This guide describes some of the resources available at the UW Libraries that can be useful for those researching family history. Though the UW Libraries does not have a genealogical collection, many parts of our collection complement the genealogical holdings of local public libraries. Many of the UW Libraries' history-related databases and resources will cover material of interest to the family historian. For predominately genealogical databases such as Ancestry.com and HeritageQuest Online, check with your local public library. For a comprehensive listing of websites see Cyndi's List of Genealogical Sites on the Internet.
-- the lock icon designates a UW restricted database
Community members must be in a UW library to use these databases.
Books
The UW Libraries has the largest book collection in the state with over 7 million volumes. Included in the collection are many primary and secondary sources that may be useful to family historians such as: The Colonial Records of the State of Georgia, Mining cultures: men, women, and leisure in Butte, 1914-41, and Die Inschriften der Stadt Fritzlar.
The best way to identify the books in the UW Libraries is to search the UW Libraries Catalog. Do a keywords search for your topic or geographical area and add special terms that designate primary sources such as:
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In addition the UW Libraries has electronic and microfilmed collections of early books such as Early English Books Online (1470-1700), Early American Imprints (1639-1800) and Eighteenth Century Collections Online.
Genealogical Reference Works
The UW Libraries has a fairly small collection of genealogical reference books but an extensive collection of history-related reference works including encyclopedias and biographical dictionaries. Larger collections can be found at local public libraries.
Sample titles:
- The American census handbook [Suzzallo Reference CS49 .K4 2001]
- Burke's peerage and baronetage [Suzzallo Reference CS420 .B85]
- Family ties in England, Scotland, Wales & Ireland: sources for genealogical research [Gov't Publications LC 1.2:F 21]
- Printed sources: a guide to published genealogical records [Suzzallo Reference Z5311 .P75 1998]
- Searching for your ancestors: the how and why of genealogy [Special Collections CS16 .D6 1992]
Historic Photographs
Special Collections (basement of Allen Library South) has an extensive collection of Pacific Northwest photographs. Thousands have been digitized and are available via the UW Libraries Digital Collections. For other image collections see Historical Photographs & Images.
Local History Journals
The UW Libraries has a strong collection of journals published by state and regional historical societies. Examples include the Kansas Historical Quarterly (back to 1931), The Yorkshire Archaeological Journal (back to 1893) and the California Historical Society Quarterly (back to 1922). In addition, the UW Libraries as an extensive collection of history journals including major historical journals from Western Europe and Asia. For a partial listing of history e-journals see Electronic Journals.
Use research databases such as America History & Life and Historical Abstracts to identify articles published in these journals.
Manuscript Collections
Unpublished records of local organizations and individuals can be found in Special Collections. The collection includes papers of pioneers and early settlers, local civic leaders and organizations, and ethnic communities such as the Japanese, Jewish and Scandinavian. A growing collection of finding aids to these collections are available online. Additional manuscript collections are available in the UW Libraries on microfilm including the Church Missionary Society Archive and segments of the Immigrant in America.
Maps and Atlases
The Map Collection (basement Suzzallo Library) is the premier cartographic collection in the state with over 250,000 map sheets, 80,000 aerial photographs and 2,000 atlases both contemporary and historic.
Newspapers
The UW Libraries Microform & Newspaper Collections has hundreds of newspapers on microfilm with especially strong holdings in Northwest newspapers such as the Oregonian (back to 1861) and Anacortes American (back to 1890). In addition, the UW Libraries has complete runs of major U.S. newspapers such as the Chicago Tribune (back to 1849) and selected runs of international papers. Digitized newspaper databases include the New York Times (1851-2003), Times of London (1785-1985) and Los Angeles Times (1881-1985).
