Genealogy Research Library

If your ancestors were residents of Kosciusko County and you share a love of history and family, we invite you to visit.

The Genealogy Research Library

The Genealogy Research Library is located within a large room of the Old Jail Museum. It houses the archives for many Kosciusko County records including court records, wills, guardianship and estate books, school records, township records, county plats and statistical records, tax and assessment records, military books, a series of county health office records, and marriage application books.

There are indexes to birth, marriage and death records and also indexes to census records as well as many family histories. Early newspapers are available on microfilm.

Other holdings include G.A.R. Records, city directories, obituary files, county and town histories.  Also, our vertical files include topics of local history interest: Business & industry, organizations and clubs, churches, townships, small histories, school histories, and local architecture.

In addition, our photo collection contains over 4,500 items indexed by name type, or donor.   For a small fee copies can be made for personal use. We also house the “Boice films” from the late 1930’s to the 1960’s. Copies can be made for personal use.

In Regards to Covid-19

If you are in the area and wish to visit or use our genealogy library we ask that all patrons register upon entry. Laptops and cameras are welcome. Please be aware of current Covid-19 restrictions and bring a mask in case it is required. Furthermore, we would ask that you please call beforehand to assure that the library is not closed due to a covid-19 exposure and to confirm times.

Ask Us

For Help

We are more than happy to help you with your research. When corresponding with us please share exactly what questions or information you are seeking. Also provide detailed information of what you know in order to help us locate your relative. Limited phone queries are also possible.

Contact Us
Genealogy

Resources

Genealogy Discussion Group

Are you a family historian, a genealogist, a novice to genealogy?  Are you interested in gaining more skills at researching your family tree?  Have you hit a roadblock and need some help?

More Information:

Then the Kosciusko County Historical Society Genealogy Discussion Group may be just what you are looking for.  The group hosts genealogy presentations that are followed by group discussions where attendees can share resources, research tips, and personal stories about their research.

The Genealogy Discussion Group meets on the third Tuesday of each month from 10 a.m. to 12 noon in the Genealogy Library at the Old Jail Museum.  The following are tentative dates and discussion topics for the spring 2023. 

  • April 18 - "What to do with your Stuff" - with speaker Bev Trew Palmer from Family Search.
  • May 16 - "Field Trip to Visit Hastings Village".
  • June 19 - Queries - "How to Enhance and Restore Photos and Save to Other Sources."

For more information contact librarian@kosciuskohistory.com

US Gen Web

This is a link to our award-winning US Gen Web site.  The US Gen Web site is a global library for genealogical research.  We are very proud to offer this link as a wide variety of records available for researchers to browse at their leisure.

More Information:

It has been a cooperative effort with several members donating databases that include an index to obituaries in small town newspapers and to the Warsaw Times Union from 1988 to more recent history.

Click the following link for the US Gen Web: http://ingenweb.org/inkosciusko/

Cemetery Preservation Project

This is a project started in 2008 to photograph and map all of the county’s 80+ cemeteries. The Kosciusko County Historical Society has photographed each gravestone, marking its location for GIS and GPS mapping purposes.

More Information:

Data from each stone (birth, death, other text) has been entered into a database.

This database is accessible via Kosciusko County’s Beacon website.  The initial gathering of photos and text was completed in 2013 and is available for viewing.  The project has now shifted to maintenance and updating new stones.  Volunteers have also begun attaching obituaries to the website where they are available.  This is a multi-year project and we invite you to submit obituaries to the Librarian for posting.

This project is supported by a core group of volunteers along with financial support from KCHS, The Kosciusko County Community Foundation, The Esther Pfleiderer Trust, Dr. Dane & Mary Louise Miller Foundation, Frank I. and Irene List Saemann Foundation, Kenneth & Lela Harkless Foundation, Hand Family Foundation, the City of Warsaw and interested individuals.  Thank you all!

Boice Films

The Kosciusko Historical Society is proud to hold a collection of films made during the late 1930’s through the 1960s by Ralph Boice, a local theater owner.  They contain scenes showing the people, buildings and activities in Leesburg...

More Information:

Mentone, Silver Lake, Warsaw and many other surrounding towns in the county.  If you are interested in seeing these, stop by the Old Jail Museum. For a small fee, copies can be made for personal use – please call for more information.

Pioneer Families of Kosciusko County

If your ancestor(s) settled in Kosciusko County before 1850 or between January 1851 and December 1870 you may qualify for recognition in Pioneer Families of Kosciusko County. Click the arrow below to learn more about applications.

More Information:

Pioneer families 1: If your ancestor(s) settled in Kosciusko County before 1850 you may qualify for recognition in Pioneer Families of Kosciusko County.  An application form for Pioneer Families of Kosciusko County can be found here or you can pick up one at the Genealogy Library.  After the information has been verified, a certificate is awarded to the applicant in the Pioneer’s name.

Pioneer Families 2: If your ancestor(s) settled in Kosciusko County between January 1851 and December 1870 you may qualify for recognition in Pioneer Families of Kosciusko County 2. An application form for Pioneer Families of Kosciusko County 2 can be found here or you can pick up one at the Genealogy Library.  After the information has been verified, a certificate is awarded to the applicant in the Pioneer’s name.

Other Important Resource Links: (Deed Books download)

North Webster Cemetery Project
Cemetery Search
US GenWeb
Yesteryear in Print
Deed Book 1-10
Deed Book 11-20

Become a Member!

Memberships are available for the Kosciusko County Historical Society. We’d love to invite you to purchase a membership with us and learn about our history!

Become a Member