Use your IndyPL Library card to access curated databases that are credible and reliable sources.
Browse through thousands of local artifacts, images, and documents in the Digital Indy archive and the Encyclopedia of Indianapolis. Here are some featured collections to get you started or explore our complete collection of local resources.
In the webinar African American Genealogy, Nichelle Hayes, Manager of the Center for Black Literature & Culture, explains the basic principals of genealogy for those of African ancestry including information about specific challenges and particularly helpful databases. For additional help, see our guide to getting started researching your family history from home, including links to Indiana and national websites about genealogy.
For those interested in learning about early Black history in American, join The 1619 Project Read Along: A Classroom Without Walls, an online discussion designed to "remove barriers and invite all curious minds to discover and discuss this vital history." The Read Along is hosted by the publisher, One World, a Random House imprint. One World is giving away six chapters from the book free of charge, and invites readers to join discussions based on the selections.
You can check out a copy of The 1619 Project or, you can download the free chapters being made available over the next several weeks. There are online discussions and weekly discussion guides. If you have missed some of the chapter discussions, you can catch up or join in at any time.
Upcoming chapters through February include:
Note: a six-part Hulu original docu-series The 1619 Project premieres January 26, 2023.