Genealogy and Indiana History
The Batesville Memorial Public Library has
a number of resources to help those interested in tracing their family history.
Located in the library's Mary Stewart Center for Entrepreneurship room, the Genealogy collection contains some
materials that may be checked out. These are generally the "how-to" books
to get you started. Other materials in the collection that are for
research within the library include locally prepared and published materials
such as church cemetery records, census records, family histories and
biographies.
If you require assistance, ask for Denean
Williams, our Genealogy and
Local History Specialist at the
library on Monday afternoons till 5:00, or
Tuesday or Thursday 4:00 -
9:00 pm, or E-mail her at
genealogy@ebatesville.com.
You may also contact Denean by mail (Batesville
Memorial Public Library, 131 N. Walnut St., Batesville, IN 47006) or
by calling (812-934-4706) or faxing (812-934-6288). At other
times, or other days of the week, the library staff is available to let you into
the room, but may not have the expertise to answer all your questions.
Genealogy
Basics - This course will help you understand the
research process, ways to organize your information and the use of forms to make
sense of your data. You will learn how to develop a strategy to accomplish your
research objectives and evaluate the results by recording new information, and
sharing that information with others. If you are a newcomer to this hobby or
just want to make a small family tree, this course will get you off to a good
start. You will explore many Internet sites where you can search for family
names. The course explains in simple terms where to look, who to contact, and
how to use the genealogical research tools of the computer and the Internet to
further your research.
The library's
Guide to Genealogy Resources is available in a PDF
file.
(Acrobat Reader required)
The BMPL's Indiana and
Local History Collections contain over 700 books, pamphlets,
and audiotape sets with state and local information. Indiana authors are
featured, along with historical, legal and reference materials.
Genealogy Resources
Over
25,000 family and local histories, and content
from Heritage Quest, the largest
genealogical data, products, supplies and equipment provider to consumers and
institutions in the United States. Log on with your library
bar code number.
Search more than 1.5 billion names in over 4,000
databases. Includes records from the US Census; military records; court,
land and probate records; vital and church records; directories; passenger lists
and more.
Ancestry Library Edition is available from any Internet
computer in the library. It is not available from outside the
library.
GRAMPS
is a Free Software Project for Genealogy, offering a professional genealogy
program, and a wiki open to all. It is a community project, created, developed
and governed by
genealogists.
The library has available on microfilm the Franklin County Federal census
records from 1820 through 1920, and the Ripley County Federal census
records from 1870 through 1920. Other Indiana counties, such as
Dearborn and Decatur, are also included.
The following records are available on microfilm for Ripley County:
- Births: 1882-1903, 1896-1912, 1912-1930
- Death Certificates: 1899-1901
- Naturalizations: 1851-1928, 1907-1918
- Declaration of Intent: 1907-1921, 1928-1944
- Probate Order Books A & B: November 1818 - August 1843
- Wills: November 1821 - October 1838
- Contagious Diseases: 1908-1945.
The Tri-County Genealogical Society meets at the library on the second Wednesday evening of each month. Check the library's Meetings, Programs, and Events Calendar for the date and time.
Allen County Public Library (Ft. Wayne, IN) Historical Genealogy Department - Resources of the ACPL Historical Genealogy Department, a "Getting Started" guide, plus links to Genealogy resources on the Web. The ACPL has the second largest genealogy collection in the U.S.
American Family Immigration History Center - Look up individuals by name and/date of entry from this list of 22 million who came through Ellis Island, and more.
Cyndi's List of Genealogy Sites on the Internet - Over 254,000 links, most categorized & cross-referenced in over 180 categories. Extensive!
Dearborn County, Indiana Genealogy - Links to Dearborn County, Indiana genealogy sources and information.
Decatur County, Indiana Genealogy - Links to Decatur County, Indiana genealogy sources and information.
Everton's Genealogical Helper - Features Internet links and information to help you in your genealogical research, including databases, books, supplies, services, and a free bi-weekly online magazine.
FamilySearch Internet Genealogy Service - From the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
Enter your ancestor information just once to search for family trees at multiple online genealogy databases. The site also includes hints for searching family history online.
Franklin
County, Indiana Genealogy
- Links to Franklin County, Indiana genealogy sources and information.
The following Franklin County, Indiana databases were assembled by Larry Christensen (LHChristen@aol.com), of San Diego, CA:
- Peppertown Cemeteries
- Salt Creek Township Resident Surname List
- Black Families of Salt Creek Township (1850)
- St. Nicholas German Lutheran Church Book (1863-1981)
- Franklin County, IN - Comprehensive Cemetery Index
Answer a series of simple questions and get free, customized advice on the most effective next steps in your genealogy search.
Index of Indiana Marriages Through 1850
Index of Indiana
Marriages 1993-2000 - Search using the bride's or the groom's last name. From the Indiana
State Library Genealogy Division.
Indiana Cemetary
Locator -
A listing of names of cemeteries where burials can be found in books or
microfilm in the collection in the Indiana State Library Genealogy Division.
INGenWeb - Search Web links by Indiana county
name, plus many other resources, including Indiana Civil War, Mexican War
and Revolutionary War links.
Indiana State Library Genealogy Division - Information about the ISL's Genealogy Division and services, plus links to additional Genealogy resources.
MSNBC's Best Links for Beginners Exploring Their Roots - There are many links here, including general sites, how-to-sites for beginners, resources, ethnicity sites, special resources and unusual sites.
National Genealogy Society - Information about the NGS and special reference materials helpful to those doing genealogical research.
Ripley County, Indiana Genealogy - Links to Ripley County, Indiana genealogy sources and information
RootsWeb List Name Finder - Type in a surname, press Enter, and a list of people researching that surname will be returned.
The Toph Papers
Index -
The Toph Papers are a 3000+ pages collection of family histories, that Violet
Toph created in the 1930s (after she retired from teaching) by traveling Ripley
County, Indiana, gathering family trees and family histories from as many people
as she could, and writing these down. These papers are not part of her 'the
Peoples' History' collection. That collection is mainly anecdotal.
The indices are in PDF format. Get the FREE
reader by clicking the Adobe Reader logo.
Link opens in new window, close it to return here.
Treasure Maps: The How-To Genealogy WWW Site - Features help on a wide variety of subjects - getting started, filling out family group sheets, how to use the Federal Censuses and Family History Centers, etc.
Vital Records Information
for United States
- This page contains information about where to obtain vital records
(such as birth, death & marriage certificates and divorce decrees)
from each state, territory and county of the United States.
Indiana and Local History Resources
Batesville Area Historical Society - Find out about the BAHS programs and projects, plus learn some Batesville facts from the dusty files.
Indiana Historical Society - Explore the Society's various programs and collections. For information about the nineteenth state's history, examine the IHS's "What is a Hoosier?" and "Hoosier Heritage" links.
Franklin County (IN) Historical Society - Links to their current events, pictures, historical information, etc.
Ripley County (IN) Historical Society - See what the RCHS has to offer. Contains links to related sources.
BMPL's Hoosier
History Links
Photos of Batesville's
History
Databases
Note: INSPIRE is available to all Indiana
residents. Other databases may require a Batesville Memorial Public
Library bar code and perhaps a password or PIN to access. If you have a valid BMPL
borrower's card and do not have a PIN, please contact the library and we will
assign one to you.
