This file is as complete and accurate as possible, however if you should find errors, have additions or deletions, send them to me and I will update the file. Bill Green bgreen@milo.nodak.edu bill90@Delphi.Com Date of last update: 12 June 1994 ************************************************************************** GENEALOGICAL AND HISTORICAL SOCIETIES OF KENTUCKY 5 March 1989 Robert McLaren 7810 Kincardine Ct. Alexandria, VA 22310-4025 The following file contains a listing of genealogical and historical societies in Kentucky. Included in the listing, where known, are telephone numbers and yearly dues. This listing is donated to the public domain and may be freely copied. Under no conditions can this listing be sold or used in any other commercial fashion. If you think this list has any value, then donate that value in helping your local genealogical society (or the National Genealogical Society). If you write to any of the societies on this list for information, remember to include a self addressed stamped envelop (SASE). Many of these societies work with a limited budget, supplemented by volunteers, and can not afford to respond unless a SASE is included in your letter. The Kentucky Genealogical Society Box 153 Frankfort, KY 40602 Dues: $10.00 per year Kentucky Historical Society P.O. Box H Frankfort, KY 40602-2108 Dues: $18.00 per year; $12.50 per year (student) Eastern Kentucky Genealogical Society Box 1544 Ashland, KY 41101 Dues: South Central Kentucky Historical/ Genealogical Society P.O. Box 80 Glasgow, KY 42141 Dues: Southern Kentucky Genealogical Society P.O. Box 1905 Bowling Green, KY 42101 Dues: Adair County Adair County Genealogical Society P.O. Box 613 Columbia, KY 42728 Dues: $10.00 per year Bell County Bell County Historical Society Box 1344 Middlesboro, KY 40965 Dues: Bourbon County Fayette County Genealogical Society P.O. Box 8113 Lexington, KY 40533 Dues: $10.00 per year Breathitt County Breathitt County Genealogical Society c/o Breathitt County Public Library 1024 College Ave. Jackson, KY 41339 Dues: $10.00 per year Bullitt County Bullitt County Genealogical Society c/o Mary Sabetti Rt. 6, Box 210 Fisher Lane Mt. Washington, KY 40047 Dues: $10.00 per year Butler County Butler County Historical/Genealogical Society Box 146 Morgantown, KY 42261 Dues: Christian County Christian County Genealogical Society 1101 Bethel Street Hopkinsville, KY 42240 Dues: Clarke County Fayette County Genealogical Society P.O. Box 8113 Lexington, KY 40533 Dues: $10.00 per year Clay County Clay County Genealogical and Historical Society, Inc. P.O. Box 394 Manchester, KY 40962 Dues: $15.00 per year Fayette County Fayette County Genealogical Society P.O. Box 8113 Lexington, KY 40533 Dues: $10.00 per year Fleming County Fayette County Genealogical Society P.O. Box 8113 Lexington, KY 40533 Dues: $10.00 per year Fulton County Fulton County Genealogical Society P.O. Box 31 Fulton, KY 42041 Dues: Garrard County Garrard County Historical Society Ann Arnold, Treasurer 107 Glenmore Heights Lancaster, KY 40444 Dues: $5.00 per year (Publishes On Garrard County Line biannually) Grant County Grant County Historical Society 12 Charlotte Heights Williamstown, KY 41097 Dues: Graves County Graves County Genealogical Society P.O. Box 245 Mayfield, KY 42066 Dues: Grayson County Grayson County Historical Society Leitchfield, KY 42754 Dues: Green County Green County Historical Society P.O. Box 276 Greensburg, KY 42743 Dues: Hancock County Genealogical Society of Hancock County Old Courthouse Hawesville, KY 42348 Dues: Hardin County Ancestral Trails Historical Society P.O. Box 573 Vine Grove, KY 41075 Dues: $8.00 per year Harlan County Genealogical Society of Harlan County, Kentucky P.O. Box 1498 Harlan, KY 40831 Dues: Harlan Heritage Seekers P.O. Box 853 Harlan, KY 40831 Dues: $15.00 per year Harrison County Fayette County Genealogical Society P.O. Box 8113 Lexington, KY 40533 Dues: $10.00 per year Hart County Hart County Historical Society P.O. Box 606 Munfordville, KY 42765 Dues: Henry County Henry County Historical Society c/o C. Price Meek Route 1, Box 6 Smithfield, KY 40068 Dues: Hickman County Hickman County Historical Society Route 3, Box 255 Clinton, KY 42031 Dues: Hopkins County Hopkins County Genealogical Society P.O. Box 51 Madisonville, KY 42431 Dues: Jefferson County Louisville Genealogical Society P.O. Box 5164 Louisville, KY 40205 Dues: $10.00 per year (single); $12.00 per year (family) Jewish Genealogical Society of Louisville c/o Annette & Milton Russman 3304 Furman Blvd Louisville, KY 40220 Dues: Johnson County Johnson County Historical/Genealogical Society P.O. Box 788 Paintsville, KY 41240 Dues: Van Lear Historical Society P.O. Box 12 Van Lear, KY 41265 Dues: Kenton County Kenton County Public Library 5th and Scott Covington, KY 41011 (606) 491-7610 This library has a large genealogy collection, concentrating on KY records. From Gary Steiner Knox County Knox County Historical Society P.O. Box 528 Barbourville, KY 40906 Dues: Laurel County Laurel County Historical Society Box 816 London, KY 40741 Dues: $15.00 per year Lewis County Lewis County Historical Society P.O. Box 212 Vanceburg, KY 41179 Dues: Fayette County Genealogical Society P.O. Box 8113 Lexington, KY 40533 Dues: $10.00 per year Logan County Logan County Genealogical Society Box 853 Russellville, KY 42276 Dues: Magoffin County Magoffin County Historical Society P.O. Box 222 Salyersville, KY 41465 Dues: Marshall County Marshall County Genealogical Society P.O. Box 373 Benton, KY 42025 Dues: $10.00 per year (single); $15.00 per year (family); $6.00 per year (student) Mason County Mason County Genealogical Society Box 266 Maysville, KY 41056 Dues: Mason County Historical Society c/o Mason County Museum 215 Sutter Street Maysville, KY 41056 Dues: Fayette County Genealogical Society P.O. Box 8113 Lexington, KY 40533 Dues: $10.00 per year McCracken County McCracken County Genealogical Society 4640 Buckner Lane Paducah, KY 42001 Dues: Mercer County Harrodsburg Historical Society Genealogical Committee Box 316 Harrodsburg, KY 40330 Dues: Metcalfe County Metcalfe County Historical Society c/o Kay Harbison Rt. 1, Box 371 Summer Shade, KY 42166 Dues: Montgomery County Fayette County Genealogical Society P.O. Box 8113 Lexington, KY 40533 Dues: $10.00 per year Muhlenberg County Muhlenberg County Genealogical Society Public Library Broad Street Central City, KY 42330 Dues: Pendleton County Fayette County Genealogical Society P.O. Box 8113 Lexington, KY 40533 Dues: $10.00 per year Perry County Perry County Genealogical and Historical Society, Inc. HC 32, Box 550 Vicco, KY 41773 Dues: Pike County Pike County Historical Society P.O. Box 752 Pikeville, KY 41501 Dues: Pulaski County Pulaski County Historical Society Public Library Building Somerset, KY 42501 Dues: Rockcastle County Rockcastle County Historical Society P.O. Box 930 Mt. Vernon, KY 40456 Dues: Rowan County Rowan County Historical Society 236 Allen Ave. Morehead, KY 40351 Dues: Scott County Scott County Genealogical Society c/o Scott County Public Library East Main Georgetown, KY 40324 Dues: Fayette County Genealogical Society P.O. Box 8113 Lexington, KY 40533 Dues: $10.00 per year Simpson County Simpson County Historical Society Rt. 3, Box 409 Franklin, KY 42134 Dues: Whitley County Corbin Genealogy Society c/o Tammy Kersey 906 Barbourville Street Corbin, KY 40701 Dues: Woodford County Fayette County Genealogical Society P.O. Box 8113 Lexington, KY 40533 Dues: $10.00 per year ************************************************************************* VITAL RECORDS Birth, Marriage, and Death Records, 1852-1910 Kentucky law required counties to record births, marriages, and deaths as early as 1852. Unfortunately, this law was repealed in 1862. Registration was again attempted from 1874 to 1879, and sporadically from 1892 to 1910. Although compliance with the early registration laws was inconsistent, the existing records are a valuable resource for genealogists. The Department for Libraries and Archives has the records for 1852 to 1910. The Kentucky Historical Society, the Filson Club, and other Kentucky repositories have copies of many of these records. Birth and Death Records, 1911-present Beginning 1 January 1911, Kentucky again required the registration of births and deaths. Registration was generally complied with by 1917. Office of Vital Statistics Department for Health Services 275 East Main Street Frankfort, KY 40621 State your relationship to the individual and the reason you want the information. The Office of Vital Statistics has an index of birth and death records from 1911 to the present. The Kentucky Historical Society has a copy of this index. Birth and Death Records Kept by Cities before 1911 Before 1911, several major cities kept separate records of births and deaths. The most complete collection of pre-1911 city births is at the Office of Vital Statistics. The Department of Archives and Libraries and the Kentucky Historical Society have copies of some of these city records. The Filson Club and the Family History Library have copies of the Louisville records. Marriage Records County marriage records are the earliest and most complete vital records for Kentucky. The records that have survived usually begin within a few years of each county'sorganization. Lincoln, Fayette, and Jefferson counties have marriage records dating from the 1780s. Marriage records from the earliest dates to the present are kept by the county clerk for each county. Since 1958, duplicates have been sent to the Office of Vital Statistics. Major archives, such as the University of Kentucky Library, have copies of marriage records for many Kentucky counties. The Family History Library has microfilm copies of most of the existing county marriage records from the beginning dates to about 1925. All of the archives mentioned above also collect published transcriptions of marriage records. Beginning in 1958, Kentucky again required statewide registration of marriages. These records have been indexed and are found at the Office of Vital Statistics (see address above). Divorce Records Divorces prior to 1849 were granted by the state legislature. These decrees are found in the multivolume set, The Acts of the General Assembly of the Commonwealth of Kentucky. This set can be found at the Kentucky Historical Society and at the Department for Libraries and Archives. Divorce proceedings from 1849 to 1958 were usually recorded by the circuit court, and were often interfiled with other court matters. The Family History Library has copies of circuit court records for most Kentucky counties. The Kentucky Historical Society and the Department for Libraries and Archives also have microfilm copies of circuit court records. Statewide registration of divorces began in 1958. The Office of Vital Statistics has these records (Source: FHC Research Guide) ************************************************************************** STATE ARCHIVES Department for Libraries and Archives Public Records Division 300 Coffee Tree Road P.O. Box 537 Frankfort, KY 40602-0537 The Department for Libraries and Archives has two facilities of particular interest to genealogists. The State Library has printed materials and the State Archives maintains original Kentucky government records and other historical documents. Margaret I. King Library-North Department of Special Collections and Archives University of Kentucky Lexington, KY 40506-0039 Kentucky Library Western Kentucky University Bowling Green, KY 42101 (Source: FHC Research Guide) Kentucky gave pensions to Confederate veterans (& widows) who lived in Kentucky after the war. They did not have to have been in KY units (KY had both Union and Confederate). The pensions were established in 1912 and most of the applications were made in 1912 or soon after. A book titled "Kentucky Confederate Veterans and Widows Pension Index" lists the people who applied. For each applicant it gives name, county of residence, date of application, and application number. Copies of pension applications are available from: Division of Archives and Records Management Department of Library and Archives 851 East Main Street Frankfort, KY 40601 If you don't have access to the index, you could probably send a query, giving your ancestor's name and county of residence in 1912. I wrote to them asking if copies were available, and got back a copy of the file -- 11 pages -- and a bill for $11. It was well worth it, although the copies are white letters on black and a bit hard to read. Carol Botteron botteron@bu-it.bu.edu From: David E. Miles The Filson Club Library Hours: 1310 South Third Street Mon-Fri, 10:00am to 5:00pm Louisville, KY 40208 Sat, 9:00 to noon (502) 635-5083 The Club was organized May 15, 1884 for the purpose of "collecting, preserving, and publishing historical material, especially pertaining to Kentucky and adjacent states...to encourage historic inquiry and study...and to maintain a library and museum to further these objectives." It was incorporated in 1891. *Programs and Departments of the Filson Club* LIBRARY - The Library of the Filson Club, which contains fifty thousand research books, is noted for its genealogical holdings, files on individual families, abstracts of wills, deeds, and marriage and court records from many Kentucky counties. The library is open to the public. (There is a $3 daily usage fee for nonmembers.) MANUSCRIPT DEPARTMENT - The Club's rich collection of manuscript material is the best in Kentucky for the poineer, antebellum, and Civil War periods. The collection of over one million items provides an essential primary source of researh material. LECTURE SERIES - Since the Club's beginning, an annual lecture series of six or more presentations has been open to the public. Qualified experts speak on aspects of Kentucky history, art, heritage, and many other topics. PUBLICATIONS - Over forty volumes of Kentucky history and biography have been published by the Filson Club. Many of these books are the standard reference on their subjects and have drawn national recognition to the Club's scholarship. Since 1926 the Club has published _The Filson Club History Quarterly_, an outstanding state journal that features articles on aspects of Kentucky's culture and history. DEPARTMENT OF PHOTOGRAPHS AND PRINTS - This department is responsible for maintaining and preserving thousands of early photographs and illustrations that help illuminate Kentucky's past. MUSEUM - The Filson Club's Museum of Kentucky art and artifacts helps preserve the state's material culture through its highly-regarded collections of decorative arts, nineteenth-century paintings, firearms, coin silver objects, ceramics, textiles, ephemera, and other artifacts. *Membership in the Filson Club* The Filson Club is a nonprofit organization with membership open to anyone with an interest in the history of Kentucky and the Ohio Valley. While all the programs, activities, and facilities are open to the general public, membership in the Club provides special benefits, including subscription to the _History Quarterly_, newsletters, and free admission to the Library. Annual Payment Memberships Single Payment Memberships Individual.....$ 35.00 Life..........$ 500.00 Family......... 45.00 Patron........ 900.00 Contributing... 150.00 Endowment..... 1800.00 Donor.......... 200.00 Benefactor.... 5000.00 ------------------------------------------------------------ - ************************************************************************* NEWSPAPER GENEALOGICAL COLUMNS -- **************************************************************************** * Bill Green Minot, North Dakota 58701 * Home of the * * bgreen@milo.NoDak.Edu * NORSK H0STFEST * * Bill90@Delphi.Com * Velkommen! * ****************************************************************************