Genealogy & Local History

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Pictures of Genealogy room

The Union County Library offers a number of resources designed to assist family researchers and local history enthusiasts on their journey of discovery. Reference print materials, electronic resources, and original manuscripts are just a few of the tools available to residents and guests.

Databases

Ancestry.com
One of the most comprehensive resources for genealogical research offering access to the U.S. Census, Vital Records, and probate, military, and immigration records. Available only on library premises.

Heritage Quest
Treasury of American genealogical sources including unique primary sources, local and family histories, and finding aids. Get access to historical census, city directories, Revolutionary War records, and more. Available at home through NC Live with a valid library card.

North Carolina Digital Collections Text image in various colors North Carolina Digital Collections
The North Carolina Digital Collections contain over 158,000 historic and recent photographs, state government publications, manuscripts, and other resources on topics related to North Carolina.

Sanborn Map Co.
Digital access to thousands of large-scale maps of North Carolina towns and cities, searchable by address as well as GPS coordinates. Available at home through NC Live with a valid library card.

Historical Newspapers

Open Access

Lancaster Ledger (1852-1905) From The University of South Carolina (free!) Other S. C. newspapers such as The Lancaster News (bg. 1905) are also available so be sure to check their main page.

North Carolina Newspapers (DigitalNC Collection) Newspapers on DigitalNC date from the earliest known published newspaper in the state up through the present.

Library Card Required

The Charlotte Observer (1985-present) Text only version of The Observer and Union Observer.

Historic North Carolina Digital Newspaper Collection Newspapers.com North Carolina Collection. 3.5 million pages of digitized content from over 1,000 NC county newspapers.

Historical Photos

This digital collection, maintained by the Union County Public Library, includes over 1,300 photographs owned by the Heritage Room and is arranged by subject, location, and time period.

For better prints, or permission to publish, please contact The Heritage Room at 704-289-6737. If using these photos direct from the website in any sort of physical displayed format (i.e., PowerPoints, reunions, church functions, etc.) we ask that you please acknowledge: Courtesy of the Union County Public Library & The Heritage Room

The photos were scanned in the year 2000-2001, a project funded by N C ECHO. “Exploring Culture Heritage Online” fell under the State Library of North Carolina and the North Carolina State Archives. The site for NC ECHO would later move under NC LIVE but it has since been retired. It was replaced with the Digital Public Library of America. (2018)

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