Beginning in 1987, the National Genealogical Society began publishing a series of state guides in the organization’s magazine, the Quarterly. These guides were later issues as special publications. The latest version of the series contains revised guides, plus additional states not included in the previous releases. NGS Research in the States Series: Indiana was written by Dawne Slater-Putt. This is the third review of NGS state guides written here. Here are the other two previously reviewed:
The first section of the guide provides a brief summary of Indiana. The state was initially home to Native Americans. The Miami, the Delaware, the Shawnee, and the Potawatomi, along with associated tribes held lands across the state during the mid 1700s through the mid 1800s. Robert Cavalier Sieur de La Salle, a French Explorer, is credited as the First European to visit the area. A brief history of the territory is provided and acknowledgment is given to the state joining the Union on 11 December 1816. Reference is also given to five books published by the Indiana Historical Bureau and the Indiana Historical Society, for those who want to know more about the state’s history
The bulk of the guide is dedicated to various sources and records types. For each, an additional brief history and/or explanation is provided. In some cases, there are no specific resources provided, just information which may help guide someone to possible sources. For example, mention of Greek and Macedonian immigrants suggests they have strong ties to their old country and kept their culture strong through living in tight communities and establishing their orthodox churches here. Without a specific archive or source for information, the reader still learns what parts of Indiana these immigrants settled; plus, reference to their orthodox religion suggest the possibility of church records in those communities.
Other sections provides lists of resources and locations. For example, there are 16 references provided for researching Indiana’s Native Americans. For other records, suggestions are made for where to find current records, as well as types and availability of older records. Cemetery records, for example, notes the state’s Archives contains records of the locations of graves of soldiers through Wold War I. Throughout the guide, the reader will find tidbits, facts, and listings for researching all types of records relative to genealogical research.
Table of Contents
Early History and Settlement
- Indiana Territory
Archives, Libraries, and Societies
- Allen County Public Library
- Indiana Historical Society
- Indiana State Archives
- Indiana State Library
- National Archives at Chicago (Great Lakes Region)
- University Libraries
- Regional and Local Libraries
- Societies and Organizations
- Indiana Genealogical Society
Major Resources
- Aids to Research
- Atlases, Gazetteers, and Maps
- Place Names
- Atlases, Plat Books and Land Ownership Maps
- Bibles Records
- Biographical Sources
- Business and Occupational Records
- Cemetery Records
- Censuses and Census Substitutes
- Territorial
- State Censuses
- Federal Population Schedules
- Special Schedules
- Church Records
- Amish and Mennonite
- Baptist
- Brethren
- Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
- Disciples of Christ
- Lutheran
- Methodist
- Presbyterian
- Roman Catholic
- Society of Friends (Quaker)
- Court Records
- County Courts
- Appellate Courts
- Federal Courts
- Directories
- Ethnic Groups and Records
- African Americans
- German and Swiss
- Greeks and Macedonians
- Irish
- Jewish
- Native Americans
- Polish
- Genealogical and Historical
- Institutional and Prison Periodicals
- Children’s Homes, Orphanages, and Special Schools
- Mental Health Institutions
- Prisons and Correctional Facilities
- Internal Improvements
- Land Records
- Military Records
- American Revolution (1776-1782)
- Indian Territory Records
- War of 1812
- Black Hawk War (1832)
- Mexican War (1846-1848)
- Civil War( 1861-1865)
- Spanish American War (899
- World War I, (1917-1919)
- World War II (1941-1945)
- Korean War (1950-1953) and Vietnam War (1955-1975)
- Naturalization and Immigration
- Newspapers
- Probate Records
- Tax Records
- Vital Records
- Adoption Records
- Birth and Death Records
- Marriage Records
- Divorce Records
- Voter and Election Records
- Women
Conclusion
These guides are an excellent resource for state by state research. Available guides, including NGS Research in the States Series: Indiana are available from Family Roots Publishing; Item #: NGS17, Price: $15.79.