Help
Find Genealogical Material
- Materials in the Libraries
- Arizona Resources
- Web Sources Available to the General Public for Genealogial Research
General Information:
The University Libraries are primarily an academic collection designed to support the curriculum of The University of Arizona. We do not attempt to acquire standard sources for genealogical research, however, the Libraries have a number of resources that can be useful for those doing genealogical research.
While remote access to the Libraries databases is restricted to The University of Arizona community the Libraries policies on general public access to its Libraries and its computers are as follows:
During daytime and evening hours, the Libraries buildings, collections, and facilities are available to everyone, including visitors.
Information Commons computers are available to anyone on a first come, first served basis. There are no time limits on using these computers, and there is no sign-up reservation policy. Exceptions to this general rule will be made when there is a wait for computers. UA students, faculty, and staff have priority on Information Commons computers. Be prepared to show a CatCard, or demonstrate in some other way (logging into Student Link, logging into an arizona.edu e-mail account) that you are affiliated with the UA. Anyone who cannot do this will be presumed to be a community user and may be asked to relinquish the computer. In addition, when there is a wait for computers, anyone who is using a computer for recreational purposes only (such as for playing games, chat rooms, etc.) will be asked to relinquish the computer.
Materials in the Libraries
The UA Libraries Catalog is the most important resource for gaining access to the collection. It is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week from the Libraries website.
The UA Libraries provides access to the national online catalog, WorldCat. This database has over 60 million records and many archival records have been entered.
Note: Remote access to this resource is restricted to The University of Arizona community.
Search Terms
Materials relevant to genealogical research in the online catalog may be found using these words:
| Archives | Heraldry | Public Land Records |
| Business Records | Inscriptions | Public Records |
| Church Records | Inventories of Decedents’ Estates | Registers of Births, etc… |
| Criminal Registers | Land Grants | Slave Records |
| Death Notices | Marriage Records | Taxation-Lists |
| Deeds | Mining Claims | Titles of Honor and Nobility |
| Epitaphs | Names | Trials |
| Families of Royal Descent | Obituaries | Voting Registers |
| Genealogy | Probate Records | Wills |
Most of the genealogical material is housed in the book stacks by call number with access through the catalog. Most published genealogies are given the classification CC100 to CC200. It is possible to browse the stacks in this call number area on the 3rd floor of the Main Library. Some of the commonly requested types of material are listed as follows:
Family Genealogical Materials in The University Libraries
Although the Libraries have a very limited collection of published genealogies, family genealogies can be searched through the Libraries catalog as follows: One line one, change " Any Field " to " Subject " from the pull-down menu and then, in the box along side of it, type in the family name.
Example : Entering "Mendoza family"
will retrieve a record for:
Historia genealógica de la Casa de Haro; (Señores de Llodio, Mendoza , Orozco y Ayala)
Edición, prólogo y notas por Dalmiro de la Válgoma y Díaz-Varela
Salazar y Castro, Luis de, 1658-1734
Madrid, Real Academia de la Historia, 1959 [i.e. 1966] CS959 .H35 1966
County Histories
County histories can be researched by region, state, county or town using these most commonly used subdivisions: genealogy , or biography , or history.
Example : Entering "Pima County"
will retrieve county histories as well as biographical and genealogical information.
A search in the catalog using the name of the location (county, town or parish) (state, if US, or country) , with the subdivisions: "History" and "Sources" will retrieve records relevant to that area.
Example: On the first line type the name of the state ("Arizona" is used in our example below.)
On lines two and three use the drop-down boxes to change the "Any Field" to "Subject".
On line two type "History" and on line three type "Sources" into the text boxes.
Periodicals
For a general overview of our periodical titles, search the online catalog as follows:
On line one use the drop-down box to change the “ Any Field ” to "Subject " and type " Genealogy " in the text box. On line two use the drop-down box to change “ Any Field ” to "Subject " and type in " Periodicals " in the text.
City Directories
Following the examples above, for a general city directory search in the Libraries Catalog enter a "Keyword" search using the term “city directory”. To search a specific area, type a subject search under the name of the region for directories.
Example : Arizona Directories or Tucson (Ariz.) Directories or Pima County (Ariz.) Directories
Guides in the UA Library
- Doane, Gilbert H. and James B. Bell.
Searching for Your Ancestors.
5th ed. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press, 1980.
CS16 .D6 1980 - The Source : A Guidebook of American Genealogy
Edited by Loretto Dennis Szucs and Sandra Hargreaves Luebking.
Salt Lake City: Ancestry, 1997.
CS49 .S65 1984
Note: To find more genealogical guides, please check the call numbers starting with the letters " CS " in the UA Library catalog as follows:
From the main UA Library Catalog screen, select " Other Searches "
Select " Other Call Numbers"
Enter " CS " in the text box
Biographical Online Dictionaries at the UA Library
A list of biographical dictionaries can be found on the UA Library's home page under " Search & Find ," select "Reference Resources " and then by selecting Biographies.
Note: Off campus access is restricted to UA faculty, staff, and students
American National Biography offers full text portraits of more than 17,500 [deceased] men and women from all eras and walks of life whose lives have shaped the nation. Includes about 7000 biographies not found in the earlier Dictionary of American Biography [which was also published under auspices of the ACLS]. Use the Search by Name box; type last name, followed by first name.
Formerly Biography Resource Center, this is a comprehensive database of biographical information on more than a half million people from throughout history, around the world, and across all disciplines and subject areas. Use Advanced Search to find the author of your biography.
Encyclopedia of World Biography
Encyclopedia of World Biography is an index to hundreds of sources with biographical information on people worldwide and from all time periods. You will need to consult the UA Library Catalog to find the call number for each information source.
Oxford Dictionary of National Biography
Oxford Dictionary of National Biography p rovides signed biographies of 50,000 men and women who have shaped all aspects of British history from the earliest times up to the present. It is searchable by name, full text, references, contributors, images, and may also be browsed alphabetically by name, or by themes. For British authors.
Biographical Paper Resources in the UA Library
A list of biographical paper resources in the UA Library can be found in the UA Library's Catalog as follows:
On line one use the drop-down box to change the “Any Field” to "Subject "and type" Dictionaries " in the text box. On line two use the drop-down box to change “Any Field” to "Subject" and type in "Biography" in the text.
Examples:
Slocum, Robert B.
- Biographical dictionaries and related works: an international bibliography of approximately 16,000 collective biographies.
Detroit, Mich.: Gale Research Co., c1986.
CT104 .S66 1986 Main Reference. - National Cyclopaedia of American Biography
New York: James T. White. 1898-1984.
E176 .N28 Main Reference.
Peerage Lists, Heraldry
- Burke's Genealogical and Heraldic History of the Peerage, Baronetage and Knightage
London: Burke's Peerage Ltd., 1970.
CS420 .B85 Latest in Main Reference; earlier in Stacks. - American and British Genealogy and Heraldry.
Boston: New England Historic Genealogical Society, 1983.
Online Ref Z5311 .F47 1983 - Passenger and Immigration Lists Index . 3 vols.
Detroit: Gale, 1981 plus supplements.
CS68 .P37 Main Library.
Maps
Historic maps may provide some land ownership information. Search in the UA Library Catalog under the name of the locality and the word "Maps".
Example :
On line one use the drop-down box to change the “ Any Field ” to "Subject " and type " Arizona " in the text box. On line two use the drop-down box to change “ Any Field ” to "Subject " and type in " Maps " in the text.
Newspapers
In researching newspapers, it is more effective to search each newspaper separately. A guide to finding newspapers, including those held by the UA Library, can be found at the URL above or by the directions below:
Historic newspapers can be found on the UA Library's home page under " Help", select "How do I?..." and then by selecting Newspapers.
On-Line Newspapers
A listing of on-line newspapers can be found on the UA Library's home page under " Search & Find", select "Article and Database Searching" and then by selecting " News/Newspapers " in the drop-down box entitled " Find databases in your subject area".
Note : Off campus access is restricted to UA faculty, staff, and students
Obituaries
The UA Library has obituary indexes, notably for the New York Times , CT104 .N58 Main Ref. In addition, obituaries or death notices can be found using:
Proquest Historical Newspapers
Proquest has the following newspapers in its database:
- New York Times, 1851-2002
- LA Times, 1881-1985
- Atlanta Constitution, 1868-1925
- Chicago Tribune, 1849-1985,
- Washington Post, 1877-1989
Early American Newspapers Series 1, Series 2 and Series 3
A digitized collection: early American newspapers including titles from all 50 present states. Includes:
- Early American Newspapers, Series 1 (1690 - 1876)
- Early American Newspapers, Series 2 (1758 - 1900)
- Early American Newspapers, Series 3 (1829 - 1922)
Note: Off campus access is restricted to UA faculty, staff, and students
Census Materials
The U.S. Census Bureau has decennial census reports from 1790 to 2000. In addition, paper copies of census materials are located in the government documents area, which the vast majority of paper items are housed on the 3rd floor of the Main Library. This web site is free to the public.
Arizona Resources
Arizona Genealogy Birth and Death Certificates
PDF copies of birth and death certificates that are now public record (for births that occurred at least 75 years ago and deaths that occurred at least 50 years ago). From Arizona Department of Health Services.
The Arizona Historical Society has the world's largest collection of Arizona history artifacts, documents, and photographs.
Arizona History and Archives Division - Family History
The Arizona State Archives contains many types of public records which may be useful to family historians. Among the many resources available are:
-
Assessment Rolls containing lists of taxable persons and their property.
-
Brand Indexes and Books.
-
Coroner or Justice Court records detail inquests held for deaths that occurred by violence or under suspicious conditions.
-
Great Registers containing personal information required of those who registered to vote. Great Registers before 1912 contains only men.
-
Miscellaneous Books, as their name implies, contain land records, proof of labor, plat maps, court documents, a few marriage records and whatever fell under the Miscellaneous category.
-
Records from the Territorial Prison.
-
Superior Court records including pre-WW II marriage licenses, wills, probate cases, and civil and criminal cases.
Arizona State Library Archives and Public Records
The Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records serves the information needs of Arizona citizens as authorized in Arizona Revised Statutes §41-1331 through §41-1352. Through its divisions, the Agency provides access to unique historical and contemporary resources:
-
Archives of historical records in Arizona.
-
Museums on state government history and people of the state.
-
Public records management program.
-
Research and law library. Includes Federal Regional Depository.
University of Arizona - Special Collections
The University of Arizona Library Special Collections maintains collections of rare books and unique archival materials that make possible in-depth research on selected topics. The scope and diversity of Special Collections make it an important resource for the international academic community. Established in 1958 to house materials on Arizona, the Southwest, and the U.S./Mexico Borderlands, Special Collections now includes rare books, manuscript collections, photographs, and other materials in a wide variety of subject areas. Below are sections of Special Collections that may be of use:
University of Arizona - Manuscripts
Includes papers of individuals.
University of Arizona Archives
The University of Arizona archives in Special Collections contain administration and departmental records, photographs and biographical information relating to past students and faculty from the late 19th and early 20th century.
University Records Management and Archives Facility
More recent records are maintained at the University Records Management and Archives Facility. University of Arizona scientists whose papers are held by Special Collections include Andrew E. Douglass, Edward T. Hall, Pierre Lecomte du Nouy, Homer L. Shantz, and George E.P. Smith.
Information on birth and death certificates, adoptions and other records kept by the Arizona Office of Vital Records.
Web Sources Available to the General Public for Genealogical Research
Search the Mormon Church's huge genealogy record collection in the free genealogy search engine below.
Arizona Genealogy Birth and Death Certificates
PDF copies of birth and death certificates that are now public record (for births that occurred at least 75 years ago and deaths that occurred at least 50 years ago). From Arizona Department of Health Services.
The Arizona Historical Society has the world's largest collection of Arizona history artifacts, documents, and photographs.
The U.S. Census Bureau has decennial census reports from 1790 to 2000. In addition, paper copies of census materials are located in the government documents area, which the vast majority of paper items are housed on the 3rd floor of the Main Library. This web site is free to the public.
Free - provide extensive immigration and passenger lists.
Free - provide extensive immigration and passenger lists.
(Open Access to All) should be your first stop in beginning your online genealogical research. It has several major services, which can all be searched at once. Personal Ancestral File (PAF), a very good and inexpensive genealogical software package, can be accessed and downloaded from this site.
International Genealogy Index (IGI)
The International Genealogy Index is available through the Family Search page. This index includes t he contents of many parish registers.
Available through the Pima Public Library Site , under the heading of Databases and Online Collections, People and Places. Any resident of Pima County may apply for a Library card and gain access.
Proquest Historical Newspapers
Proquest has the following newspapers in its database:
- New York Times, 1851-2002
- LA Times, 1881-1985
- Atlanta Constitution, 1868-1925
- Chicago Tribune, 1849-1985,
- Washington Post, 1877-1989)
The message bord tab is a recommended way of searching by name or location.
Information on birth and death certificates, adoptions and other records kept by the Arizona Office of Vital Records.