Sources checked October 28, 2026. Additional collection descriptions and dates checked November 4, 2026. Earlier valid guide content retained; date spans do not guarantee complete holdings.
Start with one connection.
Bring a person, a place, approximate years, and one question. A township, congregation, school, or employer may reveal records a surname search misses. The custodian can be outside the county.
STOP 01 / Merrillville / Lake CountyLake County Public Library: Indiana and genealogy rooms
Look beyond an obituary search to the local files behind it.
The library describes Crown Point court naturalization petitions for 1854–1929, local pamphlet files, city directories and school enumeration indexes. Its obituary index covers the Post-Tribune and predecessor from 1921 onward and the Lake County Register and Star for 1857–1938. The librarian clarified that the naturalization files are from Crown Point courts, with some East Chicago coverage. Newspaper microfilm includes The Times and the Gary Post-Tribune. Selected books, pamphlets and newspaper articles are digitized in Indiana Room Online.
Research details & a question to ask
How to begin
Use Ask a Librarian for research questions or free Lake County obituary requests, limited to five per week as confirmed October 27, 2026. Supply a name, newspaper and approximate date when known. Ask about reference access to naturalization files. LCPL is a FamilySearch Affiliate library; collection-specific access restrictions still apply.
A question you can ask
Can you check the original notice and a directory near the same date?
Keep in mind
An index hit is a locator. Missing names and publication gaps still require staff help or issue browsing. The library does not hold all Lake County court naturalizations. For other courts, including Hammond, consult the Indiana State Archives. An affiliate location does not unlock every FamilySearch image.
STOP 02 / Crown PointCrown Point Community Library: 1934 primary election rolls
A voting record may place someone in a neighborhood between censuses.
The library announced a donation of Lake County primary election roll books from 1934 in its February 2020 newsletter. The announcement describes viewing them by request.
Research details & a question to ask
How to begin
Contact the Indiana Room with a name, community and approximate address; confirm the books remain available and arrange access.
A question you can ask
Which precinct roll should I consult, and may I obtain the full page?
Keep in mind
This is a documented historical acquisition, not a newly confirmed staff appointment. Voting eligibility and participation limit who appears.
STOP 03 / Indianapolis / statewideIndiana State Library: Lake County holdings
Turn a county index into a precise request for the underlying record.
Selected holdings include the naturalization index for 1854–1932 and early land sales for 1837–1857.
Research details & a question to ask
How to begin
Open the county guide, copy the title and call number, then check the catalog or ask the library about format and access before visiting.
A question you can ask
Does the naturalization entry identify a court, volume or petition number?
Keep in mind
These are selected library holdings, often indexes or transcripts. A listed date range does not guarantee every event survives or that original images are online.
STOP 04 / Calumet Regional ArchivesLake County school enumeration and Gary school records
Confirmed holdings: CRA437 Lake County School Enumeration Records and CRA132 Gary Public Schools Service Center Records. Published collection list does not establish their dates.
Research details & a question to ask
How to begin
Ask the archivist for the township, school district and year inventory before visiting. Provide collection numbers.
A question you can ask
Which item or series covers my person, community and year, and how can I consult it?
Keep in mind
Holdings confirmed, but dates, student-name content, restrictions and digitization require clarification. Dates are not yet available for year matching.
STOP 05 / Calumet Regional ArchivesInland Steel workers through union minutes and grievances
USWA Local 1010 records 1938–1986, mostly 1938–1960; group meeting minutes 1942–1959; grievances 1938–1960; union newspaper 1957–1986.
Research details & a question to ask
How to begin
Finding aid identifies boxes and series. Contact archives to arrange access; finding aid says no collection access restrictions and lists zero online items.
A question you can ask
Which item or series covers my person, community and year, and how can I consult it?
Keep in mind
Union activity records, not a complete employee personnel file. Date spans do not guarantee every meeting or worker appears.
Leave a trail another researcher can follow.
Save the repository, collection title, dates, volume, page or item identifier, link, and the date you consulted it. Follow an index to the original record when possible. Keep uncertain names and inferred relationships visibly separate from what the source states.
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