|
The Jernegan Room is available for small groups when scheduled in advance.
The actual jail cells from the former police station have been converted
to study rooms.
INTRODUCTION:The purpose of this site is to provide a brief overview of the genealogical and local history resources in the library's Heritage Center. It is very important to ask the librarian if you do not find what you need. Many items are kept in storage areas which are not open to the public, although the materials are. In addition, some of the rarer or most expensive items are kept in a locked case. Ask the librarian for access to those items. None of the materials in the Heritage Center may be checked out. A copy machine is available."HOW TO BEGIN" BOOKS:If you are a beginner, you may want to borrow some of the books from the circulating collection (in the nonfiction part of the library) to get information on beginning your genealogy. Most of those titles are shelved around the call number 929.1.Sample titles are:
Click here to search the online catalog for Genealogy books. BIBLIOGRAPHIES AND INDEXES:Once you know how to begin your genealogical search, you will need to learn how to find references to your ancestors in other parts of our collection. Bibliographies and indexes provide access to other sources of information.Sample bibliographies include the following: Sample indexes for genealogical and local historical materials include: WPA Indexes to Vital Statistics: Other Indexes include: PERIODICALS:The Library has a collection of genealogical periodicals, including such local titles as Genealogy, Genealogical Helper, Hoosier Genealogist, Indiana Genealogical Society Newsletter, and South Bend Area Genealogical Society Quarterly. Older issues do not circulate.LOCAL HISTORIES:There are many state, county, and local histories shelved in the 977.2 section of the collection. Some of these include:
CITY DIRECTORIES:The Library also has many of the South Bend and Mishawaka City Directories (R 917.7 P76). The oldest ones, from 1867 on, are available only on microfilm. More recent directories are shelved in the Heritage Center. Ask the reference librarian to assist you.Other directories include: CENSUS:The Library has the federal census for 1790 as well as the Indiana census from 1820-1930 on microfilm. The Library has only the 1880 Soundex for Indiana. In the R 317 section, we have print indexes for the Census of Indiana Territory for 1807 and the 1820, 1830, 1840, 1850, and 1860 Federal Population Census for Indiana. Also shelved there are indexes for St. Joseph County for 1860, 1870, 1880, and 1910, and numerous other geographical areas.back to top CRIMP:The Library has only a partial set of the CRIMP Records on microfilm. The index is in a red notebook shelved at the Heritage Center desk.ETHNIC GROUPS:In addition to area histories, there are also books about the immigration of various ethnic groups to St. Joseph County.Sample titles include: IMMIGRATION:Most of us have immigrants as our ancestors. There are various tools to find out when and where they landed in America. For this information there are indexes to various passenger lists.Some of these indexes include: Passenger and Immigration Lists Index (R 929.373 P207pi) Germans to America (929.3 G373) vol. 1- Italians to America (929.3 I88) vol. 1- Migration from the Russian Empire (929.2 M636) vol. 1- FAMILY HISTORIES:The Library has a small collection of family histories. Some are shelved in the Locked Case; others are shelved in the regular collection. Consult the online catalog for titles and locations. A more complete collection can be found in the St. Joseph County Public Library.COUNTY HISTORIES:In addition to a substantial collection of county histories in print form, mostly shelved in the 977 section, the Library has several compiled sets of county histories on microfilm. In the "County Histories of the Old Northwest" series, the Library owns Indiana, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. In the "Cox's County Histories" series, the Library owns Indiana, Kentucky, and Michigan. Indexes for both series are available at the Heritage Center desk.Another interesting "county history" covering Indiana is the 42-reel
microfilm set Indiana Internal Revenue Lists for the years 1862-1866.
This set provides an amazing amount of detail about individuals living
during this period.
NEWSPAPERS ON MICROFILM:One of the growing areas of the Library's genealogical and historical collection is its newspapers on microfilm collection. A selection of titles available include the following. It should be noted that many titles have numerous missing or scattered issues. Those titles with major gaps are marked with an *.
The Library also has a growing collection of newspapers from other Indiana counties. These reels are filed by county in the microfilm storage unit. |
