KHCPL Closed this Monday

All KHCPL locations will be closed on Monday, January 1, for the New Years holiday.  Be sure to visit the Genealogy and Local History Department and the rest of the library online at www.KHCPL.org during this time.

KHCPL Closed Sunday & Monday

All KHCPL locations will be closed on Sunday and Monday, December 24 and 25, for the Christmas holiday.  Be sure to visit the Genealogy and Local History Department and the rest of the library online at www.KHCPL.org during this time.

Genealogy Basics Class

Want to get started on researching your family's ancestry?  Now is the time.  Call 765.626.0839 beginning Dec. 20 to register for the free Genealogy Basics Class, scheduled for 9:15 to 11:30 a.m. on Saturday, Jan. 20 at KHCPL Main.  Feel free to bring your laptop.  Handouts will be provided.

December Display Case

"A Genealogist's Christmas Wish List" 
Do you have a Christmas Wish List?  Most people do.  If you could ask all the delightful Santas in the Display Case for what you want for Christmas, what would it be?  (I would ask for a reconstruction of the 1890 US Census)  Come in and see the Santas in the Genealogy & Local History Display Case and view the list of additional Genealogy wishes.  The display was designed by Amy Russell with Santas from her collection and Janice Blanchard's collection.
Merry Christmas to all from the Genealogy & Local History Department.

KHCPL Closed This Friday

All KHCPL locations will be closed on Friday, December 8, for Staff Development Day.  Be sure to visit the Genealogy and Local History Department and the rest of the library online at www.KHCPL.org during this time.

"A Date Which Will Live in Infamy"

Today is December 7th.  National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day is observed annually in the United states to remember and honor the 2,403 Americans who were killed in the surprise attack which brought us into World War II.  It has been 76 years since that fateful day.  We will always remember.

Howard County Genealogical Society Meeting

The Howard County Genealogical Society will meet Monday, December 11, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. in Meeting Rooms A & B at the Main Library.  The program will be our annual "Show & Tell" with members explaining the new and fascinating info they have discovered this year as they researched their ancestors.  The public is welcome and for more information call 765-626-0839.  Visit the Genealogy and Local History Department online at www.KHCPL.org.

November Display Case

Be sure to stop by the Genealogy & Local History Department to see the impressive display case created by Ron Tetrick.  The topic:  World War I: The War to End All Wars - Centennial 1917-2017.

History of KHCPL During WWI

Recently, the Howard County Historical Society held their Annual Meeting.  The focus was Howard County and World War I.  This is the 100^th anniversary of the United States’ entry into that war.  One of the speakers during the evening was Amy Russell, Head of the Genealogy & Local History Department.  Amy enlightened us on the role of the Kokomo Public Library (now KHCPL) during the war.  KPL played a part in contributing to the war effort.  According to Books Along the Wildcat, by Leonard Felkey, newly appointed head librarian Dana Sollenberger barely had time to step into her position, in January 1917, when the American Library Association declared a $1,000,000 fund drive for books for our fighting men and women.  Kokomo’s assigned allotment was $850.  By October 1917, $821 and 2,200 books had been collected.  However, before his October figure, Sollenberger had sent several hundred books to Fort Harrison in Indianapolis and Camp Beauregard in Louisiana.  Months later, the ALA called for more books.  The Kokomo Tribune carried a “Give A Book” coupon.  When the coupon was sent to the Kokomo Public Library, someone from the library would go to the donor’s home to pick up the books.  A bookplate was affixed inside the front cover, with a picture of an armed doughboy carrying a stack of books.  The bookplate said: “War Service Library: Books are provided by the people of the United States through the American Library Association for the use of the soldiers and sailors.”  The book collections did not stop when World War I ended, the people of Kokomo contributed thousands more for the occupation forces.

National World War I Memorial

World War I does not have a Memorial in Washington, DC - until today.  The Ceremonial groundbreaking for the National World War I Memorial will be held today at 11:00 a.m. at Pershing Park, one block east of the White House on Pennsylvania Avenue.  The dedication for the completed Memorial is expected to be on Veterans Day, November 11, 2018, the date that marks the 100th anniversary of the end of World War I.  The design was chosen by the World War I Centennial Commission and is named "Weight of Sacrifice".  The design concept was submitted by Joseph Weishaar, an architect currently located in Chicago and collaborating artist, veteran sculptor Sabin Howard of New York.

Howard County Genealogical Society Meeting

The Howard County Genealogical Society will meet Monday, November 13, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. in Meeting Rooms A & B at the Main Library.  The speaker will be local veteran, Fred Odiet who will share some "Veteran's Memories".
The public is welcome and for more information call 765-626-0839.  Visit the Genealogy and Local History Department online at www.KHCPL.org.

The Howard County Memory Project

The Genealogy & Local History Department of KHCPL established the Howard County Memory Project in 2002, and is continually upgrading and adding to the site.  At this site, you will find databases and digitized images for genealogy and local history research.  The mission is to preserve fragile materials, improve access to special collections, and make local resources available to remote users.  The library will continue to add items that celebrate the people and culture of Howard County, Indiana.  Visit the Howard County Memory Project at www.HowardCountyMemory.net .  You will be glad you did.

Research Trip to Fort Wayne

An all day research trip to The Genealogy Center at the Allen County Public Library will be offered on Saturday, November 4, 2017.  Participants will car-pool and leave the parking lot behind the Main Library at 7:30 a.m., arriving back in Kokomo at approximately 7:30 p.m.  The group will stop at a restaurant in Fort Wayne before returning to Kokomo.  Call to register at 765-626-0839.  A transportation fee may be assessed for the trip.  Join us for a fun day of research.

October is Family History Month

October is Family History Month and the display case just outside the Genealogy & Local History Department door is again filled with a fantastic display.  The display highlights pictures, information, forms and books that will give you ideas when working on your family history.  Janice Blanchard created the display.

We consider genealogy as "Life in the Past Lane".

Circulating Books from the Genealogy Department

Great news, GLHD now has a circulating collection.  A few of our books are now available for checking out on your KHCPL library card.  At this time, there are over 100 titles available which are mainly "How To" books.  Use this circulating collection to develop your research skills and family history knowledge.  Come into the department to browse these books on the shelves located near the reference desk.

Silent Auction

You have just one week left of the Genealogy and Local History Department's annual "Silent Auction" of duplicate or superseded genealogical and historical materials.  See a list of what is available on the website at www.khcpl.org or view the items in the department until Oct 31.  You can enter your bid by filling out the form on the website or in person at the library.  We may have the treasure that you have been looking for. The bidding ends October 31 and you will be notified if your bid was the winning bid.  This event is cosponsored by the Howard County Genealogical Society.  For more information call the department at 765-626-0839.

Volunteer of the Year

Vivian White was named Kokomo-Howard County Public Library Volunteer of the Year for 2017.  Vivian has volunteered in the Genealogy and Local History Department since 1994 accomplishing various assignments.  Her latest task has been to transcribe court record indexes from the microfilm.  These records are hand written from the 1870's and 1880's.  The handwriting can be extremely difficult to read.  Vivian has diligently and cheerfully worked her way through several rolls of microfilm over the years.  Vivian was recognized as the Volunteer of the Year at the KHCPL Volunteer Banquet on September 22.  Congrats to Vivian.

Night Owls 2017

"On Friday the 13th, just before Halloween this year, 18 people were locked in the library and then at midnight. . . "  This sounds like the start of a Stephen King thriller, but it is not.  Recently the Genealogy and Local History Department hosted its 41st Night Owls, our after hours research evening.  Twice each year participants are invited to do genealogy research in the closed Kokomo-Howard Public Library from 5:30 until midnight, enjoying a buffet dinner, door prizes and access to all of the genealogy collection and databases.  Join us in April 2018 for the next Night Owls.  

Interest, Passion, Obsession

It has been said of Genealogy that you have: first an Interest, then a Passion, and then an Obsession.  The Genealogy & Local History Department agrees with this description.  We plan to jump start our Blog and we hope that you will all come along for the ride.  Look for frequent posts because there is a lot going on at GLHD as well as with the Howard County Genealogical Society.  We hope you have the Interest so that we can excite your Passion and feed your Obsession.