Archives Research Library
Welcome to the Research Library and Archives of the Jefferson County Historical Society. JCHS is the oldest county historical society still in operation, having been established by city and county founders in 1850.
Our library consists of more than 300 books on local history, Indiana history, and regional history that includes Kentucky and Ohio. The entire collection can be found on our Libib website, which allows patrons to see our titles before stopping in to do research. The link also includes books that are either rare or too fragile to keep on our shelves. When possible, we have provided links to online resources where these works can be accessed as PDF files.
The archives also is home to collections of family and local history research from dozens of local writers and historians; we also have family or personal collections that include unpublished manuscripts, diaries, papers, letters, photo albums, and other items donated to JCHS since the 19th century.
Plan Your Visit
Our staff includes archivist Carol Colello, who holds a bachelor’s degree in library science from Ivy Tech, and genealogist Phyllis Codling McLaughlin. McLaughlin, who has worked as a professional genealogist since 2013, is available for hire if your research goes beyond what can be found in our collections.
Appointments are highly recommended. Please fill out the Research Request form below and provide as much detail as possible about the people, places, or events you are want to research.
Request Library Usage
Please fill out the form below to provide us information on your needs.
Schedule of Fees
Prices are subject to change.
Research Library Usage
$15 for non-members, free for members.
Research
The research fee is $30 for non-members and $15 for members per hour, with a one-hour minimum.
Please note that we will not undertake any research requests without a prior, clear understanding and acknowledgement of the fees.
Scanning & Digital Delivery
The fee for scanning and digital delivery of documents is $7.50 for non-members and $5 for members for up to 20 pages.
Photo Copies
Photo copies are 50-cents per page for non-members and 25-cents per page for members. Postage and handling is $7.50 for non-members and $5 for members.
Camera Usage & Digital Images
Use of own camera / scanner – $5 flat fee for non-members, free for members.
Digital images of photos or artwork for personal use – $7.50 per image for non-members and $5 per image for members. Digital images of photos or artwork for commercial use – $25 per image for non-members and $12.50 per image for members.