Unearth The Past
Mary King Research Library
Housed within the Museum is the Mary King Research Library named after Mary King in 2002 for her twenty-two years of volunteer service at the Madison County Historical Society helping families with their genealogy.
The library contains the history of Madison County taken variety of sources that include published early histories.
Research can be conducted by sending a request via mail or email. In house research is available with the assistance of a research volunteer. If you plan to visit the research library, we ask that you schedule an appointment.
Hours: Monday – Friday, 10am – 3pm
Admission: Members & High School Students are free.
$20 for nonmembers | $5 student rate college/graduate
In Rememberance of
Mary King
Mary King served on the society’s board of trustees and volunteered countless hours in the society’s library. Mary King often joked that the only reason she volunteered in the society’s library was that she hated to do housework and by coming into the society five times a week gave her an excuse not to clean her house.
She shared her vast amount of knowledge with anyone willing to listen and learn from her. Mary would be so proud to know that Bernice and Wayne Coston and Terri Phillips, whom Mary trained to run the library, when she would go on vacation, which was rare, are still dedicated to filling the void left behind when Mary passed away in 2006.
As a fitting tribute to her countless hours in the society’s library, the Board of Trustees set-up a Mary King Research Library Fund. All donations received in Mary’s memory will go towards updating library equipment or purchasing resource materials. Contact the society if would like to make a contribution in her memory.
Helpful Hints
For Requesting Research
All research requests must be submitted by filling out the research request form. You should also enclose any relevant information to assist our researchers with your request.
- Try to be specific as possible about what you are looking for so that we can answer your request as efficiently as possible.
- Please note that Birth, Marriage, and Death Records in Madison County are filed with the clerks in the city/town /village where the event happened. New York State did not require these records to be kept until the late nineteenth century. Please keep in mind that if you are looking for records prior to this time frame they become much more difficult to find.
- According to Madison County’s Government’s website the County Clerk’s office has a small collection of marriage certificates for the following years – 1908-1931. You can also obtain these records by visiting the NYS Department of Health at Genealogy Records & Resources website. Please also note that Property Records and Court Records can be retrieved from the Madison County Clerk’s Department:Madison County Office Building
138 North Court Street, Building 4
Wampsville, NY 13163
