The Love and Crime of Clinton Thomas Hovious

David Lemon, one of our volunteers shared a very interesting story he uncovered while researching his family. His discovery is detailed below:

Clinton Thomas Hovious – Michigan City, IN Prison

“If all genealogists research their family long enough they usually find some interesting characters in their family tree. I suppose Clinton Hovious would probably be considered a ‘black sheep’ in most families. I consider him a spicy addition to our otherwise mostly boring family.

State Library Resources in Danger

The Indiana legislature has recently introduced a state budget bill that proposes massive cuts to the State Library’s Budget. This 24% cut would entail the dismantling of the Genealogy department. The State Library’s genealogy collection is one of the largest in the Midwest. These resources are relevant to many genealogists working in Monroe County.

The proposed cuts also include INSPIRE, an essential resource for all Hoosiers. This program provides access to databases with full-text articles, many not found anywhere else.

For more information and to find out how you can voice your opinion, please read this post from the Indiana Genealogical Society.

Spend MLK Day with the Cemetery Committee

Join the Cemetery Committee on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day (Monday, January 19th) from 9:30am-3pm at the Monroe County History Center.

Learn how to use census records, burial records, and other resources to identify where members of the Bloomington African American community are buried in our local cemeteries.

Snacks and lunch will be provided.

Welcome to our Blog

Welcome to the Monroe County History Center Research Library blog. For a couple of years we have sent bi-monthly newsletters to our patrons. This blog is an attempt to update that practice. It will allow us to post more regularly and flexibly, ensuring that news from the library will reach the public in a more timely manner.

We will offer updates from the research library, historical articles written by volunteers and staff, and news on events and exhibits hosted at the history center. For more information on the Monroe County History Center please visit our website.