What are the opening hours?

Monday 9am - 9pm Tuesday 9am - 9pm Wednesday 9am - 9pm Thursday 9am - 9pm Friday 9am - 8pm Saturday 9am - 6pm Sunday 1pm - 5pm

DCPL Kentucky Room

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Owensboro, KY
DCPL Kentucky Room

Daviess County's only genealogy and local history research center. Located in the DCPL. These resources are available to the general public at no cost.

In 1922 the Carnegie Free Public Library of Owensboro started an effort to collect materials related to Kentucky. In 1935, the library's collections of Kentucky histories along with its Daviess County and Owensboro histories were assembled in one room known as the Kentucky Room. The current Kentucky Room now holds an immense collection of genealogy and local history resources and artifacts. Our staff of experienced genealogists and researchers are eager to help with any genealogy or history questions you may have.

*Due to time constraints we do not do full family trees. We will do up to 3 generations and help you with any brick walls you may come across.*

08/29/2025

A reminder that the Library WILL BE OPEN on Saturday, August 30th, for regular hours, 9-6, but CLOSED on Sunday, Aug 31st and Monday, Sept 1st in observance of Labor Day Weekend. While the Library is closed, the Kentucky Room Digital Archives and other Kentucky Room Resources are still available through our webpage!

https://dcpl.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/

08/27/2025

August 27th is National Peach Day. If you've enjoyed a Daviess County Peach, chances are likely that Allan Reid had something to do with it. The 1876 Atlas of Daviess County shows Allan Reid's property in the Uppertown Precinct, in the same location as it is today. Can you find it?

Reid's Orchard
(Hint- it's somewhere in between!)

08/22/2025

Don't forget! Next Monday, August 25th at 2:00, we will be gathering in the second floor public lounge- with a small field trip to the Kentucky Room after the initial presentation. If you've ever had an interest in your own genealogy or the history of our area, come by to learn more about what you can access through your Daviess County research center!

08/20/2025

Since August is National Eye Exam Awareness Month, we thought you might enjoy reminiscing over these eyeglasses from our Dawson Family Collection. Do you recognize any of these former optometrists? And how about that 1909 One Dollar Special from Head's Drug Store?

08/18/2025

Thanks to all who stopped by our booth at the Multicultural Festival! We hope you'll stop by and see us sometime in the Kentucky Room too. (Dragons and humans both are welcome- we don't discriminate!)
*The incredible Dragon is a fixture at the Multicultural Festival and is not a part of the Kentucky Room.*

08/15/2025

Time for reading and 'riting but no 'rithmetic here. Take a look at these school books from the past -- Webster's Elementary Spelling Book (1880) and Primary School Dictionary (1876), just a few of the old textbooks from our archives.

08/13/2025

On Monday, August 25th at 2:00, we will be discussing what the Kentucky Room has to offer you! We are always available and willing to help you with your historical or genealogical research. Stop in to learn about your community's historic resources!

08/11/2025

🎉Celebrating the Census 🎉

The Federal Census, mandated by the Constitution to count the population every ten years, is a fantastic resource for people researching their family history. The first Census was completed in August of 1790. We have handbooks and guides to help you navigate the Census for best results and Census books in the Kentucky Room. You can also access the complete set of US Federal Census images (1790-1950) by using the Heritage Quest link (or Ancestry, if you are in the building) on our Kentucky Room page of the DCPLibrary website.

08/08/2025

Ever wonder what's in the Kentucky Room? Join us on Monday, August 25th at 2:00 to learn about the resources (treasures) kept in the Kentucky Room and how to use them for your historical or genealogical research. Afterwards, there will be time to explore the resources and KY Room staff will be available to help you with your research.

08/06/2025

With "Back to School" time quickly approaching, we wanted to share this Kentucky Room Class Photo of our current staff in our elementary school days, and let you know that we are always ready to assist you in the new school year. In keeping with this theme, we will be offering "Kentucky Room 101: An Introduction to the Kentucky Room's Resources" on August 25th at 2:00. We'll post more information about the program soon, so check back. We'd love to see you there!

08/05/2025

In case you missed it, yesterday (the first Sunday in August) was National Sister's Day, a day to celebrate the unique bond between sisters. Nobody has your back like a sister- and that was certainly the case of the Edwards sisters, Annie, Theresa and May. When their brother George was shot in a dispute, they became the "Girls on Warpath" as you can read in this Owensboro Inquirer article from July 26, 1910. Fortunately, George was not fatally wounded (he died in 1975 at age 85), the sisters did not harm anyone, and the charges of Breach of Peace were dismissed a few days later. Are you fortunate enough to have a sister like that?

07/30/2025

Officially, July is Picnic Month, but here in Owensboro we enjoy picnics from June to September! Whether it's work, church, or a family picnic, one can find some good food and fun most every weekend. Here's a photo from an Owensboro Wagon Company Picnic circa 1910. While they look a bit overdressed, it does look like barbecue on the plate. What's your favorite picnic food?

Address

2020 Frederica Street
Owensboro, KY
42301

Opening Hours

Monday	9am - 9pm
Tuesday	9am - 9pm
Wednesday	9am - 9pm
Thursday	9am - 9pm
Friday	9am - 8pm
Saturday	9am - 6pm
Sunday	1pm - 5pm

Website

http://www.dcplibrary.org/genealogy

Alerts

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Our Story

This is the previous page for the Daviess County Historical Society. The Society disbanded in September 2018 and the Kentucky Room at the Daviess County Public Library now holds all the records for the previous society. This page is managed by workers in the Kentucky Room and posted material comes from it’s archives which include county records, photographs, genealogies and local histories.