About the Manuscripts Catalog
The Indiana State Library can assist you in finding primary and secondary source material for your research needs. This catalog includes over 5,300 records from manuscript collections located in the Genealogy Division and the Rare Books and Manuscripts Division. We continue to add new finding aids as collections are acquired and processed. Rare Books and Manuscripts Division materials are available by appointment only. For weekday appointments, please make an appointment at least two business days in advance of your visit. The Rare Books and Manuscripts Division is also open for in-person research on the second Saturday of each month by appointment only. See here for Saturday hours. Saturday appointments must be made at least 10 business days in advance. Requests to view unprocessed collections require an advance notice of at least 3 business days. The library reserves the right to decline permission to view a collection due to restrictions.
What is a finding aid?
Each collection is described in a detailed record called a finding aid, which provides both an overview of the intellectual organization and a detailed list of items in the collection. Researchers should consult the finding aid in order to ascertain the usefulness of the collection.
Search Tips:
- Select the Repository you would like to search using the main toolbar (e.g. Genealogy, Rare Books and Manuscripts).
- Select the type of record you would like to find using the main toolbar (e.g. Collections, Subjects, Names).
- Multiple terms entered into the search box are handled as if connected by an OR statement. For AND statements, use the plus (+) button to add a row for each term.
- Use quotation marks around multiple words for a phrase search (e.g. "annual report").
About Genealogy Manuscripts
Consists of more than 445 cubic feet of material ranging from the 15th century to present, comprised of a variety of items, including genealogical research and correspondence, family trees and charts, photographs, and maps with an emphasis on Indiana families and connections. For more information, visit the Genealogy page.
About Rare Books and Manuscripts
Includes over 3 million manuscripts, totaling over 5,200 collections. Among the collection's strengths are Civil War-era letters and diaries, family papers, and the records of many political figures from the Hoosier State. For more information, visit the Rare Books and Manuscripts page.
