KCPL Genealogy Tips

First American West: Ohio River Valley

2007-02-07T09:59:00.000-05:00

The Filson Historical Society of Kentucky and the University of Chicago Library have recently cooperated in the compilation of an internet resource called The First American West: The Ohio River Valley 1750-1820. The website contains more than 15,000 pages of historical documents and materials concerning Ohio River Valley history. Items include books, biographies, scientific publications, original letters and other records, periodicals, newspapers, ledgers, maps, travel accounts, and many photographs and other images. The information is organized around the four themes of politics, cultural institutions, land, and migration. The resources on this website provide rich and detailed first hand accounts of the exploration and settlement of the region. This website is available without any cost on the Internet at
http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/award99/icuhtml/fawhome.html The website is sponsored with a grant from the Library of Congress and the Ameritech National Digital Library Competition.

Brisitsh Genealogy - GENUKI

2007-01-02T10:20:00.000-05:00

One of the best resources for genealogists with roots in the United Kingdom is GENUKI. The website provides thousands of links to archives, online records, how-to guides and many other resources. The website is divided into 48 categories including: cemeteries, census records, church records, colonization, emigration and immigration, heraldry, historical geography, newspapers, poorhouses, schools, and social life and customs. The site includes information concerning England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales. One of the most useful features is the online gazetteer which allows researchers to find just about any populated village or town in the UK. The site is one of the best pages for beginning genealogy research in the United Kingdom. The site is also very useful for more seasoned researchers. GENUKI can be found at www.genuki.org.uk/big/
Genealogy tips are provided by Dave Schroeder, historian for the Kenton County Public Library. You can contact the library’s local history department by calling (859) 962-4085 or via e-mail at history@kenton.lib.ky.us.

Filson Club

2006-12-15T11:13:00.000-05:00

The Filson Club in Louisville is one of Kentucky historic treasures. Established in May 1884 by ten prominent Louisville residents, it is Kentucky's oldest, privately supported historical society. The society is named for John Filson, an early Kentucky pioneer and author. Among Filson's most popular works is The Discovery, Settlement, and Present State of Kentucke. The Filson Club Library has grown steadily since its founding. Today, the library houses a collection of 50,000 books, a manuscript collection of 1.5 million items and a photographs and prints collection of 50,000 images. The club's website includes exhibits and an online catalog. The majority of the collection focuses on the Commonwealth of Kentucky, the Ohio River Valley and the Upper South. The club maintains a comprehensive website that can be found at http://www.filsonhistorical.org/
Genealogy tips are provided by Dave Schroeder, historian for the Kenton County Public Library. You can contact the library’s local history department by calling (859) 962-4060, ext. 4233 or via e-mail at history@kenton.lib.ky.us.

Virginia Genealogy Research

2006-12-07T15:02:00.000-05:00

Have you traced your Kentucky ancestry back to Virginia? Many Virginians were among the earliest explorers and settlers of Kentucky during the colonial period. One of the most comprehensive collections of Virginia history and genealogy can be found at the Library of Virginia in Richmond. The library was established by the state legislature in 1823. The library’s collection includes books, magazines and journals, maps, government records, military records, newspapers, private family papers, and photographs. The library’s website allows online visitors to search the automated catalog, the archives and manuscripts catalog and many other databases and resources. The website also provides an opportunity to ask questions and to request research assistance. The Library of Virginia website can be found at www.lva.lib.va.us/
Genealogy tips are provided by Dave Schroeder, historian for the Kenton County Public Library. You can contact the library’s local history department by calling (859) 962-4085 or via e-mail at history@kenton.lib.ky.us.

Historic Northern Kentucky Maps

2006-11-30T08:56:00.000-05:00

Historical maps can be excellent resources for local historians and genealogists. Maps allow researches to see what communities were like in the past. The Kenton County Public Library has scanned a number of historic atlases and has made them available online. The following atlases can be found on the library’s website: City Atlas of Covington 1877, Atlas of Boone, Kenton and Campbell Counties 1883, Atlas of Bracken and Pendleton Counties 1884 and the Atlas of Carroll and Gallatin Counties 1883. These atlases can also be called Lake Atlases (because most of them were published by the Lake Co.) or cadastral maps. All of the scans were taken from the original color atlases in the library's collection. To access the online atlases, go to http://www.kenton.lib.ky.us/genealogy.html and click on the digital library link.
Genealogy tips are provided by Dave Schroeder, historian for the Kenton County Public Library. You can contact the library’s local history department by calling (859) 962-4060, ext. 4233 or via e-mail at history@kenton.lib.ky.us.

Virginia Military Dead

2006-11-20T08:56:00.000-05:00

Many Kentuckians have Virginia roots. Kentucky was established from Virginia in 1792 as the 15th State. The website of the Library of Virginia provides an excellent genealogy resource free of charge. The resource is called Virginia Military Dead and contains data on more than 18,208 Virginia men and women who died in the service of their country. Records begin with the early Indian Wars. Other conflicts include the Texas Revolution, the Mexican War, World War I and World War II and the current conflict in Iraq. Genealogists can search by the name of the military personnel, branch of service, residence and by the particular conflict. Researchers will find the names of the deceased, date and cause of death, branch of service and military rank. The sources for each database are listed so further research can be conducted. Nearly 400 official and historical resources were used to compile this database. The Virginia Military Dead database can be found at http://www.lva.lib.va.us/whatwehave/mil/vmd/index.asp#source
Genealogy tips are provided by Dave Schroeder, historian for the Kenton County Public Library. You can contact the library’s local history department by calling (859) 962-4060, ext. 4233 or via e-mail at history@kenton.lib.ky.us.

Scottish Genealogy

2006-11-01T14:57:00.000-05:00

Many Americans can trace heir ancestry to Scotland. The Scottish Archive Network (SCAN) has developed an online index of wills and testaments in Scotland from 1500-1901. The site includes a searchable index of over 520,000 Scottish wills and testaments. The index can be searched for free. If a researcher would like a digital copy of the original document, it can be ordered on the website for about $8. A team of Scottish archivists and conservators and 11 volunteers from the Genealogical Society of Utah (GSU) oversaw the creation of the index and the digital imaging of the records. The website is very user friendly and a great place to research for anyone with Scottish heritage. The websites also provides information on famous Scots and an excellent handwriting translation guide. Wills can be a great resource. They typically provide names and family relationships, residence information, information on wealth, and many other hard to find details. The Scottish Archive Network can be found at http://www.scottishdocuments.com/
Genealogy tips are provided by Dave Schroeder, historian for the Kenton County Public Library. You can contact the library’s local history department by calling (859) 962-4085 or via e-mail at history@kenton.lib.ky.us.

Colonial Ancestors

2006-10-24T07:54:00.000-05:00

Do you have ancestors who lived in Colonial America? If so, the website Colonial Ancestors will be of interest. The website provides information on each of the original 13 Colonies including a large database of online records and links to many other resources. Colonial Ancestors contains an online list of Harvard graduates beginning in 1642, lists of officers who took an oath of allegiance at Valley Forge in 1778 and women in the Revolution. Also included are articles on special research topics and on all the battles of the American Revolution. One of the most interesting features of the website is called This Day in Colonial Times, which lists events during the colonial period on a day by day basis. Many of the resources offered on Colonial Ancestors were contributed by genealogists from around the country. Many have provided e-mail addresses allowing genealogists and researchers to contact one another. Colonial Ancestors can be found at http://colonialancestors.com/
Genealogy tips are provided by Dave Schroeder, historian for the Kenton County Public Library. You can contact the library’s local history department by calling (859) 962-4085 or via e-mail at history@kentonlibrary.org.

Migration Routes

2006-10-19T13:47:00.000-05:00

Americans have always been “a people on the go.” Initially, many early immigrants settled in the East. As eastern cities and rural areas became crowded, people moved west. Others did not find the financial success they were looking for in their initial settlement, so they moved to greener pastures. Despite the reasons for moving, many early Americans followed specific migration routes to newly opened territories. Among the earliest migration routes was through Kentucky and led settlers across the Appalachian Mountains through the Cumber Gap. Another early route brought people down the Ohio River from Pittsburgh to Limestone, Kentucky (present day Maysville). Travelers then made their way on foot to the Bluegrass Region of the state. The AAG International Research website provides a number of maps that show the early migration routes in the United States. The website can be found at www.intl-research.com/migration.htm.

Olive Tree Genealogy

2006-10-10T09:03:00.000-05:00

One of the lesser known, but valuable genealogy databases is Olive Tree Genealogy. The website was established in 1996 and contains over 1,500 free searchable databases. Olive Tree also provides dozens of tutorials on how to locate and use various genealogical resources. These tutorials are very helpful guides for both beginning and advanced genealogists. The website also has sections on particular genealogy topics and ethnic groups. Some of these special sections include information on Huguenots, Native Americans, Canadian genealogy, Palatines, Mennonites and Loyalists. Researchers can find historical overviews and descriptions of these groups and links to many databases and traditional book resources. Olive Tree Genealogy is home to a growing number of online passenger lists and links to many other useful genealogy websites. Olive Tree Genealogy can be found at http://www.olivetreegenealogy.com/
Genealogy tips are provided by Dave Schroeder, historian for the Kenton County Public Library. You can contact the library’s local history department by calling (859) 962-4085, or via e-mail at mailto:history@kenton.lib.ky.us.

Kentucky Highway Markers

2006-10-04T07:47:00.000-05:00

Thousands of motorists drive by historic highway markers in Kentucky everyday. Most however, have little time to stop and read them. These elaborate decorative metal signs mark historic sites throughout the commonwealth. Each sign provides details about the site or the persons to which the sign is dedicated. The Kentucky Historical Society has recently produced a database of these markers on their website. The database can be searched by keyword, county or by subject. The site provides a transcript of the information on the marker and the exact location. This website can be found at http://catalog.kyhistory.org/Genealogy tips are provided by Dave Schroeder, historian for the Kenton County Public Library. You can contact the library’s local history department by calling (859) 962-4060, ext. 4233 or via e-mail at history@kentonlibrary.org.

Kentucky Baptist History

2006-09-25T12:51:00.000-05:00

Baptists have played an important role in the history of the Commonwealth of Kentucky. An interesting webpage is available to those who are interested in subject called the Baptist Homepage. The Baptist Homepage can be found at www.geocities.com/baptist_documents/. This site contains images of original documents, historical entries and biographies of notable Baptists from throughout the United States. In particular, the website contains a number of interesting resources concerning Baptists in Northern Kentucky including several area church histories. The website was established in 2002 and is constantly being updated. This is an excellent site for anyone interested in religious, and in particular, Baptist history.
Genealogy tips are provided by Dave Schroeder, historian for the Kenton County Public Library. You can contact the library’s local history department by calling (859) 962-4085 or via e-mail at history@kentonlibrary.org.

Kentucky Land Records

2006-09-20T12:21:00.000-05:00

Land records are among the most difficult genealogy resources to find and use. The Kentucky Secretary of State has made this search a little easier by placing many land records online. These records can be found at http://www.kysos.com/ADMIN/LANDOFFI/searchable.asp. On this website, researchers will find Virginia Revolutionary War Warrants, Kentucky Jackson Purchase Grants and over 70,000 county patents from 1835 to the present. Many of these records have digital images attached. The site also provides information on county formation in Kentucky, lists of county and city officials and population statistics.
Genealogy tips are provided by Dave Schroeder, historian for the Kenton County Public Library. You can contact the library’s local history department by calling (859) 962-4085 or via e-mail at mailto:history@kenton.lib.ky.us.

Lexington, Kentucky Cemetery

2006-09-01T10:05:00.000-05:00

The city of Lexington is one of the oldest and most historically significant municipalities in Kentucky. Among the most important treasures of the city is the Lexington Cemetery. The cemetery was established in 1849 to replace the many family and church cemeteries in the city. The 170-acre cemetery contains over 64,000 burials. Cemetery officials have placed a database of burials on their website at http://www.lexcem.org/. Just click on the “genealogy” link and begin searching by name. The database provides many personal facts about the deceased and many of the records pre-date civil death records in the Lexington area.
Genealogy tips are provided by Dave Schroeder, historian for the Kenton County Public Library. You can contact the library’s local history department by calling (859) 962-4085 or via e-mail at history@kentonlibrary.org

Melungeons

2006-08-25T12:25:00.000-05:00

Melungeons have become one of the most talked about groups in genealogy circles. Originally, Melungeons were described as dark-complected persons living in the Appalachian areas of West Virginia, North Carolina, Kentucky and neighboring states. Early English settlers encountered these people in the 1600s. The Melungeons spoke broken English and were clearly not English, African or Native American. They refered to themselves as "Portyghee." The Melungeon community maintained a distinct culture, dialect and physcial characteristics. More recent research using DNA technology has put forth the theory that Melungeons are the ancestors of early Spanish and Portuguese explorers who pre-dated the English in North America. A number of recent books have been published about the Melungeons. Many of these are available at your local Library. Several websites can also be consulted, including: www.Melungeons.com

Kentucky Encyclopedia Online

2006-08-15T10:48:00.000-05:00

The Kentucky Encyclopedia was published in 1992 and has quickly become one of the most useful resources for genealogists and local historians. The encyclopedia contains more than 2000 articles on Kentucky people, places and events. Originally published in book form, the encyclopedia can now be found online at http://www.kyenc.org/. The online version offers access to the entire text and several additional features like a map, an historical chronology of the state, and a listing of Kentucky people and places. The Internet version of the encyclopedia was designed by Dr. Scott Wymer and Tom Kmettz and is available free to the public. The print version of the Kentucky Encyclopedia can be found at any branch of the Kenton County Public Library.
Genealogy tips are provided by Dave Schroeder, historian for the Kenton County Public Library. You can contact the library’s local history department by calling (859) 962-4060, ext. 4233 or via e-mail at history@kentonlibrary.org.

Famous Kentuckians

2006-08-10T13:08:00.000-05:00

Are you looking for biographical information on notable Kentuckians? If so, the website Famous Kentuckians at http://www.bigdogdesign.com/famouskys.html will be of great value. The site is a list of links to biographical information on hundreds of Kentuckians including explorers and frontiersmen, political and military leaders, scientists, inventors, physicians, artists and architects, authors and journalists, entertainers and athletes. Many of the entries include detailed biographical accounts and photographs.
Genealogy tips are provided by Dave Schroeder, historian for the Kenton County Public Library. You can contact the library’s local history department by calling (859) 962-4085 or via e-mail at history@kentonlibrary.org.

Civil War Records

2006-08-01T13:14:00.000-05:00

The American Civil War continues to be a topic of great interests for historians and genealogists. One of the most helpful websites for Civil War Genealogy is the Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System (CWSS) at www.itd.nps.gov/cwss. The major focus of the website is the Names Index Project which attempts to provide basic information for 6.3 million soldier records in the National Archives in Washington D.C. Information is provided for both Union and Confederate soldiers. Information can be also found on battles, cemeteries, African American involvement, regiments and Medal of Honor winners.

Catholic History and Genealogy

2006-07-24T10:15:00.000-05:00

An important research tool for Catholic genealogists is the Local Catholic Church & Family History Genealogical Research Guide which can be found on the Internet at
http://home.att.net/~Local_Catholic/. The site provides historical and genealogical information on Catholic and Byzantine Catholic dioceses, parishes, institutions and people from across the globe. The website provides access to thousands of links concerning Catholic history and genealogy in North and South America, Europe, Asia and Australia. Records of Catholic Parishes in the Diocese of Covington can be found on microfilm at the Kenton County Public Library in Covington.
Genealogy tips are provided by Dave Schroeder, historian for the Kenton County Public Library. You can contact the library’s local history department by calling (859) 962-4085 or via e-mail at history@kentonlibrary.org.

Northern Kentucky Newspaper Index

2006-07-14T15:16:00.000-05:00

Newspapers provide a treasure trove of information for genealogists and local historians. The Kenton County Public Library maintains an online newspaper index of over 800,000 entries. The index covers the time period from 1835 to 1932 and 1983-present. The index can be searched by name or subject and will provide you with the name of the paper, the title of the article the date and page. With this information in hand, you can look up the actual articles on microfilm at the library. You can access the Kenton County Public Library Newspaper Index on the Internet at http://www.kentonlibrary.org/genealogy/index.cfm
To contact the Local History Department by phone, call: (859) 962-4085 or by e-mail at: history@kentonlibrary.org

Kentucky Death Records Index

2006-07-10T10:16:00.000-05:00

The Kentucky Death Records Index is one of the most valuable resources for genealogists. You can access the database at Rootsweb.com This database covers 1911-2000 and lists the name of the deceased, his or her age at the time of death, the county of residence, the date of death and the certificate number. Microfilm copies of these death records are available at the Kenton County Public Library in Covington from 1911-1955. To contact the Kenton County Library 5ocal History Department by phone, call: (859) 962-4085 or by e-mail at history@kentonlibrary.org or consult our website at www.kentonlibrary.org/genealogy.html

DAR

2006-06-27T08:44:00.000-05:00

The Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) is a national group of women dedicated to the preservation of American history, the education of children and the promotion of patriotism. One of the major programs of the DAR is genealogical research. There are over 1,300 chapters nationwide including four in Northern Kentucky: Boone County Chapter in Florence, Mary Ingles Chapter in Ft. Thomas, the Rebecca Bryan Boone Chapter in Ft. Thomas and the Simon Kenton Chapter in Erlanger. Information on the DAR's genealogical activities can be found on the society's web page at: www.dar.org. To contact the Kenton County Library Local History Department by phone, call: (859) 962-4085 or by e-mail at history@kentonlibrary.org or consult our website at www.kentonlibrary.org

Kentucky Atlas & Gazetteer

2006-06-19T12:17:00.000-05:00

If you are having difficulty finding a geographical place in Kentucky, try the Kentucky Atlas & Gazetteer at http://ukcc.uky.edu/~atlas/ This website can be searched by a place name, street, road, waterway, etc. Search results can include location, latitude and longitude, elevation, area, population and much more. The Gazetteer is a valuable resource for anyone interested in local history and genealogy. To contact the Kenton County Library Local History Department by phone, call: (859) 962-4085 or by e-mail at mailto:history@kenton.lib.ky.us or consult our website at www.kentonlibrary.org/genealogy.html

Find a Grave

2006-06-12T13:30:00.000-05:00

Are you having trouble locating the grave of a deceased relative? Try the Find A Grave website at www.findagrave.com This website contains listings of over 5.7 million gravesites in the United States. The site includes burial information on the famous and no-so-famous and is compiled and maintained by a dedicated group of volunteers. A similar website also exists to documents the final resting place of politicians. This site is called the Political Graveyard and can be found at www.politicalgraveyard.com.
To contact the Kenton County Library Local History Department by phone, call: (859) 962-4085 or by e-mail at history@kentonlibrary.org or consult our website at www.kentonlibrary.org/genealogy.html

Fraternal Organizations

2006-06-05T07:44:00.000-05:00

Belonging to a fraternal organization was commonplace for many Americans in the 19th and early 20th Centuries. These groups provided opportunities for social interaction, charitable work, business contacts and insurance and other benefits. Groups like the Masons and the Rotary continue today. Other groups which were once very active have ceased to exist. Many times, genealogists will come across papers, insignia, ribbons or medals in their family archives that have direct connections to these groups. Fraternal groups, however, often used acronyms to identify themselves. Finding out what the acronyms meant can be challenging. Local libraries have books that can answer some of these questions. In addition, an online source on acronyms can be found on the web site of the International Black Sheep Society of Genealogists at http://blacksheep.rootsweb.com/acronym.html.
Genealogy tips are provided by Dave Schroeder, historian for the Kenton County Public Library. You can contact the library’s local history department by calling (859) 962-4085 or via e-mail at mailto:history@kenton.lib.ky.us.

PERSI

2006-05-22T10:17:00.000-05:00

Most historical and genealogical societies publish newsletters and journals that provide a wealth of information. The Periodical Source Index (or simply PERSI) is an online source that indexes articles in more than 6,500 history and genealogy publications written in the English and French (Canada) Languages since 1800. Currently, PERSI contains citations to more than 1.6 million articles. PERSI can be found on the HeritageQuest internet site. You can access HeritageQuest from the Kenton County Public Library web page at: www.kentonlibrary.org/genealogy.html Click on the HeritageQuest link and enter the barcode and four digit pin number on your Kenton County Library card (your pin number is the last four digits of your home phone number). To contact the Kenton County Library Local History Department by phone, call: (859) 962-4085 or by e-mail at history@kentonlibrary.org

Veterans Administration Cemetery Records Online

2006-05-15T12:49:00.000-05:00

The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs recently unveiled a website that assists researchers in finding gravesites in 120 national veteran's affairs cemeteries. Records typically provide information on the rank of the veteran, the branch of service, the date of death and burial, date of birth, the cemetery name and the location within the cemetery. Information can also be found on each of the national cemeteries including history, regulations and visitor guidelines. The web page can be found at: www.cem.va.gov/
To contact the Kenton County Library Local History Department by phone, call: (859) 962-4085 or by e-mail at history@kentonlibrary.org or consult our website at www.kentonlibrary.org/genealogy.html

Cyndi's List

2006-05-04T12:36:00.000-05:00

One of the most useful genealogy web sites available to researchers is Cyndi's list. Established by Cyndi Howells, the page is an index to more than 232,000 local history and genealogy web pages. Researchers can find information on an extensive array of topics, links to libraries and local historical societies and individual family trees. Cyndi's List is free and can be found on the internet at: www.cyndislist.com To contact the Kenton County Library Local History Department by phone, call: (859) 962-4085 or by e-mail at history@kentonlibrary.org or consult our website at www.kentonlibrary.org/genealogy.html

Greater Cincinnati Memory Project (GCLC)

2006-04-24T12:13:00.000-05:00

Greater Cincinnati libraries and archives house thousands of historic photographs and images. In an effort to make these images more accessible to the public, the Greater Cincinnati Library Consortium has compiled a database called the Greater Cincinnati Memory Project. The Memory Project website contains digital images of pre-1940 photographs from the collections of seven Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky libraries and archives. The website internet address is: http://memory.gclc-lib.org/. To contact the Kenton County Library Local History Department by phone, call: 859 962-4085 or by e-mail at history@kentonlibrary.org or consult their website at http://www.kentonlibrary.org/genealogy/

Linden Grove Cemetery Records Online

2006-04-18T07:31:00.000-05:00

Linden Grove Cemetery in Covington is one of the historic treasures of Northern Kentucky. Established in the years preceding the Civil War, the cemetery is today operated by a board of directors with representatives from the City of Covington and Kenton County. The cemetery is the final resting place of many Civil War veterans, former United States Secretary of the Treasury John G. Carlisle and many of the founding citizens of Northern Kentucky. The Kenton County Public Library has digitized over 34,000 Linden Grove Cemetery records and has made them accessible to the public on the library’s web page. To view these records, consult the KCPL geNKY database page at the address below. To contact the Kenton County Library Kentucky History Department by phone, call: 859 962-4085 or by e-mail at history@kentonlibrary.org or consult our website at www.kentonlibrary.org/genealogy.html

United States GenWeb Project

2006-04-07T13:45:00.000-05:00

The US GenWeb Project is one of the most interesting genealogy internet sites available to family researchers. The US GenWeb Project, established in 1996, provides informative pages on each county and state across the country. These individual sites offer researchers a wealth of information including indexes, abstracts and digital images of thousands of records. The site is volunteer operated and is fully committed to free access for everyone. To view the US GenWeb site, use the following internet address: http://www.usgenweb.org/
To contact the Kenton County Library Local History Department by phone, call: 859 962-4085 or by e-mail at history@kentonlibrary.org or consult their website at www.kentonlibrary.org/genealogy/

Kentucky Historical Society

2006-04-03T10:07:00.000-05:00

The Kentucky Historical Society (1836) has the largest collection of historical and genealogical records in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. In fact, the society’s library provides services to over 30,000 genealogists each year. The library contains over 90,000 volumes and 12,000 reels of microfilm. The Kentucky Historical Society is housed in the Kentucky History Center which was dedicated in 1999 in the City of Frankfort. For more information on the society call (502) 564-1792. or consult the society’s website at: http://www.history.ky.gov/ To contact the Kenton County Library Local History Department by phone, call: 859 962-4060 ext. 4233 or by e-mail at history@kentonlibrary.org or consult their website at www.kentonlibrary.org/genealogy/

Ellis Island

2006-03-20T11:08:00.001-05:00

The fabled entry port of Ellis Island in New York City maintains records on 22 million immigrants who came to the United States between 1892 and 1924. Nearly forty percent of all Americans can trace their ancestry back to at least one Ellis Island immigrant. The records are available online at http://www.ellisisland.org/ The website is easy to use and provides interesting information on each immigrant. Records include the name of the passenger, the port of departure, the age of the passenger, the date of arrival and the ethnicity of the passenger. Researchers can also view digital images of many of the actual passenger lists. To contact the Kenton County Library Local History Department by phone, call: 859 962-4085 or by e-mail at history@kentonlibrary.org the website is www.kentonlibrary.org/genealogy.html

Atlases and Maps

2006-03-08T14:07:00.000-05:00

Maps are an often overlooked resource for genealogists. At the turn of the last century, maps were an important tool in determining property rights and in establishing tax and insurance rates. Such maps can identify property lines and establish ownership. For example, the 1883 Lake Atlas of Boone,Kenton and Campbell Counties locates rural farms and homes and lists the owners of these buildings. Covington's's Atlas of 1877 also lists the names of property owners. Insurance maps can also be very valuable to genealogists. These maps include drawings of the footprints of every building in the city. Insurance maps for portions of the Northern Kentucky area are available for the years 1886, 1894 and 1909. All of the atlases and maps listed above are available at the Kenton County Library in Covington. Several of the same maps are also available as digital images on the library's web site at: www.kentonlibrary.org/genealogy/

Family Files

2006-02-24T14:52:00.000-05:00

Many beginning genealogists are surprised to find that distant relatives are also tracing the same family line. To assist genealogists in finding previous research on their families, many libraries have compiled family files. These files contain genealogical information on area families that have been donated to the library or researched by library staff. Libraries throughout the country maintain these types of files. The Kenton County Public Library maintains files on several thousand Northern Kentucky families. An index to these files can be found on on the library's geNKY database page at www.kentonlibrary.org/genealogy/ Donations of familiy group sheets and other genealogical materials for these files can be sent to: Kenton County Public Library, Kentucky History Department, 502 Scott Blvd., Covington, KY 41011.

Church Records

2006-02-23T09:33:00.000-05:00

Church records are important resources for genealogists across the country. Records of membership, baptisms, marriages and deaths often pre-date records kept by county or state government. With this in mind, the Kenton County Public Library in Covington has amassed a collection of early Catholic and Protestant church records for the use of researchers. At present the library maintains the early records of 40 area Catholic parishes and 45 area Protestant congregations. A number of indexes to these records can also be found in the library's book collection and on the library's web site. (Try the genky databases for church indexes).