Our Genealogy department is currently closed.
Appointments for one-on-one assistance are available by request.
Please contact Chris Hough at chough@pcpls.org or 219-462-0524 option 5 for an appointment.
Genealogy
Discover Your History At The Larry J. Clark Genealogy Center
The Larry J. Clark Genealogy Center (Valparaiso Public Library) houses a variety of genealogical resources which include: printed material, yearbooks, microfilm, indexes, databases and online resources. In an effort to preserve documents of enduring historical value, the center collects, maintains, and makes accessible many official court records from Porter County. The Larry J. Clark Genealogy Center is open during regular library hours. Please visit the library program calendar for genealogy classes offered regularly throughout the year.
Discover Your History At The Larry J. Clark Genealogy Center
The Larry J. Clark Genealogy Center (Valparaiso Public Library) houses a variety of genealogical resources which include: printed material, yearbooks, microfilm, indexes, databases and online resources. In an effort to preserve documents of enduring historical value, the center collects, maintains, and makes accessible many official court records from Porter County. The Larry J. Clark Genealogy Center is open during regular library hours. Please visit the library program calendar for genealogy classes offered regularly throughout the year.
Research Your Family History
Explore Our Genealogy Resources
Databases
NOTE: Where you see the library icon (), note that you must be on library premises to use this resource.
Search newspapers for historical and genealogical information.
Primary sources devoted specifically to African American family history, including census records, vital records, freedman and slave records, church records, legal records, and more.
For genealogists of all experience levels; includes several hundred online databases.
Search over 10 billion genealogical records and discover your family history.
Fold3 Library Edition provides convenient access to US military records, including the stories, photos, and personal documents of the men and women who served. Use this link if you are outside the library.
An essential collection of genealogical and historical sources—with coverage dating back to the 1700s.
The Internet Archives hosts some of Porter County Public Library System’s genealogical digital content. View select yearbook collections from Porter County, Indiana, various contracts, books, and other items of historical significance. New content will be added regularly.
Porter County Indexes
Big Four Telephone Company 1915-1935
This book contains minutes of meetings from the Big Four Telephone Company. The first meeting was held December 30, 1915. The Board’s elected officials probably lived in or around Boone Grove, Indiana between 1915-1935. People listed in the book include Board members, line workers, or fee collectors. To view the original scanned images of these documents, please visit the PCPLS page on the Internet Archive.
Coroner’s inquests reports from 1871-1912.
Divorce cases filed in Porter County, Indiana, 1914-1963.
1937 Liberty Township & 1943 Morgan Township.
Filed in Porter County 1914-1963.
Insanity Cases from Porter County, Indiana 1854-1911
This book explains what actions were taken by the Liberty Township Advisory Board between 1907 and 1919. The minutes do mention board members by name. To view the original scanned images of these documents, please visit the PCPLS page on the Internet Archive.
Liberty Township School Enumerations 1919
This book contains school enumerations from 1919 for Liberty Township, Porter County, Indiana. To view the original scanned images of these documents, please visit the PCPLS page on the Internet Archive.
Filed in Porter County from 1836-1976
These are selective miscellaneous licenses filed with the Porter County, Indiana Clerk’s Office from 1838 to 1911. Licenses include dentistry, hunters, grocery, fishermen, junk dealers, physicians, taverns, vending and sire. To view the original scanned images of these documents, please visit the PCPLS page on the Internet Archive.
Military service index honor roll. Men who filed with the Porter County courthouse during World War II.
Men in service index, who filed with the courthouse during World War II.
Index of names from the article, “With the Service,” from the Vidette Messenger.
1920-1921 Milk Producers Association in Porter County.
Porter County, Indiana newspaper obituaries from 1913 – present.
Index to the 1930 and 1940 U.S. Census of Porter County, Indiana.
Herald newspaper from 1933-1937.
Probate cases filed between 1914 and 1963.
Partial Porter County janitors, nurses, and clerk contracts.
Contracts signed by teachers from the Porter County school system from 1899-1931.
Historical Resources
Browse the ACPL Genealogy Center’s website and discover records from around the world.
Bureau of Land Management – GLO
Bureau of Land Management, General Land Office, Records Automation
Comprehensive, categorized & cross-referenced list of genealogical sites.
The Daughters of the American Revolution.
Death records, certificates, notices & registers; obituaries, probates, & cemetery/burial records.
Digital Public Library of America
Bringing together the riches of America’s libraries, archives, and museums from the written word, to works of art and culture, to records of America’s heritage, to the efforts and data of science.
Connects families across generations.
Find graves of ancestors & create virtual memorials.
Partnership of academic & research institutions, offering a collection of millions of titles digitized from libraries around the world.
Indiana’s history and culture found in digitized books, manuscripts, photographs, newspapers, maps, and other media.
The Genealogy Collection is one of the largest collections of family history information in the Midwest.
An index to the newspapers published all over the world.
Porter County Museum of History
The Porter County Museum features permanent as well as temporary exhibits relating to Porter County. Visit the webpage to browse the archives, upcoming events, and projects.
Michigan research guides, indexes, and more.
Links to state genealogy websites & gateways to counties.
Historical information about the city of Valparaiso.
Valparaiso University Archives & Special Collections
Several collections of interest to genealogists; includes online yearbooks.
Request Genealogy Materials
Are you looking for an obituary? We can email you a free digital copy. If you would like to purchase a hard copy of an obituary or other document, please use one of the forms below. If needed, click here to contact the library.
Genealogy Classes at Valparaiso Public Library
Valparaiso Public Library holds genealogy classes! Click the button below to view our events calendar, and search ‘Genealogy Event Types’ to see if there is an event coming up at one of our branches close by.
Visit the Center
Address
103 Jefferson Street Valparaiso IN 46383
Have a Special Genealogy Request?
The PCPLS staff is happy to help with your genealogy project anyway we can!