DCPL Kentucky Room

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.*

Tomorrow, November 10 at 2:00, we will have our first of three sessions entitled "Leafing Out Your Family Tree". We will...
11/09/2025

Tomorrow, November 10 at 2:00, we will have our first of three sessions entitled "Leafing Out Your Family Tree". We will present different tips and tricks of our trade to find out more about your family- along with a detailed tour of the Kentucky Room! This event will be the same each time, we are trying to provide enough variety to where if you want to come, there will hopefully be a time and date that is convenient to you.

11/07/2025

The Battle of Tippecanoe was fought in Battle Ground, Indiana on this date in 1811. But how does that relate to Owensboro? Colonel Abraham Owen, a prominent Kentucky pioneer, lawmaker, and soldier was killed in the battle. Additionally, Joseph Hamilton Daveiss (that's not a typo) was mortally wounded in the same battle. If these names sound familiar, they should. In 1815, our new county was named after Daveiss (which a clerk misspelled) and in 1817, the Kentucky General Assembly named our town Owensboro, after Colonel Owen.

According to the Nov 5, 1925 Owensboro Inquirer, "dopesters" predicted that R. Miller Holland would be the next City Att...
11/05/2025

According to the Nov 5, 1925 Owensboro Inquirer, "dopesters" predicted that R. Miller Holland would be the next City Attorney- and he was. In that office, he handled the legal work for the establishment for the new (1939) municipal light and water plant and the Owensboro Daviess County Hospital. We were surprised that "dopester" was used 100 years ago. For the record, at that time, it meant "to predict the outcome of events".

One week from today, on November 10 at 2:00, we will have our first of three sessions entitled "Leafing Out Your Family ...
11/03/2025

One week from today, on November 10 at 2:00, we will have our first of three sessions entitled "Leafing Out Your Family Tree". We will present different tips and tricks of our trade to find out more about your family, and a detailed tour of the Kentucky Room! This event will be the same each time, we are trying to provide enough variety to where if you want to come, there will hopefully be a time and date that is convenient to you!

To celebrate Halloween, take a look at these advertisements from old Owensboro Messenger newspapers. The first is an ad ...
10/31/2025

To celebrate Halloween, take a look at these advertisements from old Owensboro Messenger newspapers. The first is an ad from 1912 for the Butter-Krust Bakery at the Owensboro Bread Company. The second is an ad from 1906 for Gropp's Shoe Store. While these businesses were very important to Owensboro, we here in the Kentucky Room find the artwork to be a little... unsettling. Something about those eyes just give us the heebie-jeebies. Which ad sends shivers down your spine?

To celebrate the most beloved companions of most librarians, we present to you, "Fuzzy Wuzzy", a little white kitten on ...
10/29/2025

To celebrate the most beloved companions of most librarians, we present to you, "Fuzzy Wuzzy", a little white kitten on a postcard from the Katherine Whitaker Postcard Collection. Comment a picture or the names of your cats and kittens at home, we'd love to see them!

Exactly 100 years ago today, The Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer was in the process of putting out a campaign in order to g...
10/27/2025

Exactly 100 years ago today, The Owensboro Messenger-Inquirer was in the process of putting out a campaign in order to garner new subscriptions- and make a lot of little ones happy. We got a good laugh out of the language in the article. What do you think? Would you want a Flossie Flirt Doll for your very own, or do you think this was an appropriate post in the spirit of Halloween?

On October 24th, 1945, the Kentucky Broadcasters Association was founded by Owensboro's Hugh O. Potter (1905-1986).  Pot...
10/24/2025

On October 24th, 1945, the Kentucky Broadcasters Association was founded by Owensboro's Hugh O. Potter (1905-1986). Potter was the longtime General Manager of WOMI radio station and an avid local historian. Many of his works are housed in the Kentucky Room and his oral history can be accessed in our digital archives.

10/23/2025
Just a reminder- TOMORROW, October 23rd at 6:00 here in the Kentucky Room, our local spooky storyteller, Mr. David Wolfe...
10/22/2025

Just a reminder- TOMORROW, October 23rd at 6:00 here in the Kentucky Room, our local spooky storyteller, Mr. David Wolfe II will be here to regale us with his tales from the Appalachian Mountains. You won't want to miss it!

Yesterday, October 19th, was National Kentucky Day! While we like to think every day is Kentucky Day here in our Room, w...
10/20/2025

Yesterday, October 19th, was National Kentucky Day! While we like to think every day is Kentucky Day here in our Room, we are glad to spend time celebrating and reflecting on the beautiful state we live in. What's your favorite thing about Kentucky?

In honor of Squirrel Awareness Month (yes, you read that right), we would like to pay homage to Kentucky's state animal-...
10/17/2025

In honor of Squirrel Awareness Month (yes, you read that right), we would like to pay homage to Kentucky's state animal- and our Kentucky Room mascot! Known to be persistent and resourceful, squirrels represent a part of what we do here in the Kentucky Room- digging for answers and climbing family trees. Want to take a little piece of the Kentucky Room home? Stop by and get a free sticker, or for $15 +tax, you can support us by purchasing a t-shirt that you can proudly wear at your next family get-together.

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

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when DCPL Kentucky Room posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on LinkedIn
Share on Pinterest Share on Reddit Share via Email
Share on WhatsApp Share on Instagram Share on Telegram

Category

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.