Local Genealogy Online

• Monterey Public Library California History Room:
  • California History Room Biographical Index
  • California Death Index 1905-1939
  • California Death Index 1940-1997
  • Early California Mission Registers
  • Land records - Monterey County
  • Deaths and Obituaries: 1840-Present
    also contact the Reference staff
• CA Gen Web
  Collections of links for records, research tools, and information locally and at the state level. Tools include digitized books on early California history, locations to continue your research, and where to go with questions.
• Monterey County Genealogy Society, Inc.
  Get in touch with local genealogical experts. Join their meetings, read their newsletter, or hire their members to help with your research.

California Genealogy

• California Digital Newspaper Collection
  This collection contains 123,260 issues comprising 1,223,143 pages and 13,642,144 articles.
• California Genealogy Links
  Several search engines for obituaries across the state.
• Public Records Search
  Birth, death, marriage & divorce records search for all 50 states. Can request copies online or through the mail for a fee ($).

General Genealogy Websites

• Cyndi's List
  A subject guide to thousands of genealogy web sites.
• Family Search
  A simple search box finds you records from around the world, including immigration records, birth records, and census information.
• Library of Congress Digital Collections
  Access to print, pictorial and audio-visual collections and other digital services.

Templates & Guides for Your Information

• Family Tree Magazine - Free Forms
  Free worksheets and templates from Family Tree Magazine to help you keep track of all you find in your research.

Obituary Searching

• California Death Index, 1905-1939
  Confirm date and place of death before beginning a newspaper search. Covers deaths in California between 1905 and 1939.
• California Death Index, 1940-1997
  Confirm date and place of death before beginning a newspaper search. Covers deaths in California between 1940 and 1997
• Search our Monterey Peninsula Herald Obituary Index
  Citations for obituaries printed in the Herald since 1995.
• California History Room Deaths and Obituaries
  1840-1890; 1900-1960; 1960-2013+

Genealogy Databases

• Heritage Quest Online
  Search U.S. Federal Censuses (1790 - 1940), Freedman's Bank records, unique primary sources, family histories, local histories, research guides, interactive maps, and more. Access from home with your Monterey Public Library card.
• Ancestry Library Edition
  Search billions of records from censuses, vital records, immigration records, family histories, military records, court and legal documents, directories, photos, maps, and more. Covers the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, and other countries. Access available in the Library only.

Resources for Genealogists in person at Monterey Public Library
In the California History Room:

• Monterey County voting registers, 1867, 1879, 1890.
• Genealogical Sources on Early California Families (to 1850):
  
  • Spanish-Mexican Families of Early California, 1769-1850
  • Some Alta California Pioneers and Descendants
• Monterey city and county histories.
• Extensive newspaper and article clipping file, including biographical clippings.
• Early business directories for California and Monterey County, 1875, 1877, 1882-83, 1889.
• Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps of Monterey. Large format maps, indicating city blocks and buildings, 1885-1926, with updates to 1962.  On microfilm; also originals available by appt. in California History Room Archives.
• California Information File (bibliographic sources card index on microfiche).
• Monterey City Directories, 1905-1987.
• Monterey and San Benito Counties telephone directories , 1906; 1943-current.
• Haines directories (criss-cross), 1970-current.

Further Microfilm Resources:

• Sanborn maps.
• Monterey Newspapers.
• Monterey County censuses, 1850-1930.
• California State census of 1852 (transcribed).

Monterey High School El Susurro Yearbooks:

• Monterey Public Library
• Colton Hall   1913, 1929
• Mayo Hayes O’Donnell Library   1919-1920; 1925

Genealogy Search Basics
So you're going to research your family? Where do you start? What do you look for? Who do you talk to? We can help. Start with a short video on search engine tips. Then find out what's in your Library's collection, read the latest articles, and get in touch with researchers and their tools online. Monterey Public Library is here to get you started on the road to your family history.


Kathy Nielsen: Searching for Your Roots

Monterey Family History Center
The Monterey California Family History Center serves the people of the Central Coast of California. The center is open to the public, and there is no charge to use the facilities. Nominal fees are charged for film rental, computer printing and copy services.

Center Contacts and Hours
Location & Map:

1. 1024 Noche Buena Street, Seaside, CA 93955.  Map it using Google 
2. The center is located at the corner of Noche Buena and Plumas Streets in Seaside. Please notice the signs on the outside of the left side of the building. Good parking is available near the back fence. Follow the sidewalk around the building to the first door. First-time visitors should call 831-394-1124 to reserve a computer, ask questions, or to check current hours.

Phone: 831-394-1124 (please call during open hours as given below)

Open Hours:  Tuesday and Wednesday 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Friday 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.; Saturday (by appointment)

Holiday Schedule:  Closed over Thanksgiving and Christmas. Please call in advance of other holidays to determine hours of operation.

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