturers arranged by county and township.

U.S. Census of Agriculture, 1850-1880-Microfilm of the decennial Census of Agriculture arranged by county and township.

Naturalization Index-Alien naturalization papers filed in the Clerk's office, Indiana Supreme County, 1856-1906. Mainly First Papers.

Civil War Materials of Genealogical Interest

Indiana Civil War Volunteers-The State Archives maintains an alphabetical list of all the soldiers who served in Indiana volunteer regiments (infantry and cavalry) and artillery batteries. The list, a card file, was prepared by the W.P.A. in the late 1930s, employing the original muster rolls of the Indiana volunteer units found in the Indiana State Archives. The entries typically (but not in all cases) contain the following information on the soldier: name, rank, company, regiment, period of original enlistment, place and date of enrollment, place and date of muster (swearing into federal service), age, physical description (height, color of eyes, hair, complexion), nativity, and occupation. Date, place and manner of leaving service are also indicated. Information on promotion, etc., may also be given. The card file has been microfilmed.

Indiana Legion (Civil War State Militia)-The Indiana General Assembly in its special session of 1861 passed legislation creating the Indiana Legion, revamping the moribund Indiana state militia for service in defense of the state. Legion companies were raised throughout Indiana, but those located along Indiana's Ohio River border were the only units (with the exception of companies called out to repel Confederate raider John Hunt Morgan's invasion of Indiana) to see active service in the war. Similar to the volunteer soldiers, the W.P.A. created a card file for Legion soldiers based on the Legion muster rolls. However, this card file is incomplete. The cards themselves generally list only the name of the soldier and the Legion unit in which he served. The card file has been microfilmed.

Enrollment of Soldiers, Widows and Orphans, 1886, 1890 and 1894-These records are the product of an effort to determine who and how many persons were eligible for veterans' pension benefits in Indiana. Enrollments are arranged by individual township within each Indiana county. East enrollment alphabetically lists the name of the veteran, unit in which he served. war, number of children under 16, wounds received or illnesses contracted during service. Widows have husband's death indicated in many cases. The enrollments have been microfilmed. An alphabetical card file of the names of soldiers who appear in the 1886 enrolment is available in the Genealogy Section of the Indiana State Library. Researchers will find it fruitful to consult this card file preparatory to searching the enrollments.

Veterans' Graves Registration Files-The W.P.A., in cooperation with the American Legion, produced in the late 1930s a card file of veterans buried in cemeteries in 51 of Indiana's 92 counties. The cards generally give the name of the veteran, war in which he served, unit, and location of grave in the cemetery. The cards are filed alphabetically for each Indiana county.

Enrollment Lists of Draft of 1862-By the summer of 1862, federal officials at Washington, DC concluded that conscription was necessary to fill the Northern armies to put down the southern rebellion. War Department orders and instructions went out to all Northern states to organize the draft. Each state was to administer its draft. All white men between the ages of 18 and 45 years were required to enroll. Two lists of men in each township in each county were made. The first listed all men who had already enlisted in the armed services, giving the unit in which each served along with age and occupation. The second listed all other eligible men. This list included information on each man, giving age, occupation, disease or condition that made that man ineligible, exemption, and other remarks. The lists are arranged in alphabetical order by the name of the county, and by name of the township within each county. Microfilmed.

Grand Army of the Republic-After the Civil War, Northern veterans organized the G.A.R. as a means to remember their participation in the struggle to save the Union. Over the years, the G.A.R. grew to become a major political actor, wielding great influence in state and federal affairs. Records of the G.A.R. state organization and the many local "posts" survive. The records of greatest genealogical interest include the applications for establishment of each G.A.R. post, listing the charter members and the units they served in during the war. As the last members of the G.A.R. died and membership dwindled, the decision was made not to merge with other veterans organizations. Consequently, the G.A.R. gave its records to the Adjutant General of Indiana. A finding aid is available that identifies the post names, post numbers, and the town in which posts were established.

Indian State Soldiers' Home Applications-Established by state law in 1895 (originally named the Indiana Soldiers' and Sailors Home) at Lafayette, the Soldiers' Home replaced the Soldiers' and Seaman's Home at Knightstown that was destroyed by fire in 1871. Its stated task was the care of Civil War veterans and their wives and widows. In later years, veterans of subsequent wars received care there. The State Archives holds the applications for admission to the Home. Tha applications include information on the veterans, noting the units in which they served. The applications also include medical information on the applicant/resident, often including information on the circumstances of the death of a resident. A finding aid lists the names of the applicants/residents for whom the State Archives has packets, dating from 1878 to 1980.

Soldiers' and Sailors' Orphans' Home Applications, 1880-1920-Established by state law in 1865 at Indianapolis as the Soldiers' and Seamen's Home to care for destitute and disabled Civil War veterans, the Home at Knightstown was created in 1867 to serve wives, widows, and orphans as well. Orphans of veterans had first received care from the state in 1865; these orphans moved to Knightstown in 1866, and soon after resided at the state-supported Knightstown Soldiers' and Seamen's Home. The Knightstown Home became strictly an orphan's home after a fire destroyed the building housing the veterans in 1871. The State Archives holds the applications, listing the applicants' names, and the names of the parent veterans and their units. A finding aid is available.

Lists of Soldiers and Sailors and Members of the National Guard Living in Indiana, 1913-1922-Lists the names of living veterans by county and township. Information listed includes age, war in which the veteran served, and unit. Additional remarks are also noted. Many Civil War veterans are listed. Microfilmed.

The Indiana State Archives, in addition to the materials listed here, has large holdings of records pertaining to Indiana's participation in the Civil War.

Genealogical & Historical Sources for African-American Research

Negro Registers-Censuses of African-Americans taken after the General Assembly moved in 1852 to enforce articles in the 1851 Constitution barring further immigration of African-Americans into Indiana. Includes names, age and physical description. The Archives holds registers for Switzerland, Clark, Franklin and Ohio counties.

County Records-Many 19th century county records which specify the race of an individual have been deposited at the Archives; among these are School Registers, Enumerations of White and Colored Males over the age of 21, Court Dockets, Jail Registers, and Insane Records. Includes name, age, county, year and additional remarks.

Civil War Records-Lists of Indiana African-American recruits (1864-1865); muster rolls of Indiana's 28th U.S. Colored Troops and other units. Hospital registers, applications for appointments in the 28th and lists of men unaccounted for are also available. Includes name, age, county, and physical description.

Spanish-American War Records-Muster rolls of soldiers in Companies A and B of the Indiana Colored Infantry (1898-1899). Includes name, age, rank, and physical description.

World Wars I and II, Korean War-Service records of African-American soldiers. Includes name, age, rank, and physical description. Gold Star Honor Roll materials available for soldiers who died during World War I. Service records subject to confidentiality restrictions.

Indiana Fair Employment Practices Commission (1941-1961)-Complete records of correspondence, flyers, employment surveys, and sample cases. Charts the political, economic, and social progress of African-Americans in Indiana.

Indiana Civil Rights Commission (1961-Present)-Correspondence, flyers, records of related organizations, information on African-American elected officials and surveys. Formerly the Fair Employment Practices Commission.

General Assembly-Deliberations and records of the Indiana House and Senate. Records of the Centennial History of the Indiana General Assembly hold data on African-American legislators.

Indiana State Board of Colonization (1852-1865)-Records, pamphlets, information, and legislation regarding the board created to subsidize emigration of Indiana African-Americans to Liberia.

U.S. Census Records-Census of Manufacturers (1820-1880), Census of Agriculture and Social Statistics (1850-1880) arranged by county and township. Variously includes names, residences, economic data and information on local and county institutions.

Indiana Corporations-Articles of association and annual reports for business, fraternal, professional and charitable organizations incorporated under state law and subsequently dissolved.

State Agency Records-A variety of materials that may include records on individuals: applications from the Professional Licensing Agency, records of the state Supreme and Appellate Courts, state hospitals, the Departments of Education, Corrections, Public Welfare, State Board of Health, etc.

Veterans' Enrollments of 1886, 1890, 1894-Arranged by county and township within the county. There are individual books for each township, organized alphabetically by name only. Lists veteran's name, company, regiment, state served from, and number of children under 16. Widows have husband's death given in many cases. Information is given on wounds or medical problems incurred while in the service, and current physical condition.

Bibliography of Printed Sources of Interest

Bigham, Darrel. The Black Family in Evansville and Vanderburgh County, Indiana, in 1880, Indiana Magazine of History 75 (1979) 117-146.

Crenshaw, Gwendolyn J. Bury Me in a Free Land: The Abolitionist Movement in Indiana, 1816-1865, Indiana Historical Bureau, Indianapolis, 1986.

Ferguson, Earline Rae. In Pursuit of the Full Enjoyment of Liberty and Happiness: Blacks in Antebellum Indianapolis, 1820-1860, Black History News and Notes 32 (1988) 4-8.

Hine, Darlene Clark et al. The Black Woman in the Middle West Project: A Comprehensive Resource Guide - Illinois and Indiana, Indianapolis, 1986.

Indiana African American Historical and Genealogical Society. African American Genealogy in Indiana, Bloomington, 1989.

IAAHGS. African American Soldiers from Indiana with the Union Army in the Civil War: 1863-1865. Bloomington, 1989.

January, Alan and Justin E. Walsh. A Century of Achievement: Black Hoosier sin the Indiana General Assembly, 1881-1986, Indianapolis, 1986.

Karst, Frederick. A Rural Black Settlement in St. Joseph County, before 1990, IMH 74 (1978) 252-267.

Lyda, John. The Negro in the History of Indiana, Coatesville, 1953.

Report of the Debates and Proceedings of the Convention for the Revision of the Constitution of the State of Indiana. 2 vols. Indianapolis, 1850 (reprint, Indianapolis, 1935).

Riley, Herman Murray. The History of Negro Elementary Education in Indianapolis. IMH 26 (1930) 288-305.

Thornbrough, Emma Lou. Indiana and Fugitive Slave Legislation, IMH 50 (1954) 201-228.

Thornbrough, Emma Lou. The Negro in Indiana before 1900, Indianapolis, 1957.

Thornbrough, Emma Lou. Since Emancipation: A Short History of Indiana Negroes, 1863-1963, Indianapolis, 1963.

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