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: 4 November 1993
 
**************************************************************************
 
  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
     c/o Kathy Vockery
     128 Redwood Drive
     Richmond, KY 40475
       Dues:  $5.00 per year
 
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!        *
****************************************************************************
 
 
 
