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Hamilton Public Library

Hamilton Public Library Genealogy Center

Genealogy at the Hamilton Public Library

Hamilton Public Library Genealogy Center. Now Open Wednesdays 10 am - 6 pm


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.


Genealogy Links

*Recommended Sites


Hamilton County Genealogy Websites

Hamilton County Genealogy

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.

Gazetteer of Hamilton County

Similar information in a blog format.

Hamilton Texas County Museum

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

Handbook of Texas Online

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 to Texas History

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

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.

*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

Dallas Genealogical Society

Austin Genealogical Society

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

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 A Grave

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.

Cyndi's List

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

RootsWeb is a free genealogical resource with searchable databases, free Web space, mailing lists, message boards, and more.

National Genealogical Society

New England Historic Genealogical Society

Genealogical Proof Standard

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.