Genealogical Society Libraries: A Treasure Trove of Family Histories

Oregon’s genealogical societies come in all shapes and sizes, and their collections and services are just as varied. Some societies operate and maintain a standalone library; others’ holdings are part of a private or public library system, or housed in alternative public or private buildings. One thing all have in common, though, is that their unique materials are made available to the general public in addition to the society’s members, enabling anyone tracing their family tree—whether writer, researcher, or casual investigator—to access their collections. Genealogical library collections may include books, periodicals, microfilm/microfiche, maps, photographs, research aids, reference books, local city directories, scrapbooks, obituaries, and even original county court record books. Manuscript collections (frequently referred to as vertical files) gather the work of earlier researchers and include items often unavailable elsewhere such as pedigree charts, family group sheets, and other original records and documents donated to the society. These files might hold a naturalization certificate, Bible record, or letter from one of YOUR ancestors