FINDING YOUR INDIANA RELATIVES
In the realm of finding records in Indiana, the concept of one-stop shopping does not apply. Indiana is fortunate to have numerous libraries, websites, and local organizations that have information helpful to genealogy research. This wealth of resources can create a maze as to where to find the information you need. Below is a tip sheet to help you get started. It includes website addresses, contact information and free online databases. By no means does it include all of the helpful resources available; however, it can serve as a starting point to guide you through the maze.
Vital Records
Births and deaths were not officially recorded in Indiana until 1882. Other sources such as census records, church records, cemetery records and will records may be helpful in identifying earlier birth and death dates.
Birth Records
Birth records in the Indiana State Department of Health (ISDH) Vital Records office begin with October 1907. Prior to October 1907, records of birth are filed with the local health department in the county where the birth occurred.
Death Records
Death records in the ISDH Vital Records office begin with 1900. Prior to 1900, records of death are filed with the local health department in the county where the death occurred.
Many libraries have birth and death indexes to several Indiana counties. INGenWeb provides a directory of libraries with genealogy information: http://ingenweb.net/ingen_state.htm
Vital Records Department
Indiana State Department of Health
2 North Meridian Street
Indianapolis, IN 46204
(317) 233-2700
Index to Indiana County Vital Records Offices includes contact information for county health offices, circuit court, dates of coverage and costs: http://www.vitalrec.com/in.html
Marriage Records
Marriage records are available from the Clerks of the Circuit Court in the county where the marriage was granted. The ISDH only has an Index to marriages since 1958.
Indiana State Library Index to Indiana Marriages through 1850:
http://www.in.gov/library/3076.htm
This searchable database includes spouseʼs name, county, date, and other remarks.
Cemetery Records
Indiana State Library Cemetery Locator Database: http://www.in.gov/library/2306.htm
Searchable by county, this database provides the names of every cemetery for which ISL has either tombstone inscriptions or location. The database does not include the names of people buried in the cemeteries.
Note: In 1939, a joint WPA/American Legion project was initiated to identify the burial places of all veterans in Indiana. The project was conducted in 51 of Indiana's 92 counties. The ISL has the microfilmed Indiana Veterans' Graves Registration. The Indiana State Archives has the original card file of the veterans identified in those 51 counties.
Land Records
Indiana State Archives Land Office Database: http://www.in.gov/icpr/3150.htm
Indiana State Archives holds field notes and original plats made by federal surveyors and land office tract book entries recording individual purchases from the federal land office. Of the six federal land offices in Indiana, the tract book records of two, at Ft. Wayne and at LaPorte-Winamac, have been entered into databases. Patrons can search abbreviated versions of these and can contact the Archives for the full record.
Note: All subsequent private transactions and plat maps are maintained by the county recorder.
Naturalization Records
IN State Archives Naturalization Database: http://www.in.gov/serv/icpr_naturalization
Through most of the 20th century, naturalization was a multi-step process. First, you declared your intent to naturalize, then you petitioned for naturalization, and lastly, you were issued a certificate or a court order granting citizenship. The first two steps involved the submission of specific documents -- declarations of intent and petitions. The State Archives maintains these records for some counties, with some records searchable.
Up until 1907, courts were required to record in their order books all the individuals to whom the court granted citizenship. Before 1907, court order books are all that we have to determine whether an individual was granted citizenship. Fortunately, there is a name index for most naturalization orders granted by Indiana courts from the 1820s to 1907: An Index to Indiana Naturalization Records Found in Various Order Books of the 92 Indiana Counties Local Courts prior to 1907. The Archives, however, does not have county order books. Indiana law stipulates that county courts must maintain their own court order books. In order to obtain copies of an individual's court order, you will need to write directly to the Clerk of the Circuit Court in the county that granted citizenship (your request should include the exact citation found in the above mentioned index).
Military Records
National Archives: www.archives.gov
Compiled military service records, individual pension records, and bounty land records are held at National Archives. Many of these records can now be ordered online or by mailing in the proper forms. Some are also searchable on their website.
Indiana State Archives: http://www.in.gov/icpr/2306.htm
Although the information is not currently digitized, Indiana State Archives has numerous state military and veteran records from the War of 1812, Mexican War, Civil War, Spanish-American War, World Wars I and II, Korea, and the National Guard.
Indiana State Library World War II Servicemen Database:
http://208.119.135.17/db/wwii/wwii_search.asp
This database is based on a cardfile index. From 1942 through early 1946, the librarians indexed the three Indianapolis daily newspapers (News, Star, and Times) for notices of casualties, missing military personnel, prisoners, and decorations of Indiana servicemen and women. You may search by name as well as by town or city.
Census Records
Several online databases include digitized census records http://www.census-online.com/links/IN/
Microfilmed federal census records are available at many libraries throughout the state including, Indiana State Library, Allen County Public Library and others.
Obituaries
Newspaper Section of Indiana State Library has the largest collection of Indiana newspapers, with many archives available on microfilm through interlibrary loan. Website includes a listing of newspaper holdings by county and a few searchable indexes. http://www.in.gov/library/3227.htm
Several public libraries and local organizations also have online databases of obituaries:
Local History Sources
VINE (Vital Information Exchange): http://208.119.135.17/db/vine/vine_home.asp
Statewide database consisting of local history and vital records from Indiana public libraries.
IHS Local History Services: http://www.indianahistory.org/lhs/
Website includes contact information to county historical societies, county genealogical organizations, and county historians.
IHS Online Connections: http://www.indianahistory.org/ihs_press/online_connections/
A Web companion to The Hoosier Genealogist: Connections, the Indiana Historical Society's family history journal, Online Connections connects Hoosier descendants to their ancestors by supplying family data from rare source material.
Indiana Magazine of History: http://www.indiana.edu/~imaghist/
Published continuously since 1905, the Indiana Magazine of History is one of the nation's oldest historical journals. Recently, IMH introduced free online access to all but the two most recent years of the publication: http://webapp1.dlib.indiana.edu/imh/
Biographical Information
19th Century Indiana Physicians: http://www.biblioserver.com/19centurydocs/index.php Created by the Ruth Lilly Medical Library, IU School of Medicine, the database contains over 15,000 entries of early doctors and midwives that practiced in the state.
Indiana Artists: http://friendsofallencounty.org/search_artists.php
More than 1,000 entries compiled from the "Indiana Artists" clipping folder of the Indiana Collection Vertical File (which no longer exists).
Digital Image Collections
Indiana Memory: http://www.in.gov/memories/
A statewide collaborative effort to provide a gateway to the wealth of primary sources in Indiana libraries, archives, museums, and other cultural institutions.
IUPUI Digital Collection: http://www.ulib.iupui.edu/digitalcollections/
Site includes a variety of databases including historic Indiana atlases and maps, War of 1812 Collection, and Indianapolis city directories.
Indiana Historical Society: http://www.indianahistory.org/library/digital_image/digitalpics2008.html
A growing collection of over 35,000 images of sites and events throughout Indiana. Family history researchers might be able to find a postcard of the town their ancestors lived, a portrait of a family member, or a photograph of a Civil War soldier.
Other Indiana Sites of Interest
INSPIRE: http://www.inspire.net
INSPIRE is Indiana's Virtual Library on the Internet. It provides access to a collection of commercial databases including biographical, health, and business information. It includes full-text access to thousands of recent newspapers, magazines, and journals.
Historic Landmarks Foundation of Indiana: http://www.historiclandmarks.org/
Historic Landmarks Foundation helps individuals, organizations, and communities to preserve and restore unique and irreplaceable historic buildings, structures, neighborhoods and commercial districts as viable ingredients of modern life.
Looking for more online resources?
The ISL Genealogy Division includes a list of several genealogy databases, indexes and resources by county: http://www.in.gov/library/4782.htm
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Data received from Teresa Vaughn which she received at a seminar in Indiana while visiting there. I will be glad to give the authors credit as soon as I learn their identity. Jim Rutledge, webmaster.
