Our Collections

The Indiana Historical Society Archives and Library collects, preserves and makes accessible one of the largest archival repositories documenting the history of Indiana from its early exploration and settlement to the present. The IHS collection includes more than:

• 100,000 digital collection items
• 5,450 processed manuscript collections
• 1.7 million photographs in over 800 visual collections
• 45,000 cataloged printed items

Our primary collecting areas are: Agriculture; American Civil War; Architecture; Business; Communities; Education; Ethnically and Racially Identified Groups (including African-American, Jewish, Ethnic History); Families; Government; Journalism and Communications; LGBTQ; Medicine; Military Affairs; Notable Hoosiers; Old Northwest Territory; Organized Labor; Politics;  The Professions; Religion; Social Services; Transportation (including Railroads); and Women.
*Please note the subject lists linked above are updated periodically, searches in the library catalog and digital collections may also prove helpful to your research.

When visiting the William Henry Smith Memorial Library at the Indiana Historical Society, the Library Reference Room is available to walk-in visitors during regular hours. Those wishing to access collections materials not found in our Reference Room must do so by appointment. See Using our Library for details.

Donate

We are always collecting Indiana’s past! If you have images, documents or books that you believe would add to the Indiana Historical Society’s collection, please complete the Online Collection Donation Form.  Make sure to review our Collections and Development Acquisitions Policy for the formats and subjects we collect.  Please do not send the original materials you wish to donate to IHS until you have been contacted by IHS staff.

Ask a Librarian

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

Search the Library Catalog

Find printed materials, artifacts, manuscript and visual collections.

Search Our Digital Collections