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Records Preservation Project

The Indiana Genealogical Society, thanks to the support of Hendricks County Clerk Cindy Spence and the generosity of Danville Clerk-Treasurer Amy Roberts in loaning storage space and work space, is coordinating volunteers and funds to preserve and digitize 50+ boxes of probate records. These boxes are in the basement of the Hendricks County courthouse in Danville, Indiana. The probate records stored in these boxes date from 1824 (when the county was founded) up to 1930 and have never been microfilmed, indexed or otherwise been accessible to the public. They contain valuable information about the lives of some of the county's earliest settlers. When the project is complete, digital files of these records (and an accompanying index) will be given to various organizations, including the Hendricks County Clerk's office and Hendricks County libraries. The digital files and index will also be available for free on the Indiana Genealogical Society's website. Volunteers have already unfolded about 25% of the records for 1824-1900.

Probate Records Database

The Indiana Genealogical Society has added the first few digital files of the Hendricks County probate records to the County Records section of Members Only.

Search the Hendricks County Probate Records database [in progress]

Work is being done in 2 stages: Organizing the records--the records are unfolded and placed in acid-free folders, sheet protectors and storage boxes, to prevent further damage. An index to the folders is being created. Digitizing the records--the records are photographed with a digital camera.

Sample Records (PDF format)

• Check - 1889 (514 KB)
• Condition of Hendricks County Jail - 1846 (632 KB)
• Estate file - 1892 (4.8 MB)
• Inventory of Estate - 1832 (3.64 MB)
• Promissory note (IOU) - 1823 (630 KB)
• Property Tax receipt - 1858 (635 KB)
• Utility Bill - 1912 (337 KB)
• Will - 1830 (1.06 MB)

How You Can Help

1. Volunteer--Volunteers are working on the records at the Danville Town Hall. If you have some time available when the town hall is open (Monday - Friday, 8 am to 4 pm), you can make a difference. For more information, please contact volunteer coordinator Meredith Thompson - webmaster@indgensoc.org
2. Edit--Volunteers are needed to edit the digital files on their computer using software such as Adobe Photoshop Elements. For more information, please contact Shirley Richison Fields--richison@me.com
3. Donate--Money is needed for the purchase of storage supplies, as well as a digital camera and accessories. Donations to the project are tax-deductible.

Indiana Genealogical Society
P.O. Box 10507
Ft. Wayne, IN 46852-0507

Please indicate "Records Preservation Project" on the memo line of your check.

Thank You To Our Donors!

Grants

Thanks to Megan Smolenyak Smolenyak's "Honoring Our Ancestors" website for awarding the Indiana Genealogical Society a $500 grant for this project.

For More Information

If you have any questions about the Records Preservation Project for Hendricks County, please Contact Us.

© 2010 Indiana Genealogical Society