It’s like digging through your grandma’s attic, without the dust.
Don’t worry. We’re not in her attic, but we can help you discover your family tree and connect you to your roots in a number of different ways.
- Get started on your search from the comfort of your home
- Then dig through online and physical archives at the Library
- Talk to an expert who walks into the past with different families every day
Ancestry.com
Discover your unique family history with billions of free records from around the world, including census and vital records, immigration and passport records, plus periodicals, books and photos. You can also send documents home from the library for your own records. Available in-library only beginning January 4, 2022.
Newspapers.com California Collection
Access an archive of over 400 California newspapers from 1851–2009. Search for obituaries, marriage announcements, birth announcements and more.
Heritage Quest
Start your ancestry search online from the comfort of your own home with digital collections of U.S. census data, bank records, Revolutionary War records and more.
American Ancestors
Research genealogy using the New England Historic Genealogical Society’s collection of civic and church records, newspapers, military and court records, tax and voter lists, diaries, published genealogies and more. Available only at Central Library.
The Sacramento Room
Access
extensive local archives including books, periodicals, maps, ephemera, postcards and photographs, as well as online access to many digital archives of local history. Located at
Central Library.
Genealogist Collection
A select group of reference books, periodicals, and other materials to support your family history research. Located at
Central Library.
Upcoming Events
Join us for free monthly genealogy lectures on a variety of topics that will help you with your family history research. Presented by knowledgeable and qualified speakers, topics include census and vital records, newspaper research, important genealogy websites, and DNA testing, to name a few.
The following virtual genealogy presentations take place via Zoom on Saturdays from 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.:
October 28:
Getting Social about Your Search for Ancestors, with speaker Jacqi Stevens
November 18:
Marriage by Blacksmith: Gretna Green Marriages, with speaker Madeline Yanov
December 16:
Did Your Ancestor Attend Church? Researching in Religious Records, with speaker Lisa S. Gorrell
January 27:
Mexican Civil Registration: A Deep Dive, with speaker Lisa Medina
February 24:
Online Maps, Atlases, and Gazetteers for Genealogy, with speaker James M. Baker
March 23:
Genealogical Resources at the Center for Sacramento History, with speaker Kim Hayden
April 27:
Shakin’ Out the Smiths: Researching Common Surnames, with speaker Nancy Calhoun
May 18:
30 Records that Document Female Ancestors, with speaker Gena Philibert-Ortega
June 22:
Sacramento FamilySearch Center: Fun, Easy, & Free, with speaker Philip Walton Horner
View past genealogy presentations on our
YouTube channel.