West Lafayette has served the needs of West Lafayette community members, Purdue, Tippecanoe County, and beyond since 1921. With the continuance of growth and prosperity, it’s important for our community to have access to records and information for a few reasons. WLPL’s Mission Statement reflects that one of the Library’s core goals is to be “the collector of our community’s written and audio-visual heritage”, and the Local History and Archive Collection Department here at the Library works to help accomplish this through standard archive stewardship, the development resources that will better assist researchers using our facilities, and working actively with community partners to better serve and educate our patrons on the history of West Lafayette.
What does Local History offer?
Archive material has been deposited at West Lafayette Public Library for decades. Though staff and volunteers over the years made vital contributions to organization, it was not until May of 2023 that a full-time Local History Librarian was hired to professionally steward these archive collections. While the position is primarily responsible for the stewardship of the archive, there are also many opportunities for us to help patrons who want to learn more about the community’s past.
The Local History services we offer for patrons by appointment are as follows:
- Helping to Answer History Questions about West Lafayette
- Assistance in Genealogical Research using Ancestry for Libraries
- Microform Reading
- Accepting Patron Donations of Historical Material
- Facilitating Archive Collection Access
- 8mm Film Viewing/Digitizing
Where is the Local History Section?
Housed on the Library’s recently renovated Northwest corner of the 2nd floor, the Local History section offers many different resources and amenities for patrons to explore the community’s past. Have some fun exploring a Purdue Debris from 1915, or do some scholarly research using our collection of Polk City Directories. With plenty of places to sit, and a few dedicated Genealogic Research computers, the Local History area at West Lafayette Public Library provides a relaxed, quiet, and practical space for learning more about our past.
Archive Collections at West Lafayette Public Library
Patrons that want to look into one of our collections will need to do so by making an appointment with the Local History Librarian. They will help to figure out what you’d like to see, and then facilitate that viewing in the controlled environment of the Archive Reading Room.
To make an appointment, please email droddel@wlaf.lib.in.us or call (765)-607-4519
the Mayor John Dennis Collection
coming soon
the Robert L. Bill Collection
coming soon
the Morton Center Collection
coming soon
the Bertha Moffit Collection
coming soon
the West Lafayette Public Library Collection
coming soon
the Gordon Straley Collection
coming soon
the West Lafayette Public Library Foundation Collection
coming soon
the Anna Akeley Collection
coming soon
the Martha Allen Collection
coming soon
the City of West Lafayette Collection
coming soon
the Susan Curtis Collection
coming soon
the West Lafayette Farmer’s Market Collection
coming soon
the William Floyd Collection
coming soon
the West Lafayette Foodways Collection
coming soon
the Helmkamp Family Collection
coming soon
the Marshall Howenstein Collection
coming soon
the Mayor Sonya Margerum Collection
the Everett & Donald McKinzie Collection
coming soon
the Corinne Strate-Redenbacher Collection
coming soon
the University Lutheran Church Collection
coming soon
the West Lafayette Fire Department Collection
coming soon
the Mayor James Williamson Collection
coming soon
the Dr. John Christian Book Collection
coming soon
the Linda Wilson-Bartlett-Block Collection
coming soon
the Susan Wu Collection
coming soon
the WLPL Maps Collection
coming soon
the Vertical Files Collection
coming soon