Genealogy
Boston Public Library has a stellar collection of local and family history materials in print, in electronic format, and on microform. This includes published genealogies, town histories, immigration records, passenger lists, newspapers, and many other resources to help you find the history of your family.
Our Genealogy Specialist presents a variety of genealogy-related programming throughout the year, including lectures from guest speakers with expertise in numerous related topics. All events are free and open to the public.
Questions? Please email research@bpl.org.
Featured
MyHeritage Library Edition
MyHeritage provides access to billions of historical documents, photos, and other resources that span the past five centuries.
Gale In Context: Biography
Indexed full-text biographies & news items covering a range of individuals from many fields, gathered from reference sources & periodicals.
Biography And Genealogy Master Index
Comprehensive index of current & historical biographical sources containing information on individuals of prominence from around the world.
HeritageQuest Online
Genealogical sources including city directories, family and local histories, U.S. Census records from 1790-1940, and military records.
Using School Records for Genealogy Research
Read this blog post for an overview of how to access school records in Massachusetts, with an emphasis on public education in Boston.
Genealogy: Searching for U.S. Military Records
Military records can offer a fuller picture of an ancestor’s life. As largely government-produced records, they are also easily accessible.
Using Directories for Genealogy Research
This blog post provides an overview of some of the many directories you can use for family history research.
Researching Your Adopted Ancestors
Celebrate National Adoption Month with this overview of the history of adoption in the U.S. and resources for researching adopted ancestors.
Adoption: International & Transracial Adoption History
Happy National Adoption Month! Check out this list of titles on international and transracial adoption history.
12 Genealogy eBooks
These genealogy guides are all available for instant check-out on Hoopla.
African American Genealogy: General & Misc.
Some books covering different aspects of researching your African American ancestors.
Native American Genealogy
Check out these books and other resources at the BPL related to Native American genealogy research.
Boston Historical Address Research
Learn how to research an address in Boston by the person's last name or by the street address.
Directories at the Boston Public Library
Historical personal name directories such as city directories & telephone books, particularly ones related to Boston, MA, and New England.
Fire Insurance and Real Estate Atlases of Boston
An overview of fire insurance and real estate atlases of Boston at the Boston Public Library.
Historical Urban Atlases of Massachusetts Towns at the BPL
An overview of urban atlases of Massachusetts towns other than Boston at the Leventhal Map Center at the BPL.
Genealogy Series Recordings
Watch recordings of some of Boston Public Library's genealogy programs on our YouTube channel.
Resources to Help You Research Your Home
Do you want to learn more about your home? These blog posts cover important resources to help you restore or find the history of your home.
Finding Your Roots
Hosted by Harvard Professor Henry Louis Gates, Jr., Finding Your Roots showcases celebrities as they learn about their family history.
