Kosciusko County Historical Society will be able to preserve this plat book and 26 others due to a Heritage Support Grant. Photos provided by Kosciusko County Historical Society.
KOSCIUSKO COUNTY — The Kosciusko County Historical Society is the recipient of a Heritage Support Grant from the Indiana Historical Society.
The grant of nearly $5,000 will be used to preserve 27 assessor’s plat books from 1880-1891. These plat books contain legal descriptions of landownership, including information such as location and land values, with hand drawn maps of each section.
Because these books specifically show the location of family members, they are often used in genealogy research. Additionally, they are used as a backup to county records.
Due to their age, the books had loose pages, fading ink and light mold. If not preserved, there was a risk of damage or loss of these important documents.
“We were at risk of losing the actual written work or drawn map simply because the ink has faded over 145 yeas and will continue to fade in the years to come,” said Teresa Jones, director of the Kosciusko County Historical Society. Jones added, “We are so grateful to be chosen as a recipient of this grant from the Indiana Historical Society.”
The grant will provide funds for the historical society to have the books photographed and then rebound with archival-quality materials.
A digital record will be created as well. The original materials will undergo mold remediation, be properly stored and removed from public use.
Heritage Support Grants are provided by the Indiana Historical Society and made possible by Lilly Endowment, Inc.
