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Research & Archives

Willard Public Library welcomes lifelong learners.

Research & archives

archives

Willard Library welcomes researchers to our Archives and we encourage you to register for a Willard Library card. Please visit the Willard Library Archives and Gallery on the lower level of Willard Library via the historic building or through the separate Archives and Gallery entrance on the south side of the building. Please check-in with the staff member at the public service desk in the Lankford Archives Reading Room. Our staff will assist you with locating materials from the Archives Storage facility and bringing those materials to your table.

The Willard Library Archivist looks forward to serving you. Please contact the Archivist in advance with requests to view materials, as some collections require more time to retrieve.

Archives Include

Local Digital Archives

Local Archive Indexes



A valuable alternative source for genealogical information found in Vanderburgh County, Indiana, church records, such as baptisms, confirmations, marriages, and deaths.

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Index of high school senior photos from mid-1950s to mid-1980s, from Koch’s Studio, Evansville, Indiana.

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Index of microfilmed articles in Evansville, Indiana, newspapers from 1821 to 1860, in the library’s genealogy and local history collection.

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Index of individuals mentioned in Evansville, Indiana, radio news programs on WEOA and WGBF from 1941 to 1949 and 1966 to 1974..

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A valuable alternative source for genealogical information found in Vanderburgh County, Indiana, church records, such as baptisms, confirmations, marriages, and deaths.

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Index of biographical data about individuals associated with Vanderburgh County, Indiana, from mid-1850s to 1990s.

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Search by company name for news and miscellaneous information in the library’s archives about selected Vanderburgh County businesses dating back to the mid-1800s.

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Vanderburgh County, Indiana, marriages from 1818 to 1979 and a form to request county records.

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Permission to Publish

Want to publish portions of materials, photographs, or manuscripts owned by Willard Library? Permission must first be granted by the library. Please direct “permission to publish” requests to the Archivist or Special Collections Librarian.

archive events

Attend one of our scheduled events and get to know Evansville better. From tales of old industry to local history heroes, explore the past with unforgettable WPL archive events.

EVENTS SCHEDULE

19
Mar, 2024

The Sky Over Angel Mounds presented by Mike Linderman

Evansville March 19, 2024 18:30
Step back in time and explore the vibrant history of Southwestern Indiana with the Southwestern Indiana Historical Society (SWIHS)! Join us on the 3rd Tuesday of each month at 6:30…
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23
Mar, 2024

History Tours

Evansville March 23, 2024 11:00
📜 Step into the captivating world of our library’s history! 🎉 Join us for a day of history tours on March 23rd, as we celebrate the legacy of our library…
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28
Mar, 2024

Live Birthday Q&A and Chat

March 28, 2024 15:30
🎉 Get ready to celebrate our library’s 139th birthday with us! 📚 Join Archivist Hannah and Assistant Librarian Stacie for a special YouTube Live event on March 28th at 3:30…
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Research & archives

archive services

Interested in taking a slice of history home with you? Use our archive services to make copies of historical photographs or obtain blueprint reproduction prints.

  • Copies of photographs come at no cost if shared via email or hard/external drive provided by the library patron. A CD of the requested images can be purchased for $1. Physical copies can be printed using our photocopy machines and will be printed on standard printer paper.

  • Blueprint Reproductions – Available for the cost of the print
  • Photocopy Machine – Available for the cost of the copy

Research & archives

online databases

Searching the archives has never been easier. Use one of our online databases to learn more about the past and find information on how you got to where you are today.

Search for a title, see due dates of books you have checked out, check out or renew a book, place a hold, and more.

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Research current events, science, business, health, notable people, hobbies, and more. Includes full-text magazine articles.

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WorldCat connects you to the collections and services of more than 10,000 libraries worldwide.

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Find the branches on your family tree with this online resource, part of the library’s genealogy and local history services.

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A groundbreaking digital resource exclusively devoted to African American family history research.

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A collection of county histories and historic atlases from Indiana and Ohio.

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Fold3 is the web’s premier collection of original US military records, including many from the US National Archives.

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A library of over 12 million maps, including the First Landowners project and “Antique Maps” collection.

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In-Library Use Only

Discover your ancestors with the world’s largest history and genealogy database. Browse national and international records from 1500-2008.

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Explore the lives of your ancestors, discover your family’s history, uncover your ethnic origins, start your family tree, and more.

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In-Library Use Only

JSTOR provides access to more than 10 million academic journal articlesbooks, and primary sources in 75 disciplines.

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Search more than 25 years of the Evansville local newspaper. Coverage from 1991 – Current, including full color pages, full-text and web-only content.

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Find global information on topics related to business, education, health, jobs and careers, government and politics, people, social issues, sports, STEM and more featuring the USA Today and other international sources.

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Find Yesterday’s News Today

Access Newspapers from around the world and throughout history using this database.

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Explore your family history with the premier collection of U.S. obituaries and death notices for in-depth genealogical research from 1824 – today. HeritageHub helps you easily identify relatives, uncover new information and potentially unknown family members. Includes deep coverage from all 50 states, hard-to-find content from the mid 1900’s, and original obituary images. Access is available 24/7.

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Research & archives

helpful links

Looking for history outside of the Evansville area? Use these helpful links to learn more about the greater Midwest or find a local history museum near you.

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