This was another one of those “Hmm, what am I going to write about this week?” kind of weeks. It definitely didn’t help that I was away for the first part of it and only just got back to the museum yesterday. My brain was still playing catch-up.

Yesterday’s stream-of-consciousness brainstorming session brought me down a historical rabbit hole—what interesting things have happened on May 30 over the years? I found some informative websites and fascinating information. Did you know that Joan of Arc was burned at the stake on May 30, 1431 or that the first Indy 500 took place on May 30, 1911? Fascinating, yes—but ultimately, not all that relevant to our museum.

By the time I walked through the museum doors this morning, I still hadn’t settled on a direction. So, I did what I usually do when inspiration is hard to come by—I wandered. I ended up in the Research Room, which is always an interesting place to poke around. I’m not really qualified to speak in depth about everything that’s in there (the scope is impressive!), but even a quick look makes it clear just how valuable this space is for anyone interested in digging into genealogy and local history. Maybe this post can serve as a little nudge to come explore it for yourself—you never know what you might find.

While I’m no expert on everything the Research Room holds, I thought it would be worthwhile to highlight a few standout resources that caught my attention:

1. German Family Tree (GFT)

The German Family Tree is a compiled, alphabetical index of individuals listed in church and census records from the Perry County area. It’s a fantastic starting point for anyone diving into family history research. Beyond just names and dates, the GFT often leads researchers to other valuable materials in the museum’s collection, such as family histories and digitized church records. This resource is impressively comprehensive—housed in eight green binders and totaling 5,053 pages.

Here’s a sample page of this resource (this page happens to include the listing with my husband’s grandfather’s information).

2. Zion Roots™ Project

The Zion Roots™ Project is designed to help researchers trace their German ancestry, especially by providing access to parish records and other historical documents from various regions in Germany. The collection includes surname indexes, hometown and parish information, regional census data, and a large collection of maps. It covers areas such as the Kingdom of Saxony, Saxe-Altenburg, Thuringia, Leipzig, the Kingdom of Hanover, Bavaria, and Upper Austria. One of its most extensive parts is a set of 65 binders sorted by surname, containing mostly obituaries along with maps and other family information—an excellent resource for anyone building their family tree.

3. Family History Books

Lining many shelves of the Research Room are 297 (by my count, at least) of family history books—many of them compiled and donated by local families who spent years researching their own genealogies. These books vary in format and detail, but they’re all rich in names, dates, photographs, documents, and personal stories.

Some trace single family lines for generations, while others branch out to include extended relatives, migration patterns, and historical context. They’re a valuable tool for researchers looking to fill in gaps or find connections they didn’t know existed. Even if the exact name you’re researching isn’t represented, you might be surprised at how often families intersect in a small, close-knit community.

Feel free to give us a call if you want to know if your family is represented here!

4. Church Records

The Research Room houses church records from local congregations, which include detailed accounts of baptisms, confirmations, marriages, and funerals—sometimes going back over a hundred years. These records often provide crucial details like parents’ names, witnesses, and places of origin, helping researchers confirm family relationships or discover new leads. Many of these records have been indexed, making them easier to access for anyone interested.

These resources are just a glimpse into the wealth of history stored within the Research Room. Whether you’re a seasoned genealogist or just curious about your roots, I encourage you to stop by and explore these materials for yourself—you never know what stories you might uncover.