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RESEARCH OUTLINE


Indiana

FAMILY HISTORY LIBRARY

SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH

THE CHURCH OF JESUS CHRIST OF LATTER-DAY SAINTS


INTRODUCTION

This outline lists major sources of information about families from Indiana.
Before reading this outline, study the United States Research Outline, which
will help you understand terminology and the contents and uses of genealogical
records.


RECORDS OF THE FAMILY HISTORY LIBRARY

The Family History Library has some of the records listed in this outline. The
major holdings include censuses, a major index to county histories, vital
records, church records, probate records, and military records. The library is
continuing to acquire microfilms of church, land, probate, cemetery, and other
genealogical records.

Some of the sources described in this outline list the Family History Library's
book, microfilm, and microfiche numbers. These are preceded by FHL, the
abbreviation for Family History Library. You can use these numbers to locate
materials in the library and to order microfilm and microfiche at family history
centers (formerly known as branch genealogical libraries).


FAMILY HISTORY LIBRARY CATALOG

The library's records are listed in the Family History Library Catalog found at
the library and at each family history center. To find a record, look in the
locality section of the catalog for:

    The place where your ancestor lived, such as:

UNITED STATES - CENSUS RECORDS INDIANA - BIOGRAPHY INDIANA, MARION - COURT
RECORDS INDIANA, MARION, INDIANAPOLIS - CEMETERIES

    The record type you want to search, such as:

UNITED STATES - CENSUS RECORDS INDIANA - BIOGRAPHY INDIANA, MARION - COURT
RECORDS INDIANA, MARION, INDIANAPOLIS - CEMETERIES

The section headings in this outline match the names of record types used in the
Family History Library Catalog.


ARCHIVES AND LIBRARIES

The following archives, libraries, and societies have collections or services
helpful for genealogical research.

    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. An
important guide to the Indiana State Library is Carolynne L. Miller, Indiana
Sources for Genealogical Research in the Indiana State Library (Indianapolis,
Ind.: Genealogical Section, Indiana Historical Society, 1984; FHL book 977.2
D23mi).

    National Archives--Chicago Branch 7358 South Pulaski Road Chicago, IL
60629

    Indiana Genealogical Society P.O. Box 66 Tunnelton, IN 47467

    Indiana Historical Society Genealogical Section 315 West Ohio Street
Indianapolis, IN 46202

    Allen County Public Library 900 Webster Street Fort Wayne, IN 46802

Although a public library, the Genealogy Department and its Reynolds Historical
Genealogy Collection has an outstanding collection of midwestern and national
sources. These are described in Karen B. Cavanaugh, A Genealogist's Guide to the
Ft. Wayne, Indiana, Public Library (Owensboro, Ky.: McDowell Pub., 1980; FHL
book 977.274/P2 A3c).

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)

To learn more about the history and record-keeping systems of Indiana counties,
use the 22 inventories of county archives published by the Historical Records
Survey around 1940. The Family History Library has acquired all of these
inventories. You may also want to use Donald E. Thompson, Preliminary Checklist
of Archives and Manuscripts in Indiana Repositories (Indianapolis: Indiana
Historical Society, 1980; FHL book 977.2 A3p).


BIBLE RECORDS

The Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) Collection contains some Indiana
Bible records. This collection is described in the "Genealogy" section of this
outline, and is partially indexed by E. Kay Kirkham, An Index to Some of the
Bibles and Family Records of the United States, vol. II (Logan, Utah: The
Everton Publishers, Inc., 1984; FHL book Ref 973 D22kk v.2).


BIOGRAPHY

The Genealogy Division of the Indiana State Library, the Genealogical Section of
the Indiana Historical Society, and the Allen County Public Library have major
collections of biographical sources. The Family History Library also has an
outstanding collection. Most town and county histories have separately-published
indexes to the names mentioned in the books.

An index of 250,000 names found in biographical sketches is Jimmy B. Parker and
Lyman de Platt, Indiana Biographical Index (West Bountiful, Utah: Genealogical
Indexing Associates, 1983; FHL fiche 6331353). It is at the Indiana State
Library, the Family History Library, and the Brigham Young University Library.

The Indiana State Library is currently adding to a card index of names found in
"who's who" and similar works. The William H. English Collection at the Indiana
State Historical Society contains photographs and biographical information about
many territorial and nineteenth-century public officials.

Two representative biographical encyclopedias are:

A Biographical History of Eminent and Self-made Men of the State of Indiana....
2 vols. Cincinnati: Western Biographical Publishing Co., 1880. (FHL book 977.2
D3b; film 1,000,527.)

Dunn, Jacob Piatt. Indiana and Indianans. 5 vols. Chicago and New York: The
American Historical Society, 1919. (FHL book 977.2 H2d; film 1,000,526.) Volumes
3-5 are biographical; a separate every-name index was published in 1939.


CEMETERIES

The Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) Collection contains tombstone
inscriptions from many counties. This collection is described in the "Genealogy"
section of this outline. Many local cemeteries have been surveyed and the names
have been published in Cemetery Records of Indiana, 6 vols. (Salt Lake City:
Genealogical Society, 1954-64; FHL book 977.2 V22c; film 873,781).

The Indiana State Library has a "Cemetery Locator File," which is an
alphabetical list of cemeteries in the state. The cards give the county and
township where the cemetery is situated and the location of copied inscriptions.
This file is also on microfilm at the Family History Library (FHL films
1,292,061-63 and 1,292,094).

A list of the names and addresses of Indiana cemeteries is Mickey Dimon Carty,
Searching in Indiana: A Reference Guide to Public and Private Records (Costa
Mesa, Cal.: ISC Pub., 1985; FHL 977.2 D23c).

The Archives Division, Commission on Public Records, also has a "Veterans Grave
Registration File." This is a partial index to graves of veterans buried in
Indiana who served from the Revolutionary War through World War I. It covers 50
of the 92 counties and is on microfilm at the Indiana State Library.


CENSUS


Federal

Many federal census records are found at the Family History Library, the
National Archives, and other federal and state archives. The United States
Research Outline provides more detailed information about these records.

The Family History Library has micofilms of the U.S. federal censuses of Indiana
from 1820 to 1910. The 1890 census was destroyed.

Statewide indexes are available for the 1820, 1830, 1840, and 1850 censuses. An
index for 42 northern counties is available for the 1860 census. Another index
to the 1860 census covers 64 of the counties, including about 20 in the southern
portion of the state. Marion County, including Indianapolis, has also been
indexed for 1860. A soundex (phonetic) index is on microfilm for part of the
1880 and all of the 1900 census. Street indexes for Fort Wayne, Gary,
Indianapolis, and South Bend on FHL fiche 6331481 can help you use the 1910
census.

Mortality schedules exist for 1850, 1860, 1870, and 1880. The schedule for 1850
is published and indexed. The original mortality schedules and indexes are
available only at the Genealogy Division of the Indiana State Library.


Territorial and State

An 1807 census was published in Census of Indiana Territory for 1807
(Indianapolis: Indiana Historical Society, 1980; FHL 977.2 X2c; film 1,033,927,
item 4).

The 1810 census records of Exeter and Harrison townships, Harrison County, were
published in The Hoosier Genealogist, June 1976 (see "Periodicals" section).

An enumeration was made in 1820 of all white male inhabitants over 21. The
records for Crawford, Gibson, Jackson, Jennings, Knox, Monroe, Orange, Perry,
Posey, Ripley, Vanderburgh, Washington, and Wayne counties are at the Archives
Divison. A few scattered fragments of 1853, 1856, 1857, 1877 and other county
and state censuses are at the Indiana State Library.


CHURCH RECORDS

Before 1900 the largest religious groups in Indiana were Roman Catholic,
Methodist Episcopal, Christian (Disciples of Christ) and Baptist. The Family
History Library has some church records and published histories. These include
"pastor pocket records" for early circuit riders, and abstracts of numerous
records of the Society of Friends. The following directories may help you find
church records:

A Directory of Churches and Religious Organizations in Indiana. 3 vols.
Indianapolis: Historical Records Survey, 1941. (FHL book 977.2 E4h; vols. 2 & 3
on film 1,036,694.)

Rudolph, L.C. and Judith E. Endelman. Religion in Indiana:  A Guide to
Historical Resources. Bloomington, Ind.: Indiana Univ. Press, 1986. (FHL book
977.2 K23r.)

Many denominations have collected their records into central repositories. Use
the following addresses to locate records.


Baptist

Indiana Baptist Collection Franklin College Library Franklin, IN 46131


Disciples of Christ

Christian Theological Seminary Library 1000 W. 42nd St. Indianapolis, IN 46208


Methodist

Archives of DePauw University and Indiana United Methodism Roy O. West Library
DePauw University Greencastle, IN 46135

The Family History Library has numerous histories and records for the various
Methodist circuits and conferences of Indiana and a 1964 inventory of the DePauw
records.


Roman Catholic

University of Notre Dame Archives P.O. Box 513 Notre Dame, IN 46556

For a history of the Catholic Church see Charles Blanchard, History of the
Catholic Church in Indiana, 2 vols. (Longansport, Ind.: A.W. Bowen & Co., 1898;
FHL book 977.2 K2b).


COURT RECORDS

Major Indiana courts that have kept records of genealogical value were
established as follows:

1796-
 1813

Court of quarter sessions was a statewide court with jurisdiction over all civil
and criminal matters, including probates. The Family History Library has some
quarter sessions court records. Others are at the Archives Division, Commission
on Public Records.

1813-
 pres.

Circuit courts are countywide courts which share jurisdiction with superior
courts over naturalizations, major criminal cases, marriages, equity cases,
coroner's records, and insanity commitments. The Family History Library has some
circuit court records, including 180 microfilms of Marion County:

Order books (1822-1909) Entry dockets (1822-1838, 1864-1916) Complete records
(1822-1900) Judgement dockets (1822-1912) Issue dockets (1838-1876)

1790-
 1817, 1853-
 1873

Court of common pleas heard cases dealing with insanity, guardianship, probates,
naturalizations, equity, criminal cases, and many civil actions. Some of these
records are on microfilm at the Family History Library, including Marion County
order books (1849-1873) and issue dockets (1853-1873).

1909-
 pres.

Superior courts handle criminal and civil cases, naturalizations, and some
appeals.

Superior, supreme, and justice of the peace court records are not currently at
the Family History Library. You may obtain copies of the original records by
contacting the appropriate clerk's office in each county courthouse.

Federal court records are described in Warren B. Griffin, Preliminary Inventory:
Records of the U.S. Courts for the District of Indiana (Chicago: Federal Record
Center, 1967; FHL book 977.2 A1 #83; film 982,239, item 10).


DIRECTORIES

Directories of heads of households have been published for major cities in
Indiana. For example, the Family History Library has directories for:

    Indianapolis 1855-1861    FHL fiche 6043992-96 1861-1898    FHL films
1,376,923-37 1916, 1940, etc.    FHL book 977.252 E4p

    Evansville 1858-1861    FHL fiche 6043896-97 1863-1901    FHL films
1,376,851-62 1902-1910    FHL films 186,562-66 1914, 1916, etc.    FHL book 977.233
E4b


EMIGRATION AND IMMIGRATION

The earliest white settlers in Indiana were Frenchmen who came in the early
1700s to what are now Fort Wayne, Lafayette, and Vincennes. American settlement
began before 1800, but increased substantially after the War of 1812, when the
Indians were dispossessed. The earliest American settlers came mainly from
Virginia, Kentucky, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Maryland. Beginning about
1830, many settlers came from Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New York. Eventually,
settlers from the middle Atlantic states and Ohio outnumbered those from the
Southern slave states.

Indiana did not attract as many overseas immigrants in the mid-nineteenth
century as other midwestern states. Over half of those who came directly from
overseas were of German origin, with the Irish a distant second. Most of the
present Indiana population is of English, Scottish, Irish, or German descent.

Before 1850 most immigrants reached Indiana by a water route, such as the Ohio
River. In 1816, when Indiana was admitted as a state, the population was
concentrated in three areas: in a band along the southern boundary of the Ohio
River, along the Wabash River between its junction with the Ohio River and Terre
Haute, and along the Ohio-Indiana state line.

Most of the settlers were still in the southern half of the state by 1850, but
after that date, as railroads were built and industrialization took place, the
northern cities and counties began to fill. Around 1900, East Chicago, Gary, and
South Bend attracted Polish and other eastern and southern European immigrants.

Iowa was the favorite destination of those leaving Indiana in the 1850s, but by
1880 more were leaving Indiana for Illinois, Kansas, and Missouri.

Evansville was made a United States port of entry in 1856, but there are no
passenger lists. Evansville was the gateway to Indiana for overseas immigrants
coming by way of New Orleans. After the railroads were completed, the majority
of immigrants arrived through eastern ports such as New York. More information
on immigration sources is in the United States Research Outline.


GAZETTEERS

Several helpful guides to place names in Indiana have been published, including:

Baker, Ronald L., and Marvin Carmony. Indiana Place Names. Bloomington, Ind.:
Indiana University Press, 1975. (FHL book 977.2 E2b.)

Chamberlain, E. The Indiana Gazetteer, or, Topographical Dictionary of the State
of Indiana. Indianapolis: E. Chamberlain, 1849. (FHL book 977.2 E5i; film
873,978; fiche 6051129.)

Scott, John. The Indiana Gazetteer or Topographical Dictionary. 1826. Reprint.
Indianapolis: Indiana Historical Society, 1954. (FHL book 977.2 E5s.)


GENEALOGY

Most archives, historical societies, and genealogical societies have special
collections and indexes of genealogical value. These must usually be searched in
person.

Some important manuscript collections of compiled genealogies and genealogical
source material for Indiana include:

WPA Card File. The Work Projects Administration prepared an extensive card file
to many, but not all, of the pre-1850 record series at the Archives Division,
Commission on Public Records. This file is available to researchers at the
Archives Division.

Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) Collection. This collection consists
of transcripts of Bible records, cemetery records, church records, marriages,
deaths, obituaries, and wills. It was microfilmed in 1971 at the DAR Library,
Washington, D.C., and is on 83 films at the Family History Library. The volumes
are generally arranged by county and many have individual indexes.

Some major published genealogical collections for Indiana are:

Dorrel, Ruth. Pioneer Ancestors of Members of the Society of Indiana Pioneers.
Indianapolis: Indiana Historical Society, 1983. (FHL book 977.2 D2do.) This book
lists information about more than 7,500 Indiana pioneers from the applications
of society members. For a small fee, the society will supply photocopies of the
actual applications.

Heiss, Willard. Indiana Source Book: Genealogical Material from the Hoosier
Genealogist [1961-79]. 3 vols. Indianapolis: Indiana Historical Society,
1977-82. (FHL book 977.2 D29h.) These volumes reprint church, vital, probate,
and other records from the magazine. A cumulative index to 175,000 names is
Index, Indiana Source Books (Indianapolis: Indiana Historical Society, 1983; FHL
book 977.2 D29h Index).

Riker, Dorothy L., Comp. Genealogical Sources:  Reprinted From the Genealogy
Section, Indiana Magazine of History. Indianapolis: Indiana Historical Society,
1979. (FHL book 977.2 D2rd.)


HISTORY

The following are important dates in the history of Indiana. These events
affected political boundaries, record keeping, and family movements.

1700-
 1735

The French established three outposts along the Wabash-Maumee trade route, one
at the present site of Fort Wayne, one near present-day Lafayette, and the
largest and most important at Vincennes.

1763

The British took possession of the area and discouraged settlers, but the few
hundred Frenchmen already there were permitted to remain, and Americans began
filtering in.

1784

Clarksville, on the north bank of the Ohio River opposite Louisville, Kentucky,
became the first authorized American settlement in Indiana.

1787

The United States government established the Northwest Territory to open the
land to Revolutionary War veterans and other settlers.

1790

Knox County was created with Vincennes as the seat of government.

1800

Indiana Territory was established. The Michigan Territory was detached in 1805,
and the Illinois Territory in 1809.

1811

The last major battle with the Indians was fought at Tippecanoe. By 1815, there
was no effective Indian opposition to settlement in Indiana.

1816

        Indiana became a state.

1830s-
 1850s

New roads, canals, and railroads hastened settlement in central Indiana. The
National Road reached Indianapolis in 1834. The Wabash and Erie Canal reached
Terre Haute in 1850, and was completed to Evansville in 1853. Major railroad
building was underway in the 1850s.

1861-
 1865

Indiana remained loyal to the Union during the Civil War and contributed about
200,000 Federal troops, although the southern heritage of some communities
caused trouble.

The Family History Library and the archives mentioned previously have fine
collections of local histories. The following books are good introductions to
the history of the state:

Esarey, Logan. History of Indiana from Its Exploration to 1922. 3 vols. Dayton,
Ohio: Dayton Historical Society, 1923. (FHL book 977.2 H2e.)

Dillon, John B. A History of Indiana. Indianapolis: Bingham and Doughty, 1859.
(FHL book 977.2 H2dj; fiche 6051127.)


LAND AND PROPERTY

Early settlers of Indiana obtained their land through grants issued by France,
England, or Spain. Land records of 1789-1837 are published in American State
Papers and are indexed in Phillip W. McMullin, ed., Grassroots of America (Salt
Lake City: Gendex Corp., 1972; FHL book 973 R2m; fiche 6051323).

As the United States acquired the area, unsettled land became public domain and
was sold by the Federal government. The first General Land Office to serve
Indiana opened in Cincinnati, Ohio in 1800. The first office within the state of
Indiana was established at Vincennes and the first sales took place in 1807.

The original federal land record books and microfilm copies from 1807 to 1876
are at the Archives Division of the Indiana State Library. The National Archives
has land-entry case files. Patents, and copies of tract books and township
plats, are located at the Bureau of Land Management, Eastern States Office (350
South Pickett Street, Alexandria, VA 22304).

In addition to the Ohio land files, you may want to use the following sources
for Indiana:

Lux, Leonard. The Vincennes Donation Lands. Indianapolis: Indiana Historical
Society, 1949. (FHL book 977.2 B4 vol. 15, no. 4; film 928,192, item 5; fiche
6051134.) Includes private land claims and settlers in Knox County before 1800.

Waters, Margaret R. Indiana Land Entries. 2 vols. 1948. Reprint. Knightstown,
Ind.: The Bookmark, 1977. (FHL book 977.2 R2w; fiche 6046718.) Land entries
indexed for Cincinnati (1801-1840) and Vincennes (1807-1877) districts.

Cowen, Janet C. Jeffersonville Land Entries, 1808-1818. Indianapolis: J. Cowen,
1984. (FHL book 977.2 R2c.)

Subsequent land transfers were recorded by each county recorder. These usually
date back to the time of the county organization. These records and their
indexes are at the county courthouses. The Family History Library has microfilm
copies of some Indiana county land records. For example, the Family History
Library has 33 microfilms of deeds for Marion County residents, 1822 to 1875.

The following publications will help you understand the land system:

Wilson, George R. Early Indiana Trails and Surveys. Indianapolis: C. E. Pauley,
1919. (FHL book 977.2 B4 v. 6 no. 3; film 824,286, item 13; fiche 6051190.)
History of early roads and land grants.

This Land of Ours:  The Acquisition and Disposition of the Public Domain.
Indianapolis: Indiana Historical Society, 1978. (FHL book 977 R2i.) A series of
historical essays.


MAPS

The following statewide atlases may be helpful to you:

New Topographical Atlas and Gazetteer of Indiana. 1871. Reprint. Evansville:
Unigraphic, Inc., 1975. (FHL book Q 977.245 E3a; film 940,201.)

Illustrated  Historical Atlas of the State of Indiana. Chicago: Baskin, Forster,
1876. (FHL book Q 977.2 E3i; film 465,403.)

Pence, George, and Nellie C. Armstrong. Indiana Boundaries:  Territorial, State,
and County. 1933. Reprint. Indianapolis: Indiana Historical Society, 1967. (FHL
book 977.2 B4i vol. 19; film 1,425,615, item 2.)

The Family History Library has city ward maps of Indianapolis for the years
1864, 1870, 1874, 1889, and 1898 (FHL film 1,377,700; fiche 6016655-59) and a
few state maps.

Indiana University, Ball State University, University of Notre Dame, and Indiana
State University have substantial map collections.


MILITARY RECORDS

Many military records are found at the Family History Library, the National
Archives, and other federal and state archives. The United States Research
Outline provides more information on the federal records.

Many of Indiana's military records are stored at the Archives Division,
Commission on Public Records. These include:

    Indiana Civil War volunteers

    Indiana Legion (Civil War State Militia)

    Civil War substitutes

    Veterans' grave registrations

    Indiana Militia Index, 1872-1896

    Indiana Mexican War Volunteer Index, 1846-1848

    Indiana Black Hawk War Militia Index, 1832

    Gold Star Roll of Honor, 1914-1918

    Grand Army of the Republic records

    Spanish-American War volunteer records

Other sources for Indiana include:


Revolutionary War, 1775-1783

Waters, Ruth Margaret. Revolutionary Soldiers Buried in Indiana. 1949.
Supplement, 1954. Reprint. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1970. (FHL
book 977.2 M2w; film 928,104, item 4; fiche 6046585.)

Wolf, Barbara Schull. Index to Revolutionary Soldiers of Indiana and Other
Patriots. Indianapolis: Ye Olde Genealogie Shoppe, 1983. (FHL book 977.2 M22w.)


War of 1812

Franklin, Charles M. Indiana, War of 1812 Soldiers:  Militia. Indianapolis: Ye
Olde Genealogie Shoppe, 1984. (FHL book 977.2 M2fr.)


Civil War, 1861-1865

"Indiana in the War of the Rebellion: Report of the Adjutant General," Indiana
Historical Collections. Vol. 41. Indianapolis: Indiana Historical Bureau, 1960.
(FHL film 1,425,647, item 6.) This is a reprint of a volume published in 1869.

Terrell, W. H. H., comp. Report of the Adjutant General of the State of Indiana.
8 vols. Indianapolis: Indiana Adjutant General's Office, 1869. (not at FHL.)

An "Index to Compiled Service Records of Volunteer Union Soldiers Who Served in
Organizations from the State of Indiana, 1861-1865" is at the Family History
Library (FHL films 881,722-807). The service and pension records have not been
filmed and are only at the National Archives.


Spanish-American War, 1898

Record of Indiana Volunteers in the Spanish-American War, 1898-1899.
Indianapolis: W. B. Burford, 1900. (FHL film 1,033,588, item 3.)


World War I, 1914-1919

A list of those who died in World War I is kept at the Archives Division.


NATURALIZATION AND CITIZENSHIP

Naturalization papers have been filed in local and federal courts. Declarations,
petitions, and other naturalization documents prior to 1813 were handled by the
court of common pleas. From 1813 to 1853 and after 1873, these proceedings were
also handled by circuit courts, and the county clerks kept the records. After
1909 the superior court kept these records. Several district courts were
organized by the 1930s, and they also had jurisdiction over naturalizations.

Naturalization records were included with other court proceedings, such as
minute books, until the 1850s, and then they were kept in separate books with
indexes. You may obtain copies by contacting the appropriate clerks' office.
Most pre-1940 records are with the county clerk in each courthouse.

The Family History Library has microfilms of naturalization records from some
counties. For residents of Indianapolis and Marion County, for instance, the
library has indexes for the years 1843 to 1929 and records filed between 1879
and 1927. The Archives Division has many indexes which were compiled by the Work
Projects Administration. Another valuable index is An Index to Indiana
Naturalization Records Found in Various Order Books of the Ninety-two Local
Courts Prior to 1907 (Indianapolis: Indiana Historical Society, 1981; FHL book
977.2 P42i).

For naturalization records after 1906, contact the National Archives--Chicago
Branch. This office has files from the Southern and Northern U.S. District
Courts (1906-1948). You may also visit a federal office of the Immigration and
Naturalization Service to request files from Washington, D.C.. The Indiana INS
office (507 State Street, Hammond, IN 46320) has maintained all records for the
state filed since 1956.


NEWSPAPERS

The Indiana Division of the Indiana State Library has the state's largest
newspaper collection. They have many newspapers on microfilm and an index of
names and obituaries in Indianapolis newspapers from 1898.

A useful guide for locating newspapers is John W. Miller, Indiana Newspaper
Bibliography:  Historical Accounts of All Indiana Newspapers Published from 1804
to 1980 and Locational Information for All Available Copies, Both Original and
Manuscript (Indianapolis: Indiana Historical Society, 1982; FHL book 977.2
B32m).


PERIODICALS

The major genealogical periodicals and magazines which you may use for Indiana
research are:

Genealogy. 1973-. Published by the Genealogy Section, Indiana Historical
Society, 315 W. Ohio St., Indianapolis, IN 46202. (FHL book 977.2 B2gi.)
Emphasizes Quaker research.

The Hoosier Genealogist. 1961-. Published by the Genealogical and Genealogy
Section of Indiana Historical Society, 315 W. Ohio St., Indianapolis, IN 46202.
(FHL book 977.2 B2h.)

The Hoosier Journal of Ancestry. 1967-. Published by N.K. Sexton, P.O. Box 33,
Little York, IN 47139. (FHL book 977.2 B2hj.) Has an index for 1971-1979.

Sycamore Leaves. 1971-. Published by the Wabash Valley Genealogical Society,
P.O. Box 85, Terre Haute, IN 47808. (FHL book 977.23 B2s.)

The Tri-State Packet. 1977-. Published by the Tri-State Genealogical Society,
c/o Willard Library, 21 1st Ave., Evanston, IN 47710. (FHL book 977 D25t.)
Covers Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana.


PROBATE RECORDS

Probate records in Indiana have been kept by several courts. Before statehood,
the court of common pleas had jurisdiction over probate matters. In 1813,
circuit courts became responsible for probate records. In 1829, probate courts
were created in each county. In 1853, all but two of the courts were abolished,
leaving Marion and St. Joseph's counties with probate courts, and transferring
probate responsibility to the clerks of the circuit courts in the other
counties.

Indiana probate records include inventories, guardianship papers, wills, and
bonds. The probate "complete records" detail the settlement of estates involving
real estate.

The Family History Library has copies of important probate papers from about
half of the counties in Indiana. From Marion County, for example, the library
has 150 microfilms which include:

    Circuit Court guardian dockets (1847-1931)

    Execution dockets (1822-1909)

    Inventories (1875-1911)

    Wills (1824-1939)

    Common Pleas appearance dockets (1853-1884)

    Complete records (1853-1871)

    Probate Court complete records (1829-1853)

    Administrations (1876-1907)

    Claims and allowance dockets (1874-1934).

The original records of all counties may be obtained at the various county
courthouses.

Many probate records have been transcribed and published. For example, over
6,000 testator's names are in Charles M. Franklin, Index to Indiana Wills:
Phase 1, Through 1850 (Indianapolis: Heritage House, 1986; FHL book 977.2 P22f.)


PUBLIC RECORDS

County commissioners' records began when a county was organized and contain
local information on roads and bridges, licenses issued, education, care of the
poor, etc. Many county residents are mentioned. The records are kept in the
county offices. Some of these records are on microfilm at the Family History
Library. Commissioner's records for Indianapolis and Marion County are available
from 1822 to 1899.


TAXATION

Tax lists were often kept by the county auditor. Some of the tax lists from
about 1840-1920 are on microfilm at the Family History Library. For example, the
library has 57 rolls of Tippecanoe County tax records (1843-1876). The Internal
Revenue Assessment Lists of Indiana, 1862-1866, are on 42 microfilms available
from the National Archives.


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 Family History Library has microfilms of a combined
set of the county records listed in the catalog under INDIANA - VITAL RECORDS -
INDEXES. The original typescripts are at the Indiana State Library. Some
additional records are listed in the catalog under the counties.


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. The Family History Library
has not obtained copies of these records. 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

The current fees for obtaining copies of the state's records are listed in Where
to Write for Vital Records: Births, Deaths, Marriages, and Divorces
(Hyattsville, Md.: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, August 1987).
Copies of this booklet are at the Family History Library and the family history
centers. You can also write to the Division of Vital Records (address above) for
current information.

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.
The Family History Library has some microfilms of delayed registrations.


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.

The Family History Library has microfilm copies of marriage records from most
counties. For example the library has 96 microfilms of marriages in Marion
County for the years 1818 to 1921. Marriage records for some counties were
indexed by the WPA and these transcripts are also on film at the Family History
Library.

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. The Family History Library has very few divorce
records of Indiana.


Guide to Vital Records

You can learn more about the history and availability of Indiana vital records
in Guide to Public Vital Statistics Records in Indiana (Indianapolis: Historical
Records Survey, 1941; FHL book 977.2 A5h; film 874,046, item 5; fiche 6051202).


FOR FURTHER READING

These handbooks will give more detailed information about research and records
of Indiana.

Carty, Mickey Dimon. Searching in Indiana: A Guide to Public and Private
Records. Costa Mesa, Calif.: ISC Publications, 1985. (FHL book 977.2 D23c.)

Miller, Carolynne L. Aids for Genealogical Searching in Indiana:  A
Bibliography. Detroit: Detroit Society for Genealogical Research, 1970. (FHL
book 977.2 D23m.)

Newhard, Malinda E. E. A Guide to Genealogical Records in Indiana. Harlan, Ind.:
M. Newhard, 1979. (FHL book 977.2 D27n.)


COMMENTS AND SUGGESTIONS

The Family History Library welcomes additions and corrections that will improve
future editions of this outline.  Please send your suggestions to:

Publications Coordination Family History Library 35 N. West Temple Street Salt
Lake City, UT 84150

We appreciate the archivists, librarians, and others who have reviewed this
outline and shared helpful information.

Copyright (c) 1988 by Corporation of the President of The Church of Jesus Christ
of Latter-day Saints. All Rights Reserved. Printed in USA. First Edition, June
1988. Series US-STATES, No. 15.

No part of this document may be reproduced in any form without the prior written
permission of the publisher. Send all requests for such permission to:

Copyrights and Permissions Coordinator Family History Department 50 E. North
Temple Street Salt Lake City, Utah 84150