PLEASE NOTE: When the building reopens to the public on July 7, the William Henry Smith Memorial Library will continue to be available for researchers. The reference room will be available to walk-in visitors during regular hours (subject to room capacity). Those wishing to access collections materials must do so by appointment. Please contact the reference desk at (317) 234-0321 reference@indianahistory.org to reserve a time. If planning a research visit, please review our Using the Indiana Historical Society Library policies before your arrival. To make an appointment to discuss donation of materials, please contact collections_development@indianahistory.org.

The William H. Smith Memorial Library has a broad spectrum of material documenting the history of Indiana from its early exploration and settlement to the present. Our Collections Department preserves and makes accessible one of the largest archival repositories of manuscript, printed and visual materials on the history of Indiana and the Old Northwest, including more than:

• 98,000 digital images online representing 121 collections
• 5,450 processed manuscript collections
• 1,850 cataloged maps
• 850 broadsides
• 3,500 pieces of sheet music
• 1.7 million photographs in 800 visual collections
• 45,000 cataloged printed items
• 3,300 artifacts
• 129 paintings

Our primary collecting areas are: Agriculture; American Civil War (Researcher’s Guide); Architecture; Business; Communities; Education; Ethnically and Racially Identified Groups; Families; Government; Journalism and Communications; LGBT; Medicine; Military Affairs; Notable Hoosiers; Old Northwest Territory; Organized Labor; Politics;  The Professions; Religion; Social Services; Transportation (Including Railroad and Interurban History); and Women.

We are happy to answer your questions or help you with research.

Find printed materials, artifacts, manuscript and visual collections.