Genealogy Research Resources

A Bible Record from the State Library's Collection

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 our 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 our 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.

Help Getting Started With Your Project

A Family Tree Drawing in a Record from the State Library

Genealogical Research from the State Library

Help finding primary materials online and in person, and a great list of databases, guides and tools that you can use to get your project organized and off the ground.

How To: Getting Started in Genealogy

Advice on the first three steps of sound genealogical research: getting organized, beginning with census and vital records; and extending your search to more detailed sources.

How To: Sources for North Carolina Vital Records

This easy-to-read guides explains how to dig deep and find vital records from before 1913, when vital records were first kept statewide.

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.

View Genealogical Research Video Guides

Resources and Tools for Digging Deeper

Horton Grove Slave Cabins at Stagville Plantation

The African American Community at Stagville

All of the known people that lived in the African American community at Historic Stagville. This tool can help African Americans discover their enslaved ancestors.

Confederate Officers from North Carolina during the Civil War

Civil War Roster Index

A searchable database of the indexes of the published volumes of “North Carolina Troops, 1861-1865: A Roster" that can help you locate information on your Civil War ancestors.

Genealogy of a House

Homes can tell as rich of a story as the people who inhabited them. This broad-strokes guide will help you learn about the history of your home.

An Index of Genealogy Resources from the State Library

ExploreNC: Family History

An index of resources from military records to census materials and beyond that can help you with your family history research project.

Genealogy-Related Blog Posts

Covers everything from detailed looks at using specific types of records for genealogical research to quick weekly tips on how to jump start your family history research project.

North Carolina Family History Online

Bible records, indexed marriage and death announcements and copies of genealogical research donated to the Government and Heritage Library all fully searchable and available online.

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.

See More on What the Archives Has to Offer

Family History & Genealogy

Video Tutorials from the State Library

Using the State Archives Collection