Genealogy & Local History Collection


Local History Photos from Fortepan Iowa

Genealogy & Local History Resources You Can Access From Anywhere:

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Searchable content from the New England Historic and Genealogical Society.

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Includes full text local histories and genealogies, census images and indexing, PERSI, and Revolutionary War Pension Records.

Reliable Information on Almost Any Topic

Use Access World News to read and search newspapers in Iowa - including The Hawk Eye - the U.S. and across the globe.

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Search historic Iowa newspapers by name or keywords.

Heritage Hub Logo U.S. Obituaries from 1824-Today

Use Heritage Hub to read and search obituaries in Iowa and throughout the U.S.

Chronicling America

Search historic U.S. newspapers from 1789-1943 or the U.S. Newspaper Directory to find info about newspapers 1960 to present.

Find A Grave

Search by name to find a burial location as well as additional information such as a picture of the grave site.

IAGenWeb Project

Links to Iowa specific information. Includes links to county sites.

Genealogy & Local History Resources Only Available In-Library:

 

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Search historic Iowa newspapers by name or keywords.

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Includes full text local histories and genealogies, census images and indexing, PERSI, and Revolutionary War Pension Records.

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Databases including US Census, records of military, court, land, probate, vital, church, directories, passenger lists & more.


Advice on Searching Resources

 

Tracing Your Des Moines County Ancestors

Follow the link above for an overview of the resources for use at the Burlington Public Library for researching ancestors from Burlington and throughout Des Moines County.

 

Getting Started With Genealogy Research

Follow the link above for recommendations on where to start with your family history research.


Genealogy Search Services

 

Local History and Genealogy Request Form

For a $5 fee per record the Burlington Public Library staff will search our local newspapers for articles, birth, marriage, and death notices. A record is defined as 1 article, 1 birth announcement, 1 marriage announcement using month, day, and year) is required for this search. We will search the date you provide plus a maximum of 5 additional days before and after the date provided.

 

Furniture Look-Up Request Form

For a $5 fee the Burlington Public Library staff will search the Chittenden and Eastman or Northwestern Cabinet Company catalogs for a furniture item for no more than 30 minutes.  To search Chittenden and Eastman pieces, we need an approximate date of manufacture.  For Northwestern Cabinet Company, we need a model number.  Model numbers are usually found on the back of the furniture.  Including a photo of the piece of furniture is required. If we find your item, we will mail you a copy of the catalog page.  If no such item is found, we will inform you as to what was searched. Please send your payment (checks or money orders can be made out to the Burlington Public Library) along with this completed form and photo to:

Burlington Public Library
210 Court Street
Burlington, IA 52601
319.753.1647