Genealogy Resources: Genealogical Societies, Historical Societies, and Libraries for Genealogical Research

Genealogical/Historical Societies and Libraries for Genealogy Records, Research, and Resources

Genealogy Resources: Genealogical Societies, Historical Societies, and Libraries for Genealogical Research

Are you tapping into your genealogy resources with genealogical societies, historical societies, and libraries that hold genealogical collections for your research?

Did you know that genealogical, historical, lineage, hereditary, ethnic, and veterans societies, along with libraries, are fantastic resources for your genealogy research?! With so much readily available online nowadays, many forget that the MAJORITY of genealogy records and resources are found offline. If you’re stuck in your research, and have exhausted online resources, you may want to make one of these fantastic repositories one of your next stops! They often have information that you won’t find anywhere else! 

Records You May Find at a Genealogical Society, Historical Society, or Genealogical Library

• Newspapers and Newspaper Clippings (keep in mind that only about 10 % of newspapers are online) 😉
• Obituaries
• Marriage announcements
• Birth Announcements
• Bible records
• Indexes to Vital Records
• Other birth, marriage, and death information
• Census records
• City directories
• Immigration records
• Military records
• Cemetery or burial information
• Church records
• Local Histories and Biographies
• Wills
• Tax records
• School records
• Business records
• Telephone directories
• Architectural plans
• Diaries and Journals
• Letters
• Photos
• Family genealogies and histories
• Heraldry and Coats of Arms
• Collections of rare books and manuscripts
• Court cases
• Land deeds
• Probate records
• Maps
• Short-lived documents of the time (such as tickets, event programs, advertisements, certificates, receipts, and so much more)
• Railroad records
• And this list could go on forever!

 
Did you know that many offer classes and have access to online genealogy databases for free, as well as a plethora of records and resources? 

FREE Resources You May Get at a Genealogical Society,  Historical Society, or Genealogical Library

• Access to Online Ancestry and Genealogy Databases such as:
  • MyHeritage
  • Ancestry
  • Fold3
  • NewspaperArchive
  • Newspapers.com
  • Other ancestry databases, such as:
  • FamilySearch
  • Findmypast
  • HeritageQuest
  • HistoryGeo
  • AmericanAncestors.org
  • Other newspaper archives
  • GenealogyBank 
• Genealogical Education Opportunities:
  • Classes and seminars
  • Workshops
  • Special interest groups
  • Special programs
  • Events
  • How-to-books
  • And so much more! 
• Genealogy Assistance:
  • Volunteer research assistance (or minimal fee researchers)

Some U.S. Genealogical and Historical Societies

• National Genealogical Societies:
  • National Genealogical Society
  • Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR)
  • Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania
  • Irish Genealogical Society International (IGSI)
• Lineage and Hereditary Societies:
  • Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR)
  • Sons of the American Revolution
  • General Society of Mayflower Descendants
  • And many, many more!
• State Genealogical and Historical Societies:
  • Virginia Genealogical Society
  • Virginia Historical Society
  • Ohio Genealogical Society
  • Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania
  • Historical Society of Pennsylvania
  • New York Genealogical and Biographical Society
  • The North Carolina Genealogical Society
  • The New York Historical Society
  • South Carolina Genealogical Society
  • South Carolina Historical Society
  • California Genealogical Society and Library
  • Georgia Genealogical Society
  • Alabama Genealogical Society
  • And so many more!
• Regional Genealogical and Historical Societies:
  • Southern California Genealogical Society
  • Central New York Genealogical Society
  • Western New York Genealogical Society
  • Northern New York American-Canadian Genealogical Society
  • Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania
  • New England Historic Genealogical Society
  • Northwest Georgia Historical & Genealogical Society
  • Southwest Georgia Genealogical Society
  • Central Georgia Genealogical Society
  • Coastal Georgia Genealogical Society
  • And many, many more!
• County and Local Genealogical and Historical Societies:
  • Check your state and area for county and local genealogical and historical societies, there are literally hundreds  
• Ethnic Genealogical and Historical Societies:
  • Afro- American Historical and Genealogical Society
  • American Jewish Historical Society
  • Genealogical Hispanic Society of America
  • Irish Genealogical Society International (IGSI)
  • International German Genealogy Partnership (IGGP)
  • Norwegian-American Genealogical Association
  • Chinese Historical Society of America
  • Polish Genealogical Society of America
  • And more!

*This list is in no way exhaustive, so check every state you need to research for a plethora of genealogical societies and historical societies

​U.S. Libraries for Genealogical Research

• Family History Library
• Allen County Public Library
• Mid-Continent Public Library
• Library of Congress
• The New York Public Library (NYPL)
• Los Angeles Public Library
• New England Historic Genealogical Society Library
• And more

Questions

Are you making use of genealogical societies and libraries in your research? Have you used any of these repositories on the list? What genealogy records above have you found specifically at a genealogical/ historical society or a library? Do you have any recommendations to add to the list? I’d love to hear your comments below in the comment section!

​More Genealogy Resources

Learn about more family history and genealogy resources under the Genealogy Resources category and on my dedicated Genealogy Resources page.

More Genealogy Records

Learn about more records you can use in your research under the Genealogy Records category.