History
Looking for historical information on people of the past? Or stories of famous people or your ancestors? Need to know what happened during the American Civil War? To search multiple databases at one time for historical information, please click on the following for a link to JCPL’s databases:
You can also search within specific databases for historical information. Please click on one of the following database titles. These resources are available individually through JCPL’s Electronic Resources or INSPIRE - Indiana’s Virtual Library.
- Ancestry® Library Edition (available only at the Library) – An online database of census information; birth, marriage and death information; immigration information and much more.
- Biography Resource Center - A comprehensive online biographical reference database is designed to meet the needs of public, school and academic libraries in the areas of literature, science, multicultural studies, business, entertainment, politics, sports, government, history, arts and newsmakers.
- HeritageQuest Online™ - An online database is an essential collection of unique material for both genealogical and historical researchers, with coverage dating back to the late 1700s.
- Military & Government Collection™ - Provides full text for nearly 300 journals and periodicals. The database also includes full text for 245 pamphlets and offers indexing and abstracts for nearly 400 titles.
- World Book Online Encyclopedia - Online reference source--containing every article from the 22-volume encyclopedia print set plus thousands more. With state-of-the art multimedia, editor-reviewed Web sites, and more.
Check out these links to other websites:
Government Websites
- Indiana Digital Archives - Family Tree Magazine named this website "Best State Website" in 2010 and "Best Website of 2011" this year. Provides access to Indiana's cultural heritage, military records, and other helpful genealogy records.
- Indiana Memory - Digital library providing free access to Indiana’s unique cultural and historical heritage through a variety of digital formats.
- Library of Congress Digital Collection – Access to print, pictorial and audio-visual collections and other digital services. Search newspapers, prints, performing arts, veterans history, American culture, International collections and much more.
Organizational Websites
- Indiana Military Organization - site for Original Military History of South-Central Indiana from World War II to Present.
- Indianapolis Recorder - What began as a two-page church bulletin by co-founders George Pheldon Stewart and William H. Porter, the Indianapolis Recorder is now one of the top African-American publications in the nation. Established in 1897, the Indianapolis Recorder focused on local people and events in Indianapolis but also reported national events. IUPUI University is pleased to present the Indianapolis Recorder Digital Collection 1897-2005.
