Genealogy Collection

GENEALOGY

DISCOVER YOUR ROOTS
A WEALTH OF RESOURCES FOR FAMILY RESEARCH

Whether you're just getting started or you've been at it for years, the Genealogy collection in the History Department is a great place to find out more about your family roots.

It's only natural to want to know more about where you come from and who came before you. This collection is designed to help people of all backgrounds get a better idea of who their ancestors were and how they lived. There is a particular emphasis on records and materials from 18th and 19th century Southern states, especially Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Mississippi. and Arkansas.

RECORDS, INDEXES, AND OTHER RESOURCES

One of the most used resources in the entire library system, the Genealogy collection consists of a variety of materials beneficial in family research indexes, source book published family histories, county records in print and on microfilm, magazines, manuscript holdings, and microfilm of United States census records for 1790 to 1930.

EXPERT ASSISTANCE AND INSTRUCTION

Library staff are happy to help you use the sources and equipment in the Genealogy collection. In addition, you may want to attend instructional  workshops (held in May and October) about different aspects of genealogy, including: an introduction to family research, African American research, using military records, the United States census, immigration  naturalization records, vital records, and research on the Internet

EXTRA HELP FOR MEMPHIS AND SHELBY COUNTY GENEALOGY

If your roots are of the local variety, this is the best place to conduct your genealogy research. Ask about our microfilmed and indexed Memphis and Shelby County records.

COMPLETELY SEARCHABLE MASTER DATABASE OF LOCAL INDEXES

Make your local genealogy search even easier - use our fully searchable online database of local indexes and archival materials. The database includes indexes to the deaths of Memphians from the Yellow Fever (1878), the Freedmen's Bureau Marriage Index (1864-1865), and the Memphis/Shelby County Death Index (1848-1945). You can access this database at home through our web site (www.rnemphislibrary.com) or one of the many computers in the library.

The Genealogy collection is made possible thanks to the generous support of many different library customers through both direct contributions and donations of genealogical works. If you would like to help, please contact the History Department at 415-2742.

LOCATION

4th Floor, History Department
Benjamin 1. Hooks Central Library
3030 Poplar Avenue
Memphis, TN 38111

CONTACT

(901) 415-2742 (History Department)
(901) 415-2700 (Library Information Center)
www.memphislibrary.org

OPEN

Monday - Thursday 10 a.m. - 8 p.m.
Friday - Saturday 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Sunday 1 p.m. - 5 p.m.

Mission Statement: The Memphis Public Library & Information Center is in the business of satisfying  the customer's need to know.