Genealogy
Genealogy is the study of family history based on records of important events in the lives of individuals and their ancestors. Genealogy researchers attempt to identify their ancestors by interviewing family members and by tracking down vital records and other significant written documents. The objective of this rewarding and popular pursuit is to document a family's roots as far back as possible and to chart family relationships.
The Santa Clara City Library Genealogy Collection
The Santa Clara City Library, with the assistance of the Santa Clara County Historical and Genealogical Society, maintains a Genealogy Collection in the Heritage Pavilion of the Central Park Library.
Our international genealogy collection includes:
Genealogy "how to" books including guides to research in specific countries and for specific ethnic groups United States Census Records through 1840, California through 1880, and Santa Clara County through 1920 Historical atlases and maps Immigration resources including indexes to ship passenger lists National, state, and county histories and vital record extractions Early Settler Files, cemetery headstone index, land records, and vital records for Santa Clara County prior to 1905 (Note: After 1905, contact the Santa Clara County Clerk-Recorder's Office at http://www.clerkrecorder.org)
This extensive collection is included in the Library's online catalog. You will find many titles by doing a subject search in our catalog using the following terms: "genealogy," "United States genealogy handbooks," "probate records," "register of births," "wills," "marriage records," "church records and registers," "obituaries," "death notices," and "cemeteries." New Genealogy & Local History Arrivals are the subject of a "Featured List." Microform, CD-ROM, periodical, and audiotape materials that are not listed in the online catalog are also available in the Genealogy Room.
Check the Santa Clara County Historical and Genealogical Society home page for information on consultant services, information-sharing meetings, and beginning genealogy instruction offered at the Central Park Library for the general public.
Genealogy Resources on the Internet
The Librarian's Index to the Internet Genealogy section Provides annotations for and links to some of the very best genealogy Web pages.
The Librarian's Index to the Internet Phone Book section Provides links to national phone directories that can be useful in locating relatives.
The Librarian's Index to the Internet Obituaries section Provides links to Web sites that monitor or provide access to online obituaries.
The Librarian's Index to the Internet California History Topics Page Provides links to Web sites that lead to sources of California local history and genealogy
California Room San Jose Public Library Provides indexes to sources of information on many San Jose and Santa Clara County pioneers. See especially the California Room Database.
Sutro Library National Archives Santa Clara Family History Center Bay Area genealogy libraries and archives that have valuable material for genealogists.
Family History Library Catalog Provides online access to the catalog of the world's largest genealogy library, the LDS Family History Library in Salt Lake City.
Library of Congress Provides a wealth of genealogical and historical materials.
The U.S. GenWeb Project Provides a Web link to each state in the United States and from each state's Web site to every county in the United States. A dedicated group of volunteers throughout the country works to monitor, create and provide Web sites for genealogical research.
The World GenWeb The World GenWeb Project is a non-profit, volunteer based organization dedicated to providing access to genealogical and historical records and resources all over the world.
Google Books Search Google is digitizing large parts of the book collections of several major university libraries, including Stanford. A surprising number of genealogy and local history books have been digitized.
Ancestry Library Edition Courtesy of the Foundation and Friends of the Santa Clara City Library, this resource is available at Central Park Library. Databases include the U.S. Census Collection; the U.K. and Ireland Collection; Birth, Marriage and Death Records; the Immigration Collection; the Military Collection; Family and Local History Records; Court, Land and Probate Records; and Trees and Message Boards. [Please Note: This resource is available only on the Internet and Database Workstations in Central Park Library. No remote access from home or office.]
Heritage Quest Online Courtesy of the Foundation and Friends of the Santa Clara City Library, this ProQuest resource is available at all SCCL locations and from home with a current SCCL library card. Databases include 1790-1930 Federal Census Collection, Genealogy & Local History Book Collection, PERSI Index, and Revolutionary War Pension Records & Bounty Land Warrants.
NewEnglandAncestors.org The Santa Clara City Library is now an Institutional Member of the New England Historic Genealogical Society. This means that patrons in the Central Park Library have access to all areas of the NewEnglandAncestors.org website except The Great Migration Newsletter Online. Users can access over 110 million names in 2000 databases. Patrons may view databases by record type: Atlases, Bible Records, Cemeteries, Tax Lists, Church Records, Courts Records, Diaries, Heraldry, Immigration, Land Records, Local Histories, Military, Probate Records, the NEHGR 1847-1994, Town Records and Vital Records. Or, patrons may view databases by region: Canada, Connecticut, England, Ireland, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island, Vermont. [Please Note: This resource is available only on the Internet and Database Workstations in Central Park Library. No remote access from home or office.]
Finally, if you are doing research on Santa Clara families, don't forget to check out our Local History Web page.