In the Fall of 2024, Marshall Public Library partnered with the Clark County Historical Society to host a traveling exhibit from the National Orphan Train Complex. 

This exhibit was very well-received and sparked a lot of interest in the Orphan Train Movement. 

Our head librarian compiled these resources and links for researching at that time. If you have any questions, please reach out to Jamie Poorman at jpoorman@marshallplib.com

National Organizations

National Orphan Train Complex - https://orphantraindepot.org/

Louisiana Orphan Train Museum - https://www.laorphantrainmuseum.com/

Asylums, Orphanages, etc.

New York Juvenile Asylum – https://newyorkjuvenileasylum.com

                                            https://findingaids.library.columbia.edu/archives/cul-6909466

Children’s Aid Society - https://www.childrensaidnyc.org/about/orphan-train-movement

                                          https://findingaids.library.nyu.edu/nyhs/ms111_childrens_aid_society/

New York Foundling Hospital - https://www.familysearch.org/en/wiki/New_York_Foundling_Hospital

American Female Guardian Society – https://www.familysearch.org/en/records/images/search-results?projectId=M944-324 

New York Records & Repositories

New York State Archives - https://www.archives.nysed.gov/research/birth-marriage-death-records

New York City Vital Records - https://a860-historicalvitalrecords.nyc.gov/search

New York Public Library – https://libguides.nypl.org/genealogy/gettingstarted/locatingrecords

Newspapers (free sources)

Advantage Archives - https://communityhistoryarchives.com/

Ancestor Hunt’s Newspaper Links - https://theancestorhunt.com/newspaper-research-links.html

Purdue University’s List of Newspaper by State - https://guides.lib.purdue.edu/digitalUSnewspapers

Social Media Groups

Descendants of the Orphan Trains - https://www.facebook.com/groups/10150103170960414/

Orphan Train DNA - https://www.facebook.com/groups/233578090777700/