Genealogical libraries of interest
Key:
Enpv =
estimated number of print volumes (indices and family histories)
My two
cents: if you have to travel any distance (like, requiring a motel room) to do
your research, don’t waste your time with an enpv
< 60,000. If I have SEEN and been IN the library, and thus verified the
holdings claims and other details of the library then I will note it as
“on-site” verified.
My four
cents: The only good genealogy is genealogy that starts in the largest
collection of indices you can get your hands on. Period.
Warning: several
libraries in the north and northeast claim to be very large but they won’t say
how large their collection actually is. Pictures seem to indicate that they are
grossly exaggerating their collections. Be forewarned: NARA, LOC ‘Reading
Room’, NYC public lib; NY State public lib; MI State lib, etc. I’m not sure why
they do this, but I’m at least skeptical of them. If you live nearby the
aforementioned are a best pick.
In my
research on the Manley surname I have, as of 04 July, 06, searched through
collections totaling approx. 151,000 volumes. Adding Dallas would bring it to
about 231,000 volumes. Correcting for redundancy that equals
about 100,000 unique volumes. A visit to Ft. Wayne would bring it to
about 350K unique volumes.
First Pick
Information
on-site verified: NO
1.) Allen County Public Library
Fred J.
Reynolds Historical Genealogy Department
Enpv: 300’000
Parking:
Emphasis:
national and international
Phone:
260.421.1200
Address:
200 East Berry St., Ft. Wayne, IN 46801-2270
Directions:
Notes: In
terms of actual indices and abstracts of local genealogical records, this
library is the largest in the world. It is also probably the best. If you must
travel and have no idea where you might need to look as you investigate, I
would suggest that you go here first and allocate about 2 weeks full time work
per surname.
Lockers: ?
Website:
http://www.acpl.lib.in.us/genealogy/
Information
on-site verified: NO
2.) Family History Center, Church of
Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
Enpv: 310’000 (specious)
Parking:
Emphasis:
national and international
Phone:
801-240-2584 and 866-406-1830
Address: 35
North West Temple Street, Salt Lake City, Utah, 84150-3400
Directions:
Notes:
Claims for being largest in the world are doubtful as much of their collection
is based on non-academic material from unsourced,
anonymous entries – BAD stuff and
stay away from it! This does as much harm to genealogy as all those incomplete
and error-ridden indices do - and there are lots of them. These folks are NOT
academically rigorous in methodology. In fact, why is this entry here? I
digress.
Lockers: ?
Website: http://www.familysearch.org/Eng/Library/FHL/frameset_library.asp
Information
on-site verified: NO
3.) Daughters of the American
Revolution Genealogical Library
Enpv: 150’000
Parking:
Emphasis:
national; 18th Century onward
Phone: 202
628 1776
Address:
1776 D St. NW Washington, DC 20006
Directions:
Notes:
Mainly for research back to 1775 era; do not expect much from 1600’s.
Lockers: ?
Website: http://www.dar.org/library/
Information
on-site verified: NO
4.) Dallas Public Library, J. Erik Jonsson Library - Genealogical Library
Enpv: 80’000
Parking:
GARAGE HOURS
Sunday 1 p.m. – 5 p.m.
Monday thru
Thursday 9 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Friday &
Saturday
9 a.m. – 5
p.m.
GARAGE RATES
Weekdays:
First Hour
$0.75
Second Hour
$0.75
Each additional hour $0.50
MAXIMUM
$5.00
Saturday & Sunday:
First Hour
$0.75
Second Hour
$0.75
Each additional hour $0.50
MAXIMUM
$3.00
Special Event Parking - Library
Sponsored Events $2.00 per park
Pay
Station will not accept $20 bills
FULL
CHARGE MAY BE MADE FOR LOST TICKET.
RATES
ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE.
Emphasis: national
Phone: 214 670 1433
Address: 1515 Young St. Dallas TX 75201
Directions:
Notes: Top
choice for those limited in geography to southern U.S. By far
the best in the southern U.S.
Lockers: ?
Website: http://dallaslibrary.org/CHS/cgc.htm
Information
on-site verified: NO
5.) Mid-Continent Public Library - North Independence
Branch - Genealogy and Local History Branch
Enpv: 70’000
Parking: probably
cheap or free – this is a branch location
Hours: Monday-Thursday 9-9, Friday 9-6, and Saturday 9-5. The
library is closed Sundays and Holidays.
Emphasis: MO,
bordering states and all east of MO.
Phone: 816 252 7228
Address:
317
W. 24 Highway
Independence, MO 64050-2747
Directions:
From
I-70 exit at Noland Road and turn north. Follow Noland
Road to Highway 24. Turn left. The library is on the left 0.3 miles. If coming
from I-435, use the "Winner Road / Independence
Avenue / Hwy 24" exit. Turn east and follow it 3.7 miles to the library,
on the right. Look for the building with the green roof.
Notes:
Another great choice. Recommend this as low-cost, bang for your buck option
(high volume collection, hotels cheap, low traffic, central U.S., etc.). Is on far east side of Kansas City. Building is physically
connected to North Independence Branch.
Lockers: ?
Website: http://www.mcpl.lib.mo.us/genlh/about/heartland.htm
Information
on-site verified: YES 2003-2005
6.) Denver Public Library
Western
History and Genealogy Department
Enpv: 60’000
Parking:
$12 all day
Emphasis:
VA, MD, NJ, NC, KY, SC
Phone: 404-730-1896
Address: 10
W. 14th Avenue Parkway
Denver, CO 80204-2731
Directions:
On I-25 North take the Colfax exit. Go east on Colfax into downtown. Follow the
loop around the city park and turn right in front of the State Capitol
building. Go through the first light and the library is on your right; continue
through the next light and turn right into the parking garage. The Western
History and Genealogy department is on the 5th floor.
Notes:
Copies are 20 cents apiece. Debit card available. Copyright restrictions on maps
are enforced – no copies of maps are allowed. County indices are located
alphabetically within each state. Very well organized.
Has at least 2 copiers with multiple change machines.
A snack room and gift shop is on the ground floor. Staff is very friendly and
helpful. This lib has a sentimental attachment from me; I got a really good
start spending many, many hours here. Thank you DPL!
Lockers:
YES
Website:
http://www.denver.lib.co.us
Information
on-site verified: YES 27 July, 2006
7.) Library of Virginia
Enpv: 30’000
Parking: garage
Emphasis:
VA, WV
Phone:
804-692-3500
Address:
800 East Broad Street
Richmond, Virginia 23219-8000
Directions:
Downtown Richmond. The genealogy department is called the “reading room” and it
is on the second floor.
Notes: Copy
and print costs vary depending on copy type; copier/printer debit card can be
purchased for 50 cents and with any dollar amount up to $20 and can be
re-credited. County indices are located alphabetically within each state. Very well organized. Several copiers are available. A sandwich
store with limited hours and gift shop is on the ground floor. Rumor has it
that downtown area is not very savory, recommend eating in the sandwich shop
and not venturing out too much. This library is archival and is a great place
to go to get primary sources for numerous types of VA and WV records. Holds tax
list originals for VA and WV on microfilm.
Lockers:
YES
Website:
http://www.lva.lib.va.us
Information
on-site verified: YES abt. May 2006
8.) Chattanooga-Hamilton County
Bicentennial Library – Local History and Genealogy Department
Enpv: 26’000
Parking: $6
all day
Emphasis:
(strong bias for) TN, NC, VA
Phone: 423–757–5317
Address: 1001 Broad Street
Chattanooga, Tennessee 37402
Directions:
Take I-75 North from Atlanta. Take I-24 West exit.
Take Broad Street exit. If you go around the lake you’ve passed it. Turn
around, come back and take Broad street exit. Continue north on Broad Street
until you reach West 11th street. Building is after that on the
left. Turn left onto West 10th street and turn left into parking
structure. Genealogy department is on the 3rd floor.
Notes:
copies are 20 cents apiece. No copy restrictions posted. Only
1 copier.
Lockers: ?
Website:
http://www.lib.chattanooga.gov/localHist/guide.html
Information
on-site verified: YES April to June 2006
9.) Macon-Washington Memorial
Genealogical Library
Enpv: 22’000
Parking:
free –front door
Emphasis:
GA, SC, NC, VA; poor: IL, IN, all north of MD
Phone:
(478) 744-0800
Address:
1180 Washington Avenue
Macon, Georgia 31201
Directions:
Take I-75 south from Atlanta. Take first exit after the I-16 exit (Forsyth
street exit). Go to the second red light and turn left. Continue through 2 or 3
red lights and turn left at the intersection with an Episcopal Church on your
right. Continue to the next red light and turn right. Take the first right into
the parking lot.
Notes:
Copies are 20 cents apiece. Only 1 copier. No copy
restrictions posted.
Lockers: NO
Website:
http://www.co.bibb.ga.us/library/GH.htm
Information
on-site verified: YES abt. May 2006
10.) Ohoopee-Ladson
Genealogical Library
Enpv: 17’000
Parking: free
– front door
Emphasis: GA,
VA, NC
Phone:
912-537-8186
Address:
125 Church Street Suite 104, Vidalia, GA
Directions:
Coming from GA 280 eastbound turn left at red light and intersection with
Church street. Turn at first left side street and park
in parking lot on left. Enter from back of building adjacent to parking lot.
Notes:
Poorly organized library – county books not in alphabetical order. Rules are
excessively restrictive – no laptops, pens or cell phones allowed. Staff
performs copies for you – will not allow individual to do their own copies!
Lockers: NO
Website:
http://www.toombs.public.lib.ga.us/ladson.htm
Information
on-site verified: YES 2000 - 2006
11.) Cobb County Public Library (“The
Georgia Room”)
Enpv: 14’000
Parking: free
– front door
Emphasis: GA,
VA, NC, SC
Phone:
770-594-1706
Address: 266 Roswell Street
Marietta, GA 30060
Directions:
Notes: This
is a fairly new library and many of the books are recent copyrights; therefore,
its size understates its usefulness because many gaps from larger genealogy
libraries can be filled by looking in many of their unusual titles/indices.
Well organized. Copies are 15 cents apiece. Only 1 copier.
Lockers: NO
Website:
http://www.cobbcat.org/aboutgarm.htm
Information
on-site verified: YES May 2006
12.) Rome-Floyd County Public Library
Enpv: 7’000
Parking:
free – front door
Emphasis:
GA
Phone: 706
236-4607
Address:
205 Riverside Parkway
Rome, Georgia 30161
Directions:
Take broad street west to Riverside Pkwy – watch
closely because it’s hard to see. Turn right just after large white building on
right. Take Riverside Pkwy past fire station and library parking lot is on
left.
Notes:
though it is a very small the library the staff is very helpful and friendly.
Copies are 20 cents apiece but copier is of poor quality. 1
copier only.
Lockers: NO
Website:
http://www.romelibrary.org/specialcollections/genealogyStart.html
Information
on-site verified: YES May 2006
13.) Atlanta-Fulton County Public
Library Main Branch
Enpv: 5’000
Parking:
$12 all day
Emphasis:
VA, MD, NJ, NC, KY, SC
Phone:
404-730-1700
Address:
0ne Margaret Mitchell Square, Atlanta, GA 30303
Directions:
Coming from I-75 south take the Andrew Young, International Blvd exit at
downtown. Go west on International and turn left at the Westin Hotel (the
silver, cylindrical building). Continue about 4 blocks and the library is on
your right. Turn right just before library. Parking structure is on your left.
The genealogy department is on the 5th floor. Security will check
your bags.
Notes:
Whoever created this library must have great disdain for genealogy. This
library is mostly a general history library with a de-emphasis on genealogical
indices and abstracts. Only one copier and of poor quality – was broken when I
was there. That this was located in a city of the size of Atlanta is pathetic! The
local taxpayers should be outraged.
Lockers: gimme a break
Website:
http://www.af.public.lib.ga.us/georgia_local_and_family_history_department.html