Research Library

JudyHelpsResearchers The lower level of our museum houses the Mary Brumbaugh Library, our extensive Marshall County genealogy and historical research library. The archives are a gold mine of information about the people who have lived in Marshall County since before it became a county in 1836.

We have two research specialists on staff and our resources include:

Over 700,000 entries in our Marshall County surname index file and growing
Microfilmed Marshall County newspapers dating back to 1844, most indexed for vital stats
All census records for Marshall County, 1840-1930 (indexed)
Manuscripts and published family histories
Hundreds of vertical family files by surname
Birth, death & marriage indexes (for a limited time period)
Cemetery inscriptions (indexed)
County plat maps (indexed)
Original documents on file, including estate papers, divorces, guardianships, some naturalizations & a few published adoptions
History files by topic or event (many are indexed)
Photograph files (indexed)
Sanborn fire maps for Argos, Bremen, Bourbon, Culver, Plymouth, circa 1886-1947
County plat maps, 1872-present (early maps indexed)
Many original historic documents
Abstracts

Note: Our focus is on Marshall County history; information on surrounding counties is very limited and not easily researched.

Research Requests -----
The professional staff of the museum offers a research service for those who cannot come to the museum to use the library/archives resources. (See New Fee Schedule) Both genealogical and historical searches require a signed Research Request Form before research can begin. Research Request Form printout (.pdf file) (may be duplicated if searching for more than one ancestor).

A one-half hour preliminary search is provided free of charge to make certain further research is merited. To aid research, it is important that you provide all known background information -- who, what, when, where. For family research, names of known relatives, dates, where they lived (towns and townships), husband's name if inquiring about a female, maiden names of women, etc...the more information you provide the less time it will take to find the information you need.

Use separate forms if searching for more than one family. For historical research, we will need as much information as possible to narrow the scope of the search. The staff can not write research papers, but we will help you find documentation for historical events and/or places within Marshall Co.

On-site Research Services
Help is available at no charge to those using the museum library in person. Hours are 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m., Tuesday thru Saturday. Some weekdays, when staff is limited, the library is closed 11:30 - 12:30 for lunch. Call to be certain the library will be staffed before making travel plans.

Judy McCollough, Archive Manager
Karin Rettinger, Research Library Specialist

Fee Schedule
The museum library has implemented a new set of charges for research services.

$10/hour - Genealogical or Historical Research fee
+ cost of copies & mailing

$5.00 fee for E-mail & Phone Photocopy Requests with No Research
+ cost of copies & mailing

Cost of Copies
Black & White Copier
8 1/2 X 11   $ .10
8 1/2 X 14   $ .35
11 X 17       $ .50
2-sided       add $ .10
microfilm    $ .25

Color Photograph Copier
8 1/2 X 11 28# paper        $2.00
8 1/2 X 11 80# paper        $3.00
8 1/2 X 14  plain paper      $3.00
11 X 17      plain paper      $5.00

Friendly Reminder: People visiting the museum to do their own research still pay only for the cost of copies they make while in the library.

Last updated August 9, 2007