Genealogy and Local History Collection

The Genealogy Collection of the Arlington Public Library is designed to aid researchers in tracing their family lines, using records such as census, marriages, births and deaths, immigration and family histories. These materials are available in print, microform, and electronic formats. The collection has been developed with the help of the Arlington Genealogical Society, which meets on the second Tuesday of the month from September to June at 6:30 p.m. in the Community Room of George W. Hawkes Central Library.

The print and microform collection is housed at the Central Library and is classified by means of a locally developed classification system (collection does not circulate).

The Arlington Genealogical Society meets the second Tuesday of every month from September through June at 6:30 p.m. in the Community Room of the George W. Hawkes Central Library on the lower level. Visitors are always welcome. For more information contact Ruth Goodman.

Available from Home

Genealogy databases

Most genealogy databases can be accessed from home.

Death notices and miscellaneous news items

The Arlington Journal and The Arlington Citizen from the years 1897 - 1940.

Staff-selected genealogy resources

Available at all Library Locations

Ancestry Library Edition

World's largest online resource for family history documents and family trees.

Books on beginning genealogy

Central Library second floor Genealogy Collection

Local history resources

• Obituaries, death notices, and newspaper clippings on local events in our Arlington local history vertical files
• Select Arlington ISD school annual yearbooks
• Historical Arlington City directories and phone books

Arlington Genealogical Society surname index

Genealogy books

From all 50 states except Hawaii and various countries, with an emphasis on those places that are important in historical immigration patterns to Texas. Search in our catalog.

Various genealogy resources on microfilm

Genealogy Reference Magazines

Map files. World maps sorted by Country and Region; Travel maps by State and City

Photocopy machines

Copy machines are provided on the first and second floors of the main building. Self-service photocopies are $.10 per page. The photocopiers accept cash and do provide change.

Microprint copy machines

Two machines are available on the second floor of the main building. We have one state-of-the-art microfilm machine that prints to our public printers for $.15 per page. Self-service copies from our second machine are $.25 per page and this machine accept quarters only.