Research Library
Research Library
The Marshall County Research Library collection serves as the county repository for family histories, county histories, historic records and community photographs. The staff assists visitors to locate original sources. For those who cannot do a site visit, we can do the research for you for a small fee.
Our resources include the following:
Master index of names from Censuses, newspapers, history books, and many other
sources totaling over 500,000 entries. An index for local history topics with 10,000
entries.
Photographs: 25,000 were digitized and indexed for people, places and events.
Newspapers: Most have been microfilmed and indexed. The Argos paper was
indexed to 1982, Bourbon to 2006, Bremen to 1946, Culver to 1962, and Plymouth to
2003.
Birth index of county records 1882-1939.
Marriage indexes of county records 1836-1957, 1975-1985, Bremen area 1931-1990.
Divorce records 1836-1959.
Death index 1889-2018.
Funeral home records 1887-1970.
Estate files 1836-1960.
Wills.
Guardianship records 1840-1954.
Adoptions to 1940.
Cemetery readings.
Naturalizations.
Federal Censuses of Marshall County have been indexed (1840-1940).
Voter records and voter registrations.
Surname files/histories.
Student enrollments.
School yearbooks.
Enumerations of males (1888-1943) Bourbon, German and West Townships.
Civil War: Draft Enrollments; Pension Applications; Enumerations of 1886, 1890, and
1894; Soldiers’ letters home; Recollections of the war; and G.A.R. Post Records.
Land record sources: deed records, mortgages, abstracts, plat maps, and Sanborn Fire
Insurance maps of the business areas of Argos, Bremen, Bourbon, Culver, and
Plymouth.
County histories.
Town and township histories.
History files by topic.
City directories.
Telephone books.
Church records.
Miscellaneous other historic documents.
The following links go to databases that include Marshall County records:
For information on individual children at Brightside Orphanage (also known as Julia
Work Training School) click HERE.
For information on the Ronald Parkhurst Diaries click HERE.
To locate recent marriages, search the Indiana State Library on-line database –
click HERE.
Go to http://ingenweb.org/inmarshall/ to see searchable databases of Marshall
County indexes. This free site is hosted by Ancestry.com. Depending on browser settings, you may get a warning that the site is not a secure site. It is not available as https, only http. Just click to accept and continue on to the site.
Research Requests: The professional staff of the museum offers a research service
for those who cannot visit the museum in person. Both genealogical and historical
searches require a signed form before research can begin. Use separate forms if
searching for more than one person or topic. A minimum fee of $15 (1 hour) must
accompany the original request. A check for the cost of the copies, mailing fees, and
any additional authorized time must be enclosed with the completed research
packet. To contract research services, use the Research Request Form.
For more information about the Research Department services, contact
irisfry@mchistoricalsociety.org
For more information about the Genealogy Department services,
contact anitakopetski@mchistoricalsociety.org