Your Guide to Using Libraries and Archives for Genealogical Resarch

Archives contain non-current and usually unpublished records of individuals, organizations or institutions.

This page focuses on identifying and finding libraries, including finding which library might own a book you want

Libraries often house archival material; archives often hold published books. Both are usually staffed by knowledable and helpful people, respectively librarians or archivists. It's hard to find a genealogist who doesn't love libraries and archives, but it is common to find genealogists who don't get all the help that librarians and archivists offer. A good genealogical researcher will take advantage of both the collections and expertise.

For Information on finding a locating Archives, see my separate page on Archives.

To find which libraries own a specific book : Search OCLC's First Catalog. Once you select a book, type your zip code in the box provided and it will show owing libraries nearest you. (This is what I use for the "find in a library" links on my pages.)

OCLC is thrilled that genealogists are using OCLC to find books and have provided a web page especially for us: see their Focus on Genealogy

Libraries : * Local Libraries * Within an hour of Ann Arbor * Within a 1/2 day of Ann Arbor *
* Washington DC * Other Libraries *

Services: Reference Assistance, Interlibrary Loan, Ask A Librarian

Local Libraries

• Ann Arbor District Library
• Ypsilanti District Library
• University of Michigan Library
• Chelsea District Library
• Saline District Library

Within an hour of Ann Arbor; strong genealogy collections

• Toledo Public Library
• Library Of Michigan
• Burton Collection (DPL) 

Within a half day's drive; very strong genealogy collections

• Newberry Library in Chicago
• Allen Co. Public Library in Fort Wayne

In Washington DC

• Library of Congress
• DAR Library
• National Archives

Finding other libraries

* Public Libraries * Private Libraries *
* State Libraries * To find a library *

Top 10 Public Libraries for the Genealogist, identified by Rich Crume in the Oct. 2002 issue of Family Tree Magazine. These are libraries you might visit because they hold large collections that cover a large geographic area. Some might be close to home, some a nice place to spend a day or two while on vacation and you might find one or two that will be a destination place.

• Allen County Public Library, Fort Wayne, Indiana. A standout; the largest genealogy collection of all the public genealogy libraries -- and as you can see by the link above, only a half day's drive from Ann Arbor. Well worth a visit.
• Birmingham (Alabama) Public Library. Tutwiler Collection for Southern Research. (strongest for Alabama)
• Clayton Library Center for Genealogical Research (Houston, Texas). (Be sure to see the more information page ) An extensive collection, covering the whole United States and providing some international resources.
• Dallas Public Library (Texas) Extensive U.S. coverage, Texas Dallas History & Archives Division. and Genealogy Collection
• Denver Public Library: Western History and Genealogy and African American Research Library.
• Detroit Public Library: Burton Collection 30 years ago I used to go to the Burton collection every chance I got. It was a fabulous recource and I loved the collection. Unfortunately the service and attitude was so bad that I started going to other libraries instead. Now I am wondering if it has improved. A hint that that may be the case is the fact that they now charge $10 to use the collection. If they provide adequate service and a minimum of hospitality with that charge, it is worth every penny. As I said... it has been decades since I've been there. I think I'll go in the near future to see what it is like now. If you have Detroit area ancestors, you have no choice.... it's the place to go. It also has a strong Canada collection.
• Los Angeles Public Library See also their Regional History Databases
• Mid Continent Public Library -- Midwest Genealogy Center (Independence, Missouri) One of the few genealogy libraries that will lend books on interlibrary loan.
• New York Public Library - Milstein Division
• Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County Genealogy & Local History Department. Watch this nice little video tour of the collection.

Some Great Private Libraries

Family History Library

State Libraries

• Library Spot:  to find libraries in the US and beyond; also try....
  publiclibraries.com
  State Libraries
• Canadian Libraries
• Libraries w/genealogical resources in Great Britain
• Archives & Repositories in the U.S.
  Archives & Repositories World Wide
• Genealogy Libraries on the WWW (a world wide list)
• Directory of Genealogy Libraries in the U.S.
• Key Online Libraries for the Genealogist

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