*** Click here to visit our special digital photo gallery of Central City history, available for a limited time in honor of the city’s 150th birthday! ***
(These photos and others may be viewed at any time at Muhlenberg County Public Libraries’ Thistle Cottage.)
The genealogy & local history archives are open on the lower level of Thistle Cottage!
Thistle Cottage is located at 122 South Cherry Street in Greenville. The archives and research facilities are accessible through the lower level doors just off the parking lot to the side of the building.
Appointments are strongly recommended to access our local history archives/research facilities. Due to ongoing staffing shortages, walk-in availability may be limited and is not guaranteed. Please call us at 270-338-4760 to schedule an appointment for research and study. This allows us to ensure adequate staffing during your visit.
Staff may be available to assist with simple searches or inquiries on a limited basis. These inquiries may be submitted in person, by phone at 270-338-4760 or through email.
In-depth research services are also available (dependent upon staff availability) for a fee of $25 per hour ($12.50 minimum), plus copies and postage charges. A deposit will be required before work begins. Please contact us for more information about this service.
Resources
- Leader-News and Times-Argus newspapers on microfilm or digital format (1934 to the present plus some older editions of local papers)
- Extensive collection of family genealogy books and local county history and genealogy materials
- Significant collection of other counties’ history and genealogy books and including other states
- Access to Ancestry.com with helpful assistance from knowledgeable staff
- Detailed Sanborn maps of Greenville and Central City
- Extensive vertical files containing family records, research notes, newspaper clippings and pamphlets pertaining to towns, businesses and citizens of the area
- Church histories including clippings and photographs
- Cemetery records
- Revolutionary War, War of 1812, Civil War, World War I & World War II Info
- Kentucky Death Certificates (1911 – 1967)
- Public access computer for genealogical research
- Births/Deaths Information for Kentucky (1911 – 1999) in physical and digital formats
Local historic tour guides are available in a print format at the museum and archives facility or online at the following links:
Central City Historic Driving Tour
Greenville Historic Driving Tour (coming soon!)
Other online resources provided by the library include:
Ancestry Library Edition is now available for free at all library branches! You can access Ancestry from any device connected to our network.
(This service is only available on library premises.)
Use at home online with your library card!
Heritage Quest provides access to many useful records for those doing genealogical research. Muhlenberg County Public Libraries cardholders can access Heritage Quest for free from any location; simply sign in with your library card number (also known as a “barcode” on Heritage Quest) when prompted at the log in page.
