The
Collections
As one of the leading genealogical
collections in the country, the Library has more than 50,000 genealogies
and 100,000
local histories. The collections are especially strong in North American,
British Isles, and German sources. These international strengths
are
further supported and enriched by the Library's incomparable royalty,
nobility, and heraldry collection, making it one of a few libraries
in America that offer such collections.
While the Library is rich in collections of manuscripts, microfilms,
newspapers, photographs, maps, and published material, it is not
an archive or repository for unpublished or primary source county,
state, or church records. Researchers seeking county records will
need to visit the courthouse or a library in the county of interest,
the state archives, or the Family History Library in Salt Lake City,
Utah, or one of its Family History Centers, all of which might have
either the original county records or microform copies.
Volumes from the Library's general collections may be paged from
and used in the LH&G Reading Room. In addition to these works,
there are some 6,000 guides and other reference works available
in the LH&G Reading Room. Most special catalogs and indexes
are arranged by family name.
The vertical files in the Local History
and Genealogy Reading Room contain miscellaneous materials relating
to specific family names, to the states, towns, and cities of the
U.S., and to genealogical research in general. Included are drafts
of letters written by LH&G reference librarians, pamphlets and other
materials donated to the Library, magazine and newspaper clippings,
genealogical charts and newsletters, and brochures of genealogical
interest relating to organizations, societies and libraries throughout
the United States. Currently, additions or corrections to genealogical
information appearing in books in LC's collections are kept in the
Vertical File.
The procedures for viewing vertical file material and a list of
the subject headings in use are kept at the reference desk in the
Local History and Genealogy Reading Room.
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