Heritage Center at the Lebanon Public Library, Lebanon, Indiana: Local History & Genealogy

Welcome to the Heritage Center

The Heritage Center is located on the second floor of the Lebanon Public Library on the west side of the original Carnegie building. The collection consists of multi-media formats and special collections that include Indiana Lincoln and Indiana Authors. The core of the collection is Boone County History and material regarding the surrounding counties of Clinton, Hamilton, Hendricks and Montgomery.

Ralph W. Stark
1901 — 1984

The local History room at the Lebanon Public Library became what is now known as the "Ralph W. Stark Heritage Room" in 1976. Mr. Stark was a Lebanon businessman for 34 years, an active conservationist and an archivist. He spent many years researching the history of Boone County which earned him the title of honorary historian of Boone County.

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What's New in the Heritage Center

Boone County Genealogical Society Meeting

The Boone County Genealogical Society will meet at the Hussey-Mayfield Memorial Public Library in Zionsville on September 28, 2010 at 6:30 p.m. "The Society of Indiana Pioneers" will be the topic of discussion and the benefits of joining a lineage society. The public is welcome to attend.

Heritage Center Highlights:

The Golden Age of Indianapolis Theaters book cover

They Came in Ships: A Guide to Finding Your Immigrant Ancestor's Arrival Record by John P. Colletta

The Heritage Center is delighted to present They Came in Ships: A Guide to Finding Your Immigrant Ancestor's Arrival Record by John P. Colletta. This newly released 3rd revised edition provides in-depth information for researchers trying to locate the arrival records of their ancestors. Information is included about port pecularities, types of record keeping, boat and ship specifications, and other fascinating bits of history.

The Golden Age of Indianapolis Theaters by Howard Caldwell

The Heritage Center is delighted to present The Golden Age of Indianapolis Theaters by Howard Caldwell. Caldwell examines the rich history of theater in Indianapolis. The famous shows Downtown are presented with lively anecdotes and photographs. Celebrate the history of arts in Indianapolis!

Stop by the Heritage Center and take a look at our other new materials!

Updated and New Indexes

Be sure to visit the Indexes page for our newest online indexes! We update the Lebanon Reporter obituary index quarterly with both current year and historical entries! In our latest update, we added the first quarter of 2010 (through March). The full index now includes all obituaries published in the Lebanon Reporter from 1950-March 2010.

The Ralph W. Stark Heritage Center Welcomes Genealogists

We are delighted to welcome family history researchers to the Heritage Center. The following is a list of suggestions for anyone planning a research trip to the Lebanon Public Library:

Decide the branch of the family tree to research.
Bring copies of your research and leave originals at home.
Check for links to other record repositories in the county.
Search the online catalog for books and materials specific to your research.
Call the library (765-482-3460) and ask for Heritage Center Staff. They will provide information about other places you may plan to visit while in the area such as cemeteries, genealogical and historical societies, hotels and restaurants.
Visit LPL's website for online information about hours of operation.

Contacting the library prior to your arrival will enable staff to gather vital records pertaining to your research that may save time and ensure a fun, rewarding and successful trip. Contact: .

Cemetery Restoration

Members of the Boone County Genealogical Society are currently restoring “The Old Cemetery” in Thorntown, IN. Revolutionary War and many Civil War Veterans are buried in this historic cemetery. There is much preservation work to be done. Please join us!
For more information, please contact or , Boone County Cemetery Coordinator and Cemetery Restoration Chairman for the BCGS.

Heritage Center Resources

The Heritage Center resources include: local atlases, maps, and plat books, building and house histories for Boone County, Lebanon City Directories (1893-2004), Indiana histories and reference materials, local and school newspapers, oral histories, published family histories, social club scrapbooks, telephone directories (1916-2007), yearbooks, and an extensive General File.