Hamilton Public Library Genealogy Center
Genealogy at the Hamilton Public Library
The Hamilton County Genealogy Society began in 1992 with a corner in the Hamilton Public Library. They soon outgrew the limited space available at the library and moved in 1995 to a permanent and spacious home for their ever-growing collection. After an unforeseen illness, the HCGS had to close its doors in 2006. On October 8, 2014, after determining that they would not be able to reopen the genealogy center, the HCGS board decided to donate all the genealogical materials to the Hamilton Public Library to preserve the materials and make them available to the public. It is with great pride and humbleness that the HPL has taken on this endeavor of preserving the stories of Hamilton County.
After thousands of hours of work by staff and dedicated volunteers, the Hamilton Public Library is excited to announce the Genealogy Center is now open on Wednesdays. The Genealogy Center contains more than 2,000 books available for in-library research. Some highlights include over 300 family histories of Hamilton County and Texas families; over 200 books on Hamilton County history; over 150 high school annuals from Hamilton High School and surrounding towns and universities; and over 900 books on Texas history and the history of Texas counties. All titles can be found in the library's online card catalog. Two computers are designated for genealogy research with access to the online free resource Family Search.
The Hamilton Public Library Genealogy Center can provide limited research, look-ups, and answer genealogy-related questions. We are a non-profit, rural library and genealogy research is done when time is permitted.
There is a minimum research fee of $5.00 per request. Extensive research will be subject to a fee of $20/hour. Photocopies/scans are $0.50 per page. Fees are payable by check to the Hamilton Public Library. (Please write "Genealogy Research" on the memo line.)
Due to the uncertain nature of available records, the outcome of any genealogical research project cannot be guaranteed. The fee covers research and reporting time, not the outcome of the effort, and is not refundable.
Genealogy Information Request Form.
Genealogy Links
*Recommended Sites
Hamilton County Genealogy Websites
Collection of links to research resources for Hamilton County and Texas.
*People and Places: Gazetteer of Hamilton County, Texas
Collection of over 3,190 pages of historical, genealogical, religious, social, geographical, political, and miscellaneous information about Hamilton County, Texas. An invaluable resource.
Similar information in a blog format.
Hamilton County Historical Museum contains artifacts, letters, newspapers, relics, and photos, and is housed in many buildings including the old jail (with cells still operational.)
*Hamilton County, Texas at Family Search
Guide to Hamilton County Texas ancestry, family history, and genealogy research page—birth records, marriage records, death records, census records, family history, and military records.
Hamilton County, Texas at USGenWeb Project Archives
Hamilton County page from the USGenWeb Project provides free genealogy websites for genealogical research in every county and every state of the United States.
Texas Genealogy Websites
A multidisciplinary encyclopedia of Texas history, geography, and culture. It contains articles on people, places, events, historical themes, institutions, and a host of other topic categories.
The Portal is a gateway to Texas history materials. You may discover anything from an ancestor's picture to a rare historical map. From prehistory to the present day, you can explore unique collections from Texas libraries, museums, archives, historical societies, genealogical societies, and private family collections. The Portal continues to grow as additional partners contribute digital versions of their collections.
Index of Confederate Pension Applications
The Index to Confederate Pension Applications provides the names, counties of residence, and pension numbers of 54,634 approved, rejected, and home pensions issued by the Texas government between 1899 and 1975.
Genealogy Resources at the Texas State Library and Archives Commission
The Texas Family Heritage Research Center located at the Texas State Library and Archives Commission includes genealogical publications such as printed family and county histories, a variety of Texas government records, federal census schedules, and many other resources to help you compile your family history.
Texas State Library and Archive Commission Online Collections
Collections include the 1919 Texas Rangers Investigation, free access to Ancestry.com Texas, Andrew Jackson Houston Collection database, Civilian Conservation Corps drawings, fire insurance maps, Republic of Texas claims, Republic of Texas passports, Texas Adjutant General Service records from 1836-1935, and Texas Senate recordings from 1972-2006.
Ancestry.com Texas allows free access to Texas State Library and Archives Commission records that have been digitized by Ancestry and are made available to Texas residents. Note: This access requires the creation of a free Ancestry.com Texas account.
Texas Online Historical Newspapers
Cross Timbers Historic Images Project
The Cross Timbers Historic Images Project is a collection of 19th and 20th-century historic images from the Cross Timbers area of Central Texas, including but not limited to Erath County, Hamilton County, Hood County, Somervell County, Palo Pinto County, Comanche County, and Eastland County.
Texas Archive of the Moving Image
The Texas Archive of the Moving Image collection includes home movies, amateur films, advertisements, local television, industrial and corporate productions, and Hollywood and internationally produced moving images of Texas.
Collection of films donated by Suzanne Stroud Santo whose family owned the Texan Theatre in Hamilton, Texas. The family also owned the 281 Drive-In Theatre, the first Drive-In in Texas to install a swimming pool. According to Santo, "During the Depression, a fellow from Hollywood, down on his luck, sold my grandfather his film equipment. Grandpa would go to community events in Hamilton County and film them, then develop them and have a 'showing' to promote business." The collection includes many videos of schoolchildren around the county during the 1930s and the Hico Old Settlers' Reunion Parade from 1938.
*Beginner's Genealogy Video series: Building & Researching Your Family Tree from the Waco-McLennan County Library and the Central Texas Genealogical Society.
Central Texas Genealogical Society
Texas State Genealogical Society
Stirpes: The quarterly journal of the Texas State Genealogical Society from 1961-2000
East Texas Genealogical Society
East Texas Family Records: The quarterly publication of the East Texas Genealogical Society from 1977-2001
Southwestern Historical Quarterly: The premier source of scholarly information about the history of Texas and the Southwest published by the Texas State Historical Association from 1897-2004
General Genealogy Websites
Family Search, provided by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, offers free access to numerous historical record collections from around the world. This is an important source for census records, Freedman's Bank records, Native American census rolls, the U.S. Social Security Death Index, and marriage, birth, and baptismal records from around the world. They also have a significant collection of family history books digitized from partner libraries, including the Allen County Public Library (IN) and the Dallas Public Library. Notes: Access to FamilySearch records requires a free FamilySearch account.
Find the graves of ancestors, create virtual memorials, add "virtual flowers" and a note to a loved one's grave, etc. Over 143 million grave records to search.
Printable Charts and Forms from Ancestry.com
Printable Charts and Forms from the National Archives, including Census Forms
*Fillable Charts and Forms from the Midwest Genealogy Center at the Mid-Continent Public Library
*Family Search Learning Center
Browse hundreds of online genealogy courses to help you discover your family history.
Family History and Genealogy Glossary
Beginner's list of terminology common in genealogy research.
A comprehensive, categorized & cross-referenced list of links that point you to genealogical research sites online. Cyndi's List of Genealogy Sites on the Internet provides subject access to almost every genealogy topic imaginable!
RootsWeb is a free genealogical resource with searchable databases, free Web space, mailing lists, message boards, and more.
New England Historic Genealogical Society
The Genealogical Proof Standard (GPS) was created by the Board for Certification of Genealogists. It’s used to create sound, credible genealogical proof statements, and gives genealogists a standard to measure conclusions against.