ARCHIVE ACCESS
Information with Regard to
Use of the Owen County Indiana Archives:

NOTE THAT THIS INFORMATION IS NEW & CURRENT AS OF 070930

This outstanding and welcome news as released by our president, Terresa Thompson, is as follows:
The Owen Co. Indiana Archives, (P. O. Box 654) are located in the lower level of the Spencer Post Office which is located at 30 S. Washington Street, Spencer, Indiana and faces the Owen County Indiana Courthouse from the east side of the town square. People can contact us (Terresa Thompson) via email (tethomps@insightbb.com) or phone: (812) 828-0064 or (812) 325-9007 if they want to visit the Archives. We do not work every day so visitors will have to prearrange visits. We can usually arrange our schedule to accommodate visits as long as they give notice.

In summary:

Owen County Archives
Terresa Thompson, President
(in basement of Post Office)
P.O. Box 654
30 South Washington Street
Spencer, Indiana 47460
812-828-0064
812-325-9007
mailto:tethomps@insightbb.com

The Owen County Archive Project

Text by Roger Peterson

The idea of creating an Owen County Archives occurred in 1991 when it was realized that Owen County’s official records, while in great disarray, were very complete and in amazingly good condition. These records date from the very first day of the county, January 1, 1819, when the first entries were made in a Circuit Court Order Book and in a County Commissioners Record Book. The first actual document is dated January 15, 1819 and is a political speech written by Joseph Freeland in his quest for the office of Associate Judge and which he misnamed as Assistant Judge. All the probate records have been indexed 1819 - 1900. Civil and criminal cases indexed 1819 - 1856. This latter index is still in progress with 1857-1865 now being entered into the database. It must be realized that probate was not uppermost in the minds of early residents. Only 200 wills were written in the first fifty years, that is four per year. Intestate estate records number about 1,000 during the same period.

Members of the Owen County Historical & Genealogical Society began the task of bringing order to the mass of books and documents by first sorting the books into categories, while at the same time, the office of Community Corrections provided manpower to remove the old unsuitable shelving, and the wire caged room in which the records were stored. When these items were gone, volunteers from the Society made new shelving and Community Corrections built new insulated walls.

When sufficient progress had been made in providing proper facilities it was time to start organizing the materials, the State of Indiana Commission of Public Records (Archives) sent a conservation specialist to give a one day course in how to humidify, open, clean and store paper records. About 15 volunteers attended this one day course. For the next two years this work continued. Only a few hundred dollars of the county’s funds were used. About $1,000 was provided by patrons. Records are now stored in archival quality boxes and , in the case of documents prior to 1860, in archival quality file folders. No public funds were used by the archives, all expenses for supplies and equipment come from copy fees and donations.

There is another and even more dramatic story of the saving and retaining the Archives here within the county. That is the story that tells you how the Archives were relocated and resettled into the basement of the postoffice through the efforts of our President and many dedicated volunteers. It will be placed on line, hopefully soon. Unfortunately, Roger Peterson was not alive and available for that action but he, without a doubt, would have risen to the call. More to come.

Roger Peterson

Roger Peterson Dies at 79
October 19th, 1923 - September 30th, 2003

From his obituary in the Herald Times and other sources we learned that Roger died early Tuesday morning, September 30th, 2003 at the Bloomington Hospital. Born Oct. 19, 1923 in Chicago, he was the son of Arthur J. and Laura (Jordan) Peterson, and a steel salesman for Central Steel & Wire Co.

A widely noted archivist, a researcher in the ethnic history of Owen County, and Owen County Historian, he was also a member of the Owen County Historical and Genealogical Society, the Indiana Historical Society, and a board member of the Society of Indiana Archivists. He was a US Navy Veteran and a member of Faith Lutheran Church. He was an avid user of the Monroe County Library recordings, a strong supporter of Indianapolis Symphony and Opera, the Indiana University School of Music Opera, the Symphony, and the IU Baroque Orchestra of Stanley Ritchie.

Survivors include his wife, Jean Schneider Peterson, three sons Clifford James of Bloomington, Indiana, Raymond of Middletown, Ohio, Ken of Upland, California, one daughter Carole Deroo of Kansas City, Missouri and six grand children. He was preceded in death by his parents and one brother. Services were at the Faith Lutheran Church on the east side of Bloomington, Pastor Lawrence Mitchell officiating. He was buried in Chambersville Cemetery with the Veterans Honor Guard performing military rites and giving three volleys of rifle fire. The flag was presented to the widow, Jean and the collected brass cartridges passed to close individuals. His service to the Archives and the Society will be deeply missed.

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Roger Peterson -- Email Service Rerouted to Julian Livingston

Updated - 01/18/2003.