The Indiana Genealogical Society recently began a Records Preservation Project in Hendricks County, Indiana. The Jefferson County courthouse fire in May underscored the dangers that records in ALL Indiana counties face, from the rigors of time as well as from natural disasters.
Unfortunately, not all communities are fortunate enough to have organized genealogy groups that can lead the effort to preserve their local records. IGS is coordinating volunteers as well as funds to preserve and digitize 25 boxes of probate records that are in the basement of the Hendricks County courthouse in Danville. These records date from the county's founding in 1824 up to 1899 and have never been microfilmed, indexed or otherwise been accessible to the public. They contain valuable information about some of the county's earliest settlers.
When this project is completed, copies of the digitized files will be given to the Hendricks County courthouse and Hendricks County libraries, and they will also be available for searching as a free database on the IGS website. The original records will be permanently stored in the Archives of the Plainfield Public Library.
IGS is looking for more volunteers, as well as monetary donations to help purchase the archival storage supplies and digital camera. For more information--including a sample file you can view--please visit the Projects section of the IGS website.
No comments:
Post a Comment