Where can I access the local history and genealogical resources?

Jefferson County Public Library is committed to preserving our county’s local history and genealogy. Much of the Library's wide-ranging local history and genealogical resources are analog, that is, books, papers, photographs, etc. These are located in the Local History & Genealogy department at the Madison Library. In an effort to make these resources as accessible as possible, they are being transcribed and/or digitized. To access the Library’s digitized collections, visit the Jefferson County Local History website. Additionally, the Library has a significant collection of historic photographs of Madison and Jefferson County, Indiana, with a focus on the mid-20th century, taken by Harry Crawford Lemen, a skilled amateur photographer native to Jefferson County. You can find these photographs on the Jefferson County Local History website. For a deeper dive into Madison's history in the age of steam, including early riverboats to Indiana's first railroad, explore the "River to Rail" collection.