About Us

Ancestral Trails Historical Society, Inc. (ATHS) is a regional genealogical and historical society with a national membership. Ancestral Trails Historical Society had its beginnings in Radcliff, Kentucky on October 3, 1975. It was formed “to bring together persons who are researching history and genealogy and to share ideas, information, research methods, and practices. We work with local officials and other organizations to preserve cemeteries, historic buildings, public records and historical and/or genealogical collections. Our focus is on the following ten Kentucky counties: Breckinridge, Bullitt, Edmonson, Grayson, Hardin, Hart, Jefferson, LaRue, Meade, Nelson and Harrison in Indiana. Historical or genealogy presentations are available to groups or organizations upon request. 

Ancestral Trails Historical Society, Inc. is a tax-exempt organization. We welcome donations and will gladly furnish any donor with a receipt for tax purposes.

To make a donation, contact our treasurer:
ATHS, Inc. – Treasurer
PO Box 1796
Elizabethtown, KY
42702-1796



Our research library
is at 201 W. Dixie Ave., Elizabethtown, KY 42701 http://mapq.st/eQGWyZ within the Hardin County History Museum. We are open Tuesday through Saturday, 10 AM to 2 PM.
Our phone number is 270-982-0881. Limited research assistance is available. Contact our librarian via email at athslibrarian@outlook.com.  
We have an extensive collection that is updated periodically. Our research library is not limited to the above mentioned counties and states. 

Membership dues are $25.00 annually per individual or family payable on the membership anniversary date. Members will receive four issues of ANCESTRAL NEWS and free insertion of Queries. Members are urged to submit 5-generation pedigree charts, family sheets: aka, Ahnentafels.
Join now at the following link https://aths.site/product/aths-membership/.

Society meetings are generally held the first Friday of each month at the Elizabethtown Community and Technical College, 600 College St., Jim Owen Administrative Building, room 112, Elizabethtown, KY 42701. The program and presenter for our meeting will be posted on this website under the Events page. Our meetings are also listed in the News Enterprise in Hardin County.  The monthly scheduled meeting will be canceled if Hardin County Schools are closed due to inclement weather. Meetings start at 7:00PM.

Ancestral News is our quarterly newsletter. Members are encouraged to submit family information, articles, and other historically relevant materials. For submission guidelines click on the following link. Article Rules

Book Fair We host an annual Book Fair for authors, vendors, and nonprofit organizations to sell historical and genealogical research materials.

Book Purchases: We have established three ways to purchase books from our organization for your convenience.

  • We have a virtual bookstore on our website where you can purchase electronically.
  • If you prefer to order via the United States Postal Service, there is a printable order form on our website.
  • Libraries with a purchase order, please email our clerk at sharon5701@gmail.com and provide the name of your organization and contact information.