Genealogy Research & Services

APLS offers Genealogy services through in-house collections, online searchable databases, which can be accessed with your Evergreen Library Card, and on-premises searchable databases.

Reference Service

Staff will answer queries sent to us through the mail, email, or by phone call as time allows. For Genealogy requests, please specify names and time periods. Please provide the following information:

  • Your name, address, and telephone number 
  • Your query including the name(s), time period, and type of information requested 

reference@apls.lib.in.us

260-724-2605 (Decatur) & 260-368-7270 (Geneva)

Genealogy Collections

APLS genealogy collections house many indexes, directories, and historical records to aid in your family research in both Decatur and Geneva. The Decatur location focuses on family histories, directories, and periodicals from the northern part of the Adams County. Our Geneva location hosts many family histories and records from the southern part of Adams County. Reference librarians at both locations are available to help you find what you need to get started!

Vital Records

The Adams County Health Department stores birth and death certificates, the indexes to these records are housed at APLS-Decatur. Birth records are not open to the public.  You may see an individual record if you know the name and date, but the public may not search the birth record books. Death records are open to the public and individuals may search them.

Marriage records from 1836 to the present are at the Adams County Clerk's Office in the Court House. Indexes to marriage records 1845-1920 are at the Adams Public Library-Decatur. Estate records, and the estate index are also in the Clerk's Office.

Resource Links

Below is a list of links we have found to be useful. You may access these links without your APLS Library Card.

Allen County Public Genealogy Center

The Genealogy Center is a North American collection. You will find books and microfilmed records for all 50 U.S. states, Canada and some material for Mexico.
Allen County Public Genealogy Center

Archives

Quickly and simply search more than 4.3 billion photos, newspapers, and vital records to get information about your ancestors.
Archives

Census Finder

Directory of census records.
Census Finder

Cyndi's List

A comprehensive, categorized & cross-referenced list of links that point you to genealogical research sites online.
Cyndi's List

FamilySearch

Latter Day Saints Genealogy website
FamilySearch

Find Your Family Tree

Build your family tree, access to over 300,000 genealogy records
Find Your Family Tree

Genealogy Inc.

Links to state & county government, state & county genealogy links. It also explains the Family History and genealogical records available for the State and each county within that State.
Genealogy Inc.

Genealogy Links

Links to genealogy resources, categorized by state.
Genealogy Links

Genealogy Reference Desk

Links to genealogy resources, tips, vital records links.
Genealogy Reference Desk

IARA Digital Archives

Access to public record archives.
IARA Digital Archives

Indiana Genealogical Society

username: adamspls password: 46733-1676 Remember to include the dash/hyphen in the password, or else it won't work.
Indiana Genealogical Society

RootsWeb

Our staff continues to work hard to provide the best tools and resources for your genealogy research.
RootsWeb

World Genealogy

Archives.com World Genealogy Project.
World Genealogy

WWW Virtual Library - American Indians

Index of Native American Genealogy Resources on the Internet.
WWW Virtual Library - American Indians

Online Collections

These collections are either owned by APLS or can be used with an APLS Library Card.

Adams County Public Records
Adams County Public Records

Statistical reports by township from the Adams County Assessor’s Office

Adams News Index
Adams News Index

An index (2000- ) of the Decatur Daily Democrat local news and local obituaries (1860- ).

Ancestry Library Edition
Ancestry Library Edition

Access to census records, vital records, city directories, military records, immigration records, and more. Free access to these resources is limited to searching within the library’s networks.

Fold3 - Historical Military Records
Fold3 - Historical Military Records

Explore Fold3 Library Edition and gain access to records that include the stories, photos, and personal documents of the men and women who served in the military.

HeritageQuest
HeritageQuest

American genealogical primary sources, local and family histories, and finding aids.