Finding Genealogical Material at the UA Library
General Information:
The University Library is primarily an academic collection designed to support the curriculum of the University. 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 UA Library 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 University of Arizona Library’s 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 a u.arizona.edu e-mail account) that you are affiliated with the UA. Anyone who can't 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 UA LIBRARY
UA Library Catalog
The UA Library 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 Library web site. The UA Library Catalog can be located off of the main page of UA Main Library web site:
http://www.library.arizona.edu/
WorldCat
The UA Library provides access to the national online "catalog", WorldCat. This database has about 60 million records and in which many archival records have been entered. WorldCat can be found from the Library’s home page under:
Article and Database Searching
http://www.library.arizona.edu/search/articles/
Select "Find Databases by Title: W"
http://www.library.arizona.edu/search/articles/dbByTitle.php?titlechar=W.
Selecting "WorldCat"
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 UA Library:
Although the UA Library has a very limited collection of published genealogies, family genealogies can be searched through the UA Library 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 UA Library 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
http://www.library.arizona.edu/search/reference/biographies.html
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.
The Biography Resource Center + The Complete Marquis Who's Who® is a comprehensive database of biographical information on more than one million people from throughout history, around the world, and across all disciplines and subject areas. Use Biographical Facts Search to find the author of your biography
(Wilson) Biography Reference Bank contains narrative profiles of over a half million people. Included are the original profiles of Wilson Biographies Plus Illustrated (covering many print volumes of biographical reference books published by H. W. Wilson and others, including all volumes of Current Biography), combined with periodicals coverage of Biography Index and full text articles, page images, and abstracts from the complete range of Wilson database
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 provides 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
http://www.library.arizona.edu/help/how/find/maps/index.html
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
http://www.library.arizona.edu/help/how/find/newspapers/index.html
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
http://www.library.arizona.edu/search/articles/dbBySubject.php
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
http://www.library.pima.gov/research/databases/
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)
AND IN -
Early American Newspapers Series 1, Series 2 and Series 3
http://www.library.arizona.edu/search/articles/dbByTitle.php?titlechar=E
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
http://www.census.gov/prod/www/abs/decennial/index.htm
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
http://www.library.arizona.edu/search/reference/arizona.html
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. This site can also be found from the UA Library home page under: "Reference Resources, select "Arizona Information" select "Arizona Genealogy Birth and Death Certificates."
Arizona Historical Society
http://www.arizonahistoricalsociety.org
The Arizona Historical Society has the world's largest collection of Arizona history artifacts, documents, and photographs.
Arizona History and Archives Division - Family History
http://www.lib.az.us/archives/famhistory.cfm
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
http://www.library.arizona.edu/speccoll/
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.
http://www.library.arizona.edu/speccoll/collections/manuscript.html
Includes papers of individuals.
University of Arizona Archives
http://aao.lib.asu.edu/index.html
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
http://w3.arizona.edu/~records/
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.
Vital Statistics
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).
WEB SOURCES AVAILABLE TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC FOR GENEALOGICAL RESEARCH:
http://www.ancestorhunt.com/mormon_church_records.htm
Search the Mormon Church's huge genealogy record collection in the free genealogy search engine below.Arizona Genealogy Birth and Death Certificates
http://www.library.arizona.edu/search/reference/arizona.html
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. This site can also be found from the UA Library home page under: "Reference Resources, select "Arizona Information" select "Arizona Genealogy Birth and Death Certificates."
Arizona Historical Society
http://www.arizonahistoricalsociety.org
The Arizona Historical Society has the world's largest collection of Arizona history artifacts, documents, and photographs.
Census Materials
http://www.census.gov/prod/www/abs/decennial/index.htm
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.
Castle Garden
Free - provide extensive immigration and passenger lists.
Family Search
(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 the contents of many parish registers.
Heritage Quest
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
http://www.library.pima.gov/research/databases/
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)
RootsWeb
http://www.rootsweb.com/The message bord tab is a recommended way of searching by name or location.
Vital Statistics
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).
Written by Jen Tellman, History Librarian, November 2007
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Web Page Created by Brenda G. Walsh