Photo of the Robert A. Pastrick Library in East Chicago.
The East Chicago Room is a special collection of historical materials that relate to the city of East Chicago. Located within the Main Library, we can help you in researching your ancestry. In this room you can find a variety of materials available. These are some of the things that the E.C. room has to offer.
Items in the East Chicago Room include:
Additional Resources:
Hoosier State Chronicles
Indiana Memory
Newsbank – Access World News (All Databases)
Black Life in America
Post Tribune Collection
The Times of Northwest Indiana
Newspaper Archive
Post Tribune Obituaries
Post Tribune Obituary Index (courtesy of Lake County Public Library)
Proquest: Ancestry (In House Only)
Proquest: Fold3 (Military Records)
Proquest: Heritage Quest
Times Obituary Index (courtesy of Hammond Public Library)
New Hours!
The East Chicago Room's hours are as follows:
Monday - Thursday
9:00 am - 7:30 pm
Friday and Saturday
9:00 am - 4:30 pm
(Hours are subject to change due to staffing availability)
If you have something that you want us to research, call ahead of time and provide us with details so we can have it ready for your visit with us! Call us at (219) 397-2453 extension 23
Fines and Fees:
Black and White printouts: 0.10 per page
Color printouts: 0.50 per page
Digital DVDs: $10.00 per disc (if mailed an added $5 shipping fee)
To pay for these items, EC room staff will walk with you to the Circulation desk so you will be given a receipt as a record of you paying for copies or your DVDS.
Patron Donations
When items are donated to the EC Room, make sure to fill out the following form to keep on file Have PR send a thank you card to the donor.
Donation Form: East Chicago Room
Patrons Loaning Items to the EC Room
For items on temporary loan to the EC Room, fill out the following form. Have PR send a thank you card to the patron loaning the item.
Loan Form: East Chicago Room
Patron Materials Request Form:
East Chicago Room Patron Materials Request
Photograph Reproduction Order Form:
East Chicago Room Photography Reproduction Order Form
FAQS
Can items be checked out or taken out of the East Chicago History Room?
No, items may not be checked out or taken out of the EC Room. Copies or scans of documents and photographs may be made. Please note: There is a fee for copies.I would like to have a reproduction made of a photograph and need the original to take to the printer. Can I do that?
No, but arrangements can be made so that a staff member of the EC Room can drop the photo off at a nearby printer and then pick it up when the printer is finished with it.I have my own microfilm. May I bring it in to view it on the library’s microfilm machine.
No, the library can not take responsibility if the microfilm is damaged. Also, the microfilm could damage the library's machine.If there is something you are specifically researching, it is always best to give us a call ahead of time so we can look through our collections and find what you are seeking or reach out to other organizations to find the information. Some things require us to do a bit of digging, so we ask that you contact us so we can get the information ready for when you come into visit us at the East Chicago room!
Call us at (219) 397-2453 extension 23