Historical Society Genealogy Library Gets GrantThe volunteers at the Kosciusko County Historical Society genealogy library have received some money to help their mission.
Connie Black, genealogy library chair and head researcher, applied for a grant through the Indiana Genealogy Society that is offered annually up to $1,000.
She got the grant in full, and that money will be used to purchase microfilm reels of old Kosciusko County newspapers as they try to find more information about women and children that is missing from the 1890 census.
Most of the census’ population schedules were badly damaged by a fire in the Commerce Department Building in January 1921. What didn’t get burned, got wet.
The ladies are working to try to find information about women and children during that time period by sifting through old newspaper articles, obituaries, marriage announcements, birthday celebrations and the like.
The few records that did survive from the 1890 census fire only accounts for about 5% of the people who lived in Kosciusko County, and most of those are just a man’s surname and whether he was a farmer.
The last time the historical society received a $1,000 grant was in 2016, which they used to purchase 17 books of the history of schools in Kosciusko County. They did that to provide free copies to local libraries and school corporations.
The work is never really done when it comes to documenting history, especially in a digital age.
Another project the ladies have been working on is the obituary project, where they go out to local cemeteries using the county’s Beacon GIS system, take photos of the tombstones, then sift through old newspaper obituaries and link the obituary to the deceased.
Anyone who is interested in learning more about projects the genealogy library is working on, including volunteering time, can email librarian@kosciuskohistory.com or call 574-269-1078.
