24Titles
Explore publications and collections from the past.
Community History Archive Partner
Pulaski County Public Library
Lancaster, Kentucky
Explore this community history collection to discover the people, places, organizations, and events of Lancaster.
1799 to 2009Dates represented
See individual titles for available dates.
565,796Archive pages
Historical pages reported for this collection.
Explore local history
Discover the people, places, and stories of Lancaster, Kentucky.
Discover another side of Lancaster, Kentucky through newspapers and vital records preserved in the Pulaski County Public Library's digital archive. Its twenty-four titles include material from 1799 to 2009. Other materials in the collection include financial and tax records; court and legal records; and religious organization documents.
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Selected titles
The collection from Pulaski County Public Library includes “Birth Marriage And Death Records” as well as “Wayne County Census”.
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Free and open access
No subscription or payment required.
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A closer look
Newspaper pages connect individual accounts with a wider story, preserving how events were reported and presented to the readers of the day.
There is more than one way into the past. Follow a familiar name or event through different sources, and consider how each account reflects the time and purpose in which it was created. A family story, a classroom project or curiosity about a familiar place can lead to a closer look at the community and the lives of earlier generations. Explore the archive online for free, without a subscription.
Explore the collection
Titles in this collection
Browse twenty-four titles and 565,796 digitized pages, with material from 1799 to 2009. Through a partnership with Advantage Archives, Pulaski County Public Library shares these sources from the past. Some years or items may be missing between the dates shown.
Explore the titles below for a closer look at the places, people and everyday life of earlier generations.
Birth Marriage And Death Records
1,438 pages in 1852
Central Record
24 pages in 1935
Commonwealth
70,566 pages from 1920 to 1965
Commonwealth Journal
369,268 pages from 1966 to 2009
Early Documents Of Thomas Jasper
222 pages in 1800
Fishing Creek Baptist Church
744 pages in 1813
Pulaski County Census
18,930 pages from 1810 to 1930
Pulaski County Court Orders
8,178 pages from 1799 to 1864
Pulaski County Court Records
16,442 pages from 1799 to 1896
Pulaski County Court Records Deeds
2,842 pages in 1799
Pulaski County Court Records Tax List
10,014 pages from 1799 to 1844
Pulaski County Court Records Wills
7,516 pages from 1817 to 1861
Pulaski County Deed Index Grantor
1,232 pages in 1799
Pulaski County Marriage Bonds
5,850 pages from 1799 to 1867
Pulaski County Wills
2,354 pages in 1801
Somerset Journal
7,558 pages from 1924 to 1965
Somerset Pulaski News Journal
1,692 pages in 2004
Tax List
10,290 pages from 1846 to 1890
The Burnside Item
8 pages in 1908
The Commonwealth
1,936 pages in 1954
The Kentuckian
5,914 pages from 1929 to 1965
The Somerset Journal
17,400 pages from 1922 to 1964
War Records
3,010 pages in 1821
Wayne County Census
2,368 pages from 1860 to 1870
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About the Library
About Pulaski County Public Library
The Pulaski County Public Library has been a central hub of learning and knowledge for the residents of Somerset and surrounding areas since its founding as a Carnegie Library in 1907. Funded by the renowned businessman and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie, the library was built to serve the community’s need for education and access to information. Over the decades, the library has undergone numerous renovations and expansions, each time adapting to the growing and changing needs of its community. Today, it remains a vital resource, offering a wide array of materials, programs, and services to enrich and empower its patrons.
Library History
The History Of Pulaski County Public Library
The history of the Pulaski County Public Library began in May 1907 when the first Carnegie Library was completed and dedicated in Somerset, Kentucky. Andrew Carnegie, whose philanthropic efforts funded nearly 3,000 libraries across the United States, enabled the citizens of Pulaski County to have access to a public library for the first time. Over the years, the library has grown significantly, moving locations, undergoing renovations, and expanding its services to meet the needs of the community. The current building stands as a testament to the community’s commitment to preserving this vital institution. Through the years, the library has remained a cherished part of Pulaski County, beloved for its role in promoting lifelong learning and community engagement.
About the Community
About Pulaski County, Kentucky
Pulaski County, located in southern Kentucky, is known for its scenic landscapes, rich history, and vibrant community. Established in 1799, the county was named in honor of Kazimierz Pułaski, a Polish nobleman and military commander who fought for American independence during the Revolutionary War. The county seat, Somerset, has long been a hub of economic and cultural activity, particularly after the construction of the railroad in the 19th century, which spurred growth and development in the region. Over the years, Pulaski County has become known for its commitment to education and community, with the Pulaski County Public Library playing a central role in preserving the area’s history and fostering learning opportunities for all residents.
Local History
Did You Know?
Did you know that the Pulaski County Public Library began as a Carnegie Library? It was one of the thousands of libraries established through the philanthropy of Andrew Carnegie, who believed in the power of public libraries to promote education and enlightenment. The original building in Somerset served as a vital educational resource for the community and continues to be a cornerstone of local learning to this day.
More ways to explore and share local history
Research Guidance
Bring different sources into a story
Bring a family connection or community question about Lancaster to the varied sources shared by Pulaski County Public Library. Start with the event type, date, place, and names as the record presents them. Use only fields actually supplied, and keep an index entry or transcription distinct from an image of the original record.
Record the court or jurisdiction, date, parties, and document type only where the source identifies them. A filing, allegation, or docket entry is not the same as a ruling, and archival guidance is not legal advice. Where coverage overlaps, compare a name, place, or event in another source. Keep each account’s date and purpose visible rather than treating a similar name as proof of identity.
Build a trail through the past that someone else can follow: record the title, date, page or item reference, and a link when available. Keep historical quotations distinct from your own interpretation. If accounts disagree, note what each source supports before deciding how the details fit together in a family or community story.
Community Partnership
Keeping local history a community resource
This community archive is made possible by the collaboration of the Pulaski County Public Library, its community, and Advantage Archives. Together, these partnerships preserve local sources and give people a way to explore, learn from, and share the history around them.
Advantage Archives covers ongoing archive hosting, storage, development, and maintenance. The institution and its community do not pay a subscription, seat license, annual support contract, or other recurring archive-service charge. Local history remains a community resource, not a subscription to maintain.
Would you like to see more of your community's history preserved and accessible? Start a conversation with your library, newspaper publisher, historical or genealogical society, museum, or school about the materials they would like to share and a possible partnership with Advantage Archives.
Learn about partnerships
Stories, research tips, and archive news
Read All About It connects archive research with the people and institutions preserving local history. Explore partner and community stories, project updates, research ideas, and perspectives on digitization, education, and working with primary sources. Use the articles as a starting point for your next question or a new way to share a discovery.
May 7, 2025
Why Microfilm is still important in 2023
Preserving documents on microfilm has been a popular method of storage for many years, and it still holds many benefits today. Here…
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May 7, 2025
Don’t Search For An Obituary By Only Searching For An “Obituary”
In the quest to trace our roots and understand our heritage, obituaries often serve as a crucial starting point. Obituaries are undoubtedly…
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April 9, 2025
Unveiling the Hidden Mysteries: Exploring Cold Cases and Unconventional Clues
Even the most esteemed police forces in the county encounter perplexing cold case files. These unsolved mysteries often leave investigators and genealogists…
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April 1, 2025
This Week in History: March 31st through April 6th
Discover History in The Community History Archives. This week in history, there is absolutely nothing to talk about… April Fools! April…
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March 24, 2025
This Week in History: March 24th through March 30th
Discover History in The Community History Archives. It has officially been a year since I started writing This Week in History,…
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March 18, 2025
It’s Your Community’s History, So Why Rent Something You Own?
We believe that history belongs to the communities where it was made - not locked behind paywalls or inaccessible due to budget restrictions. Subscription-based services and large content aggregators are generally more concerned with "content" and less concerned with the history that content contains. Their models typically involve a reoccurring charge for a plan that renews annually or licensing agreements with the library based on population served or circulation numbers. You are essentially Renting Access To YOUR History.
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