Genealogy & Local History | Vigo County Public Library

The Special Collections Department is closed on Sundays.

Contact Special Collections

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Special Collections staff are available Monday-Saturday during regular library hours to assist with local history & genealogy research. For any other information, please contact us by sending an email using the link above or call 232-1113 ext. 2212

Tips for Researchers

Birth & death records are located in each county's local health office. These records were not required in Indiana until 1882. Vigo County marriage records date back to the beginning of the county, but do not contain much genealogical information until 1882.

Basic Sources for Local Genealogical Research

Download a series of pamphlets compiled by VCPL Special Collections. Please note these files are in PDF format.

Vigo County History

For more Vigo County history, please visit the following:

Vigo County Marriage Records

Search the Marriage Index

The Marriage Index includes Vigo County marriage records dating from 1818-1958.

Click here to read more about this project.

You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader to view the marriage records.

Wabash Valley Obituary Index

Search the Obituary Index

Photocopy Request Information & Project Details

Indexes to obituaries published in Terre Haute newspapers from 1900 to present.

Photocopies of obituaries may be requested at a cost of $5.00 each, prepaid. Vigo County residents may request obits for $3.00 each.

FamilySearch

The Vigo County Public Library has become a FamilySearch affiliate library. FamilySearch is the world’s largest repository of free genealogical records and manages the famous Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah. It is extending access to its collections by circulating microfilms of its records through select public libraries, now including Vigo County. Patrons may come into the library and order microfilm for $8.00 per roll. When the film arrives in the library, patrons will have 30 days in which to view the film using the library’s microfilm readers. If the patron is not able to view the film within that time, the film may be renewed for another 30 day period for an additional $8.00 fee.

The library staff can help patrons search the Family History Library catalog online to determine what films are available and place orders. For more information call Special Collections at 812-232-1113 Ext. 2212.

Search the Genealogy Databases

Ancestry Library Edition

Available only from computers within the VCPL & its Branches. Genealogy research source providing access to 1.5 billion names, 4,000 databases including census, vital, church, court, and immigration records. Updated frequently. Ancestry Library Edition is only available from VCPL Computers.

County and Regional Histories & Atlases: Indiana Hosting

State and especially local history gives students a chance to understand the people, places and things around them with which they’re already familiar. Originally compiled and produced by publishers and subscriptions agents for area residents and patrons, the original histories are difficult-to-find materials. Included in this collection on Indiana are Thirteen cities and regions covered in 262 titles. These titles comprise tables and lists of vital statistics, military service records, municipal and county officers, chronologies, portraits of individuals and views of urban and rural life not found anywhere else. The atlases provide additional information on land use and settlement patterns and scarce early town and city plans.

HeritageQuest

Find ancestors and relatives in the complete set of US Federal Census Records 1790-1930, information on people and places described in over 25,000 family and local histories and information about people and places from the PERSI index of 1.6 + million genealogy and local history articles.

Special Collection Highlights

These collections are housed in the library and may be visited by patrons during regular library hours.

Vigo County Courthouse Records

We have microfilm Vigo County courthouse records filmed by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. They include: deed records, 1818-1886, with various indexes; delayed records of birth, 1941-1978; index to settled estates and guardianships, 1819-1927; guardians and administration records, 1897-1918; marriage records, 1818-Feb 1951, with various indexes; naturalization records and index, 1856-1906; probate order books, 1818-1918 and complete probate order books, 1829-1864; record of indentures, 1818-1886; and will records, 1818-1918.

Terre Haute City & Vigo County Histories

We have most of the Terre Haute city directories from 1858 to the present. Also includes all the indexed Vigo County histories, early Vigo County marriage records, and some Vigo County cemetery records. We also have histories of most of Indiana's 92 counties and some out-of-state county histories. Most of these histories are not indexed.

W.P.A. Indexes

We have indexes compiled by the Works Progress Administration for the birth, marriage, and death records of 67 of Indiana’s 92 counties available on microfilm and CD-ROM. The birth and death indexes cover the years 1882 through 1920. Most, but not all, of the marriage indexes cover the years 1850 through 1920. Except for Vigo County marriages, the actual records are not available at the library.

Census Materials

We have the federal censuses for Indiana from 1820—1880 and 1900—1930 on microfilm. We also have the microfilm for the 1850 census of the states of Illinois, Ohio, and Kentucky. In addition we have other census years for nearby Illinois counties. Various indexes are available in printed form, microfilm and CD-ROM. The library also subscribes to the Ancestry and Heritage Quest databases which enable researchers to check any census for any county in any state. Ancestry is only available within the library.

Terre Haute Newspaper Records

We have an excellent collection of Terre Haute newspapers on microfilm dating back to 1823, although there are many missing issues. A card file contains a partial index of the early newspapers. Microfilm reader-printers can be used to photocopy news articles.