The library has very helpful staff also.
--------------------------------------------------
From: "Debbie Jennings" <debjennings(a)dtccom.net>
Sent: Monday, August 26, 2013 12:56 PM
To: "OWEN COUNTY MAILING LIST" <INOWEN-L(a)rootsweb.com>
Subject: [INOWEN] Historical Society and Library
Maudeen and other list members--
Although Maudeen was the one that specifically asked for this information,
it would most likely also benefit others.
The following is information on the Historical Society as I know it from
doing their website and factual information I know from visiting the
library in
Owen County.
The following website will give anyone information on the Historical
Society such as holdings, etc.
They have NO physical building, it is an organization.
There is an archives held by the organization, however at this time I
don't know what arrangements there are for that.
It was by appointment only, but then some of the people in charge changed,
so they may have changed policies.
The items housed at the archives are things such as guardianship papers,
probate files, perhaps military files, insanity papers,
things of those nature.
http://www.sweetowen.net/OCHGShomepage.html
The Owen County Library is located at 10 Montgomery Street, Spencer, IN.
This is just around the corner from the court house.
They are open M-Thur 9-8 Friday 9-5 and Saturday 9-3.
As you enter the library, make a left and the genealogy section is all the
way to the back. Within this genealogy section is a "vault".
This used to be an actual bank vault, but now houses the books and files
of information.
It is quite impossible for me to list ALL of the holdings at the library.
There are numerous books on various subjects/families in Owen County and
surrounding areas.
The real jewel however is the complete wall of family file folders. These
contain information left by other researchers, news clippings and
obituaries
on persons of the individual surnames. This is just a gold mine of
information. Plan for a substantial amount of time to go through these
files. There is a
copy machine in the outer area. You make your copies (10 cents each) and
pay the librarian at the front of the library before leaving.
Each time I visit the library I tell myself- "this is the last trip, I
have everything that they do now". And each time I find myself returning.
A few tips for visiting the facility-
1. Make a list of EXACTLY what surnames you are looking for in the folder
section.
2. I have a spiral notebook called "In Search Of". I have pages marked --
obituaries or any other type of thing I want to find. I then list the
names of those persons in order to not overlook them. I find that once I
get to the library I am just amazed at the amount of info and my train of
thought wanders away from where it should.
(No I am not a dribbling idiot, there is just so much to look at).
3. The room is not extremely large, but the contents are varied. Go
through the folders carefully. If you are researching one of those
families that have various branches and not all of them connect to yours,
be certain to look in all of the folders of that surname. I have
frequently found obits in the folders NOT connected to
my family lineages.
I will be up there next month and I am now starting my notebook for the
visit and what I hope to find there.
My categories are things like-- Obituaries, Land Records, Marriage
Records, Death Certificates.
Write down pertinent information to help you out. For example, on the
marriage records jot down the dates. If you are wanting to check out
something on Schools for instance, jot down just what you are looking for
to help your memory out. Believe me it is extremely easy to get side
tracked there.
-------------------------------
To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to
INOWEN-request(a)rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes
in the subject and the body of the message