Family History & Genealogy
The State Library and the State Archives have long traditions of helping North Carolinians research their past.
Whether you're just getting started putting together your family tree or are a family history research pro with years of experience, chances are the State Library has a resource guide, database, digital collection, or other material that can help you with your genealogy project. Though the library is the hub of our information for family history research, we've aggregated other resources from across our divisions, museums, historic sites and other programs below that may help you in your search.
Still have questions? The State Library may be able to help. After checking out their genealogy FAQs, you can contact the library's genealogy experts through the library's website. Though our librarians can't do your research for you, they may be able to point you in the right direction.
Video Tutorials from the State Library
These short tutorials from the State Library cover a variety of aspects of researching your family history. All were created for the 2015 RootsMOOC online genealogy course that the Library produced in cooperation with Wake Forest University.
Using the State Archives Collection
The State Archives has many materials in its holding that are useful for genealogical research, including county records related to bonds, courts, land, marriage, wills and estates, and taxes. When you find a record that interests you, you can obtain a copy through mail or email.
Contact the archivists at the State Archives for more information about how to begin your genealogical research.
