Don't Overlook Academic Libraries

Academic libraries are probably one of the most overlooked repositories when it comes to genealogy research. But the universities and colleges in the states in which your ancestors lived should definitely be on your list of places to look. These libraries usually contain special collections or archives related to the history of the state or region, as well as the areas surrounding the campus. Even better, many universities are digitizing their archival collections and making them available online for free.

Visiting an academic library’s website is probably the easiest route to discover what materials they have in their collection. You could also try websites such as WorldCat or ArchiveGrid, but keep in mind that not all academic libraries participate in these special catalogs.

Personally, I think it’s better to go directly to the library’s website because you can see what collections they have, access any digital collections, and consult any finding aids. You might even come across a curated list of genealogy resources that the library holds, such as this page from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Sometimes these libraries compile comprehensive research guides to genealogy resources among their collection. One example is Winthrop University’s Louise Pettus Archives and Special Collections, which has a 113-page PDF guide to relevant genealogy records. While finding a listing of genealogy records is great, you’ll still want to consider other manuscript collections that are not traditionally thought of as genealogy resources.

When I’m working on a genealogy project and in the planning phase, I like to create a list of potential academic libraries for the places I’m researching. There are two resources I typically use to find colleges and universities in my places of interest: Wikipedia's List of Universities and Colleges by US State and Peterson’s College Search Engine. Then, I head to each institution’s website and look for their library’s page, where I look for categories labeled: Special Collections, Archives, Manuscript Collections, etc. I then start exploring their holdings to see if any might help me answer whatever research question I’m working on. I add relevant items to my list, and then I determine how I might be able to access them (are they online, do I have to go in-person, does staff fulfill record or research requests, should I hire a researcher). I actually enjoy this process, as I discover some really neat things along the way. Plus, it gets me thinking outside the box, which is usually necessary for those darn brick walls!

Before I sign off, I just want to mention that there are times when records and manuscript collections end up somewhere unexpected. In other words, not everything stays local. This is the case with many archival repositories, not just academic libraries. This is when using WorldCat or ArchiveGrid can help you find things in unexpected places. For example, a collection of twentieth-century letters from an Iowa woman is sitting in the University of North Dakota’s Chester Fritz Library.

Find an academic library near a place where an ancestor lived, then head to their catalog, special collections, and/or archives to explore their holdings to see what might be of help to you.

© Julie Tarr. This article was first published at Genealogy In Action; appearance of this article elsewhere, without my permission, violates copyright.