Unearth the stories of your ancestors with the library’s genealogy resources! From local archives to digital tools, we provide everything you need to research your heritage. Let’s piece together your history, one record at a time.
McCarroll Genealogy Collection
The Genealogy Collection was established by a perpetual trust in memory of Joe McCarroll by his brothers William McCarroll and Charles McCarroll. They were the sons of Judge Joe McCarroll, a prominent local attorney, and Mrs. Mary Holloway McCarroll.
We are so grateful for their continued support.
Thank you!
Our obituary collection primarily begins in 1963, though some records date back to the 1880s. Maintained daily, this archive includes notices exclusively from the Kentucky New Era.
Our genealogy collection features approximately 5,000 books, including periodicals from various states and counties. We have resources covering 79 of Kentucky’s 120 counties and materials from 25 states. Within this collection, you’ll find census records, cemetery records, wills, deeds, funeral records, court orders, and tax lists dating from 1783 to today. We also house genealogy society newsletters from Kentucky counties.
For those researching Kentucky history, we offer a general collection featuring Kerr’s, Johnson’s, and Collins’ histories, census books (1790-1850), marriage records, land grants, pioneer records, tax lists, vital statistics, and war records, many dating back to 1784.
Additionally, we maintain an extensive newspaper archive, including the Kentucky New Era (1872-1983) and the Hopkinsville Kentuckian (1892-1919), providing valuable insights into local history.
Explore our collection of local obituaries and yearbooks through the Community History Archive. Search by name or date to uncover valuable family history and preserve the stories of past generations.
You can access Ancestry.com for free when using our library computers—just stop by and start exploring your family history!
Need extra help with your research? Feel free to reach out to the genealogy department at genealogy@hccpl.org for assistance.
Check out our Genealogy Research Request Policy and Pricing for more details.
Wondering about library cards, late fees, or how to borrow eBooks? Check out our FAQ for all the details—because no question is too big, too small, or too quirky!