Genealogy FAQs

  • Do you have…

    While we do have some files, they are limited to important places and events in Boston’s history; we do not maintain files of individual people or families.

    We might have a published genealogy that covers one or more branches of your family. Try doing a subject or keyword search for the last name and the word family, e.g. “Smith family.”

    Digital Commonwealth has a lot of photos of people and places in Boston. You can also try contacting the Special Collections Department. However, we cannot guarantee that we can find a photo (or that one exists).

    We might! We have access to passenger listings for arrivals in Boston, New York City, and a few other ports on microfilm. We also have access to records via the database Ancestry Library Edition. Check out our Research Guide for more information.

    The Boston Public Library does not have a substantial collection of yearbooks, but we can help you find out where it might be. Check out our Research Guide for more information.

    We might be able to access them. Check out our Research Guide for more information.

    Our records relating to schools are limited to manuals, school committee proceedings, and annual reports for Boston Public Schools. Check out our Research Guide for more information.

    We might! Check out our Research Guide for more information.

  • How do I…

    Start with what you know, then talk to any living relatives or family friends who might know anything. And check out this list of resources for more ideas.

    The way that works best for you is the best way. This could be a notebook, a binder, a filing cabinet, a spreadsheet, a family tree website, genealogy software, and many more options. Just make sure you back everything up and keep good notes on all of your sources. FamilySearch.org has a guide to help you get started.

  • What the BPL can do for you

    We do not have any professional genealogists on staff. If you want to consult with one, the New England Historic Genealogical Society has a range of services, including a free online chat. The Association of Professional Genealogists also has a directory on their website.

    Our collections are varied and located in many different places, and we don’t have a way of searching through all of them for a specific person. We can help you find a specific record or piece of information about your ancestor.

    Yes, check out our Research Guide.

    No, we can’t research your entire family for you. We can help you with locating one fact or record for a single person.

    We have a detailed Research Guide that you can look at to learn about the basics of researching your family history. You can also check out previously recorded classes and lectures on our YouTube channel.

  • Can you tell me...

    We don’t have the resources necessary to answer this question, but we can get you started on the research.

    We have a number of resources that might be helpful. Check out our Research Guide for more information.

    We have many books that can help you answer that question, and you can try the surname dictionaries on Ancestry.com and FamilySearch.org.

  • Where is...

    Our Local and Family History Collection is in the Elliott Room, located on the second floor of the Central Library in Copley Square. This collection contains books that can be used for family history research. It represents only a fraction of what is available for genealogy research, so if what you’re looking for isn’t there ask us for help! Staff can be found in the Washington Room, which is located next to the Elliott Room.

    If they lived in Boston, we have many resources to help you figure this out. Check out our Research Guide for more information. If they didn’t live in Boston, contact the local library where they lived for help.

  • DNA

    It depends on what your goal is, e.g. if you’re researching your ethnic background, trying to connect to lost relatives, or building a family tree. The International Society of Genetic Genealogy has a helpful comparison chart.

    This Research Guide has links to some resources, and you can try contacting a professional genealogist who specializes in DNA analysis. The Association of Professional Genealogists has a directory on their website.