Genealogy & Local Info

REMOTE ACCESS TO MOST DATABASES IS LIMITED TO ARLINGTON HEIGHTS RESIDENT CARDHOLDERS


A

A to Z Maps Online

Thousands of detailed international maps (countries, regions, states, etc.), as well as topographic maps, climate maps, and more.


Access Newspaper Archive

Historical access to scanned pages from hundreds of newspapers. Coverage varies by paper. Includes the Daily Herald, 1901-present. [Note: Newspapers.com and Access Newspaper Archive both cover different sets of newspapers, with some overlap.]


American Ancestors

Extensive genealogical searching for census, vital and military records. From the New England Historic Genealogical Society. 

NOTE 6/22/20: Full remote access will be available to cardholders while the library building has limited public access.

Non-cardholders outside the library still have limited access to some records here.


Ancestry Library Edition

Family history data, census information, immigration, etc.

Database accessible only from within the library.

Video Tutorial    

ArkivDigital

Source for Swedish genealogy. Contains millions of historical documents, including church records, court records and estate inventories. | Login Tips

Database accessible only from within the library.

Arlington Day (January 1966 to June 1970)

Local daily newspaper Covers January 1966 to June 1970.


B

Black Freedom Struggle in the United States

Historical newspaper articles, pamphlets, diaries, correspondence and more from specific time periods in U.S. history marked by the opposition African Americans have faced on the road to freedom.


C

Chicago Community Coverage

Formerly "Chicago Community Collection." From Newsbank. Extensive full-text for many Chicago-area newspapers, including some with full-image titles. Includes full-image content from the Daily Herald.


Video Tutorial    

Chicago Sun-Times (via Newsbank)--Full Image

Full-page image access to the latest 3 months of the Sun-Times.


Chicago Sun-Times (via Newsbank)--Text Only

Articles from 1/1/86-present.


Chicago Tribune (via ProQuest)

Search the complete text of The Chicago Tribune from 1849-present, including full-image content from 1849-2011 and online-only articles. The most recent four days' daily issues are also available via PressReader. Additional full-page-image access (similar to microfilm) for articles from 2008-3 months ago available through Proquest Recent Newspapers. Browsable text-only issues of the Tribune 1985-present are available here.

Note: Learn more here about Chicago Tribune obituary & death notice coverage in HeritageHub vs ProQuest.


D

Daily Herald (via Newsbank)--Full Image

NEW:  Full-image (full-page) version of the Daily Herald, 2/22/21- .

Note about the timing of same-day full-text Daily Herald articles.


Daily Herald (via Newsbank)--Text only

Articles from 2/23/1995-present. For historical articles (1901-present) search the Arlington Heights listings in the Access Newspaper Archive.

Note about the timing of same-day full text Daily Herald articles.


Daily Herald (via Proquest)--Text only

Articles from 2/23/1997-present. For historical articles (1901-present) search the Arlington Heights listings in the Access Newspaper Archive.

Note about the timing of same-day full text Daily Herald articles.


Digital Public Library of America (DPLA)

Collection of millions of scanned historic images, documents and media from libraries, museums and universities across the country.


Video Tutorial    

F

FamilySearch

Large genealogy database maintained by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Anyone may use FamilySearch from home, etc., but additional content is available only when used inside the library. NOTE: Requires creation of a free personal profile. Some full records/images are only available via local Family History Center. More details here.


Video Tutorial    

FindMyPast

Access to over 2 billion records from the U.K., Ireland and the British Commonwealth, including census records, military collections, and immigration & naturalization records. NOTE: The PERSI (Periodical Source Index) database is now only available directly from the Allen County Public Library Genealogy Center site.

Database accessible only from within the library.

Video Tutorial    

Fold3

Historical documents and personal histories from the National Archives and other institutions. Includes the Fold3 Holocaust Archives.


Video Tutorial    

H

HeritageHub

Obituaries & Death Notices from 1704-.from over 7,000 sources.

Note: Learn more here about Chicago Tribune obituary & death notice coverage in HeritageHub vs ProQuest.


Video Tutorial    

HeritageQuest

Census records, family/local histories, Revolutionary War pension & land applications, city directories and more.


Video Tutorial    

M

MyHeritage Online

Immigration lists, census records, vital records, parish/land records, news articles, etc.


N

Newspapers.com

Historical access to scanned pages from hundreds of newspapers. Coverage varies by paper. [Note: Newspapers.com and Access Newspaper Archive both cover different sets of newspapers, with some overlap.]


Video Tutorial    

P

PERSI (Periodical Source Index)

The premier subject index for genealogy and local history periodicals, produced by the staff of The Genealogy Center of the Allen County (Indiana) Public Library. Provides more than 3 million citations to readily-available periodical sources.


Proquest Recent Newspapers: Chicago Tribune

(Formerly Proquest Digitized Newspapers) Full-page scans of recent Chicago Tribune issues (2008-3 months ago).


Proquest Recent Newspapers: New York Times

(Formerly Proquest Digitized Newspapers) Full-page scans of recent NY Times issues (2008-3 months ago).


S

Sanborn Maps (Library of Congress)

Searchable database of the fire insurance maps published by the Sanborn Map Company housed in the collections of the Geography and Map Division of the Library of Congress.


U

U.S. National Archives

Preserves US historical documents and manages federal records. Of use to genealogists, historians and legal researchers.


Video Tutorial    

Make an Appointment

MeetingSchedule an appointment to get help with these and other interests:

  • downloading eBooks
  • researching genealogy
  • finding a job
  • computers and technology