History for the Future

Research Library

Hours of Operation

The research library is open by appointment only. Our normal days of operation are Tuesday and Thursday, but we try to be flexible to accommodate your needs.

When contacting us for an appoinment, please let us know what you are researching and/or what you would like to look at. Knowing in advance helps us prepare for your visit and will make more valuable use of your research time.

Please email research@jchshc.org to arrange an appoinment.

Types of Materials Available in Research Library

We have a variety of materials focused on the City of Madison and Jefferson County available in the Research Library. Lower on this page there is a link to the indexes we have been able to prepare for some of our files. Looking through the indexes may help you zero in on documents you would like to see.

Here is a partial list of what we have.

  • Genealogical files organized by family name.
  • Over 20,000 mostly historic pictures of people, buildings, and events.
  • Information and pictures about the Jefferson Proving Ground.
  • Old public records such as tax books.
  • City directories from the 1900's.
  • Plat maps and Sanborn maps from the 1800's and early 1900's.

Schedule of Fees for In-person use of Research Library

Use of the library - $15.00 for non-members, free for members
Photocopies - $.50 per page for non-members, $.25 per page for members
Use of own camera / scanner - $5.00 flat fee for non-members, free for members
For digital images, see the price list below.

Fees for Research, Scanning, Images, Etc.

Please note that we will not undertake any research requests without a prior, clear understanding and acknowledgement of the fees.

Research, such as genealogical research, the minimum fee for up to the first hour is $25.00 for non-members and $15.00 for members
Research for each hour or partial hour after the first - $25.00 for non-members and $15.00 for members
Photocopies - $.50 per page for non-members and $.25 for members
Postage and handling of photocopies - $7.50 for non-members and $5.00 for members
Scanning and digital transmission of documents - $7.50 for up to 20 pages for non-members and $5.00 for up to 20 pages for members
Digital images of photos or artwork for personal use - $7.50 per image for non-members and $5.00 per image for members
Digital images of photos or artwork for commercial use - $25.00 per image for non-members and $12.50 per image for members

Prices are subject to change.

JCHS Indexes

We have been able to index many of the collections held in the research library. These are available for your review in pdf and/or Word or Excel formats so they are searchable.

Indexes

Other Resources

Indiana Magazine of History

This is a scholarly, quarterly journal published continuously since 1905. It has a searchable, online index.

I.M.H

Indiana State Library

The Indiana State Library has an extensive collection of materials about Indiana history.

I.S.L

Indiana Historical Society

The Indiana Historical Society in Indanapolis has an extensive research library with much information online.

I.H.S

Jefferson County Local History
River to Rail

This is an article about Madison in the age of steam on the web site of the Jefferson County Public Library.

J.C.P.L.

Pay for Service

Scanning/
Digital Delivery

The fee for scanning and digital delivery of documents is $7.50 for non-members and $5.00 for members for up to 20 pages.

Scanning & Digital Delivery 
for Non-members

Select number of pages

Scanning & Digital 
Delivery for Members

Select number of pages

Research / Hourly Basis

The minimum research fee is $25.00 for non-members and $15.00 for members for up to the first hour. The fee for each hour or partial hour after the first is $25.00 for non-members and $15.00 for members.

Research Fee for Non-Mem​bers

Select number of hours

Research Fee for Members

Select number of hours

Photo Copies

Photo copies are $.50 per page for non-members and $.25 per page for members. Postage and handling is $7.50 for non-members and $5.00 for members.

Photo Copy Fees