Putnam County Genealogy Records

Putnam County genealogy records are held at the county health department and the clerk's office in Greencastle, Indiana. Birth and death records go back to 1882, and marriage records at the clerk's office reach back to the county's founding years. Putnam County is home to DePauw University, which gives the county a distinctive community background, but for genealogy researchers, the focus is on the health department and courthouse in Greencastle where vital records and court documents are held. This guide covers how to access Putnam County records from both local offices and state-level sources.

Putnam County Health Department Vital Records

The Putnam County Health Department in Greencastle holds certified copies of birth and death records for events that occurred in Putnam County from 1882 to the present. This is your starting point for Putnam County genealogy research involving vital events. Indiana's statewide birth registration did not begin until 1907 and death registration not until 1900. For births between 1882 and 1907, and deaths between 1882 and 1900, the county health department is the only official source.

Putnam County was formed in 1822 and has a long record of settlements that can be traced through vital records going back to 1882. Families with roots in west-central Indiana often find Putnam County records useful because many ancestral lines crossed county boundaries in that region. The health department in Greencastle issues certified copies of birth and death records for both genealogy and legal purposes.

For a genealogy-specific request, the person named on the certificate must be deceased and over 75 years old. Bring identification and any proof of the ancestor's death when you visit the Putnam County Health Department. Contact the office before visiting to confirm current hours, fees, and whether an appointment is required. The Indiana local health department map provides current contact details for the Greencastle office.

Note: Fees for certified copies and genealogy copies may differ at the Putnam County Health Department. Confirm the current schedule before visiting Greencastle.

Marriage Records and Court Documents

The Putnam County Clerk's Office in Greencastle holds marriage records going back to Putnam County's founding in 1822. That is a substantial historical run that predates the state marriage index by well over a century. The state marriage index only starts in 1958, so for any Putnam County marriage before that year, the county clerk is your only official source. The clerk's office is in the courthouse in Greencastle, and original marriage documents remain there even for marriages recorded after 1958.

Court records at the Putnam County Clerk's Office are also valuable for genealogy research. Probate filings, estate inventories, guardianship papers, and civil case records from the 1800s often contain family information that vital records leave out. An estate inventory from the mid-1800s can name surviving heirs and detail property distribution in a way that captures family structure very clearly. Under Indiana Code 5-14-3, court records are public documents that any member of the public can request. These records are publicly accessible and should not be overlooked in Putnam County genealogy research.

The Indiana State Library's genealogy division maintains a county research guide for Putnam County. It is available at in.gov/library/collections-and-services/genealogy/indiana-county-research-guides/. The guide lists record types, repositories, and date ranges specific to Putnam County. Reviewing this before you visit Greencastle or contact county offices can save significant time and help you ask the right questions.

Indiana State Vital Records and Genealogy Resources

The Indiana Department of Health Vital Records Division at 2 N. Meridian St., Indianapolis, holds statewide birth records from 1907 and death records from 1900. Their main phone is (317) 233-2700 and the toll-free line at (866) 601-0891 operates 24 hours a day. Online orders go through VitalChek at vitalchek.com. Mail orders use Form 49607 for births and Form 49606 for deaths. A first-copy birth certificate costs $10 and a death certificate costs $8.

The Indiana State Library genealogy division at 315 West Ohio Street, Indianapolis, 317-232-3689, holds more than 40,000 print items covering county histories, family genealogies, cemetery transcriptions, and military pension records. West-central Indiana counties like Putnam County are represented in the collection. Second Saturday one-on-one consultations are available for researchers who want in-person guidance on their Putnam County family history research.

The Indiana State Library's genealogy resources are shown below:

The Indiana State Library Genealogy Division holds county research guides and a large family history collection that covers Putnam County and surrounding west-central Indiana counties.

The library's collection of county histories and genealogy manuscripts is one of the strongest in the Midwest, and the Putnam County guide specifically lists available holdings and their locations.

Indiana Archives and Historical Resources

The Indiana Archives and Records Administration (IARA) at 6440 East 30th Street, Indianapolis, (317) 591-5220, may hold older Putnam County court records transferred from the county over time. The State Archives stores records with permanent historical value, including naturalization papers and early court filings. IARA's online catalog at researchIndiana.iara.in.gov lets you search for Putnam County holdings before making the trip to Indianapolis.

The archives portal is shown here:

The Indiana Archives and Records Administration holds transferred historical documents from Putnam County and provides pre-visit search capability at researchIndiana.iara.in.gov.

Under IC 5-14-3-4, records that were once confidential become publicly accessible 75 years after creation. This opens many older Putnam County records to researchers working on deep family history.

The Indiana Historical Society at 450 W. Ohio St., Indianapolis, (317) 232-1882, holds photographs, manuscripts, and maps from Indiana counties including Putnam County. The Indiana Genealogical Society and the FamilySearch Indiana Genealogy wiki are free resources that can point you to digitized records and indexes for Putnam County. Some Putnam County records have been digitized and may be accessible before you need to visit Greencastle.

Online and Remote Access to Putnam County Records

Remote ordering options exist for Putnam County vital records. The state toll-free line at (866) 601-0891 takes phone orders any time. Mail orders go to the Indiana Department of Health at 2 N. Meridian St., Indianapolis. Online orders process through VitalChek, shown here:

The VitalChek portal allows online ordering of certified Indiana vital records including Putnam County birth and death records. Credit card payment is accepted and certified copies are mailed directly to you.

VitalChek adds a convenience fee to the state base costs. This is a practical option for Putnam County genealogy researchers who cannot visit Greencastle in person.

Cities in Putnam County

Putnam County's communities, including Greencastle, Cloverdale, and Bainbridge, all file genealogy and vital records at the county health department and clerk's office in Greencastle. No city in Putnam County meets the 25,000 population threshold for a separate city page. All Putnam County records are handled at the county level in Greencastle.

All Putnam County city records are filed at the county offices in Greencastle.

Nearby Counties

Putnam County is in west-central Indiana. Ancestors near county boundaries may have filed records in neighboring counties. Check these nearby county pages for more genealogy resources.