Best Ancestry Research Libraries in the Mountain States

Find the best ancestry research libraries in the U.S. Mountain states.

For many historians/genealogists, genealogical and historical societies and university and state libraries are a vast reservoir of information, tools, and experts that will enhance and magnify your research by leaps and bounds. This article will share a comprehensive listing of these resources for the U.S. Mountain States of Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming.

See the companion article entitled: “Effectively Trace Ancestors in Genealogical and Historical Libraries and Societies.” Learn how to effectively use local, county, and state historical societies and libraries to trace, find and write narratives about ancestors.

Table of Contents
Genealogical and Historical Libraries and Societies

• Interwoven Genealogical and Historical Libraries and Societies
• Arizona Genealogical and Historical Libraries and Societies
• Colorado Genealogical and Historical Libraries and Societies
• Idaho Genealogical and Historical Libraries and Societies
• Montana Genealogical and Historical Libraries and Societies
• Nevada Genealogical and Historical Libraries and Societies
• New Mexico Genealogical and Historical Libraries and Societies
• Utah Research Genealogical and Historical Libraries and Societies
• Wyoming Research Genealogical and Historical Libraries and Societies

Where can I find lists of genealogical libraries and societies in other states?

The following matrix is a listing of each state.  Click on the state and you will be taken to the article that contains the listing of genealogical and historical libraries, societies, and archives for that state.

Genealogical and Historical Libraries and Societies
Alabama	Alaska	Arizona	Arkansas
California	Colorado	Connecticut	Delaware
Florida	Georgia	Hawaii	Idaho
Illinois	Indiana	Iowa	Kansas
Kentucky	Louisiana	Maine	Maryland
Massachusetts	Michigan	Minnesota	Mississippi
Missouri	Montana	Nebraska	Nevada
New Hampshire	New Jersey	New Mexico	New York
North Carolina	North Dakota	Ohio	Oklahoma
Oregon	Pennsylvania	Rhode Island	South Carolina
South Dakota	Tennessee	Texas	Utah
Vermont	Virginia	Washington	Washington, D.C.
West Virginia	Wisconsin	Wyoming

What does each state’s listing of genealogical libraries and societies include?

As this article was being researched, it became apparent that lists and links to genealogy and historical societies, libraries, and archives are scattered throughout the web. None of the resources are complete, yet all must be reviewed to ensure you have not overlooked a possible source. For each state, I will provide the resources for the following categories:

• Statewide Resources
• University Archives and Collections
• Public Library and Community Resources and Archives
• Historical Society and Special Interest Resources and Archives
• Finding State Digital Resources and Collections
• Digital Library Collections
• Historical and Genealogical Society Online Web Pages

While I have sought to provide you with a detailed compilation, I know I have missed some resources. If you don’t find what you’re seeking, I suggest you contact the library or society nearest your place of interest and see if they can help you locate resources that may not be online but can be contacted via other means.

Return to Table of Contents
Genealogical and Historical Libraries and Societies

Interwoven Genealogical and Historical Libraries and Societies

I would like to share a personal experience. Over many generations, the history of a family lies buried in different sources and places. Like a good detective, the historian and genealogist must search for the pieces of a family’s past in those many sources such as books, documents, and manuscripts. You need to be patient and imaginative, for the search can take years and involve a string of clues that lead to new sources. The facts–names, dates, events–that a historian/genealogist gathers through the years are like pieces of a puzzle. Gradually those pieces can be fitted together to make a picture of a family, its many members, and its unique history. I would like to share a personal experience.

As a researcher and storyteller, I have focused much research on online microfilm records and the Family History Library in Salt Lake City. Naively, I thought I had reached most of the available resources that pertained to my family. Then my perception changed with a trip to the roots of my family— Kentucky, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and. Virginia. What started to be a 10-day trip ended up being a month-long discovery of who I am, where I came from and Whose I am.

Before my trip, I thought I had done extensive preparation through online searching at the Library of Virginia, spoken with and made arrangements to visit a few county historical societies, and identified where my family lived. I searched my records to see my information and collaborated with fellow family genealogists.

By the end of my trip, I had traveled 2,500 miles, taken 24,000 digital images, identified 150,000 plus ancestors from direct and collateral lines; visited and researched university archives and special collections; public and regional libraries; state, regional, and local historical, and ethnic societies; and state, county, and local government agencies. I had also spoken and counseled extensively with subject matter experts, walked my family’s land, visited the graves and cemeteries of my family, never found before known records, and met cousins both of Anglo- and African-American descent.

This experience came about because of interwoven historical and genealogical resources dedicated to collecting, preserving, and interpreting artifacts and documents. They included:

• Colleges and universities archives and special collections
• Corporate archives
• Federal, state, and local government
• State, county, local, and ethnic historical societies
• Regional and community public libraries

If I learned one thing, it was a combination of all the resources to effectively help me learn and tell the story of my ancestors. I found that each organization had information shared by more than one organization; furthermore, I found each had unique and precious elements of my past. Finally and probably most importantly, I found a deep appreciation for the resources of individuals who freely gave of their time, expertise, and donations to acquire collections and make them available. I was also grateful to institutions and organizations for their dreams and vision to coordinate, collect, preserve, and manage history.

Return to Table of Contents
Genealogical and Historical Libraries and Societies

Arizona Genealogical and Historical Libraries and Societies

The following is a listing of the best Arizona local, county, and state genealogical and historical libraries and societies to assist you in tracing, finding, and writing narratives about ancestors.

What you can expe#ct to find

Many of these libraries and societies have genealogical collections, historical collections, archives, special collections, and digital collections. Digital collections by subject, rare books, oral histories, photography collection, family history, digital projects, genealogical. open collections, virtual resources, electronic, and history text which are departments in the library.

Tip: Copy and paste the name of the listed resource into Google or the search engine of choice to find the web address. Once you find the resource you will be able to explore the type of resources you can find to support your historical and genealogy research.

State-wide Resources (3)

1. Arizona Historical Society
2. Arizona State Genealogical Society
3. Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records

University A#rchives and Collections (12)

1. Arizona State Museum. Library
2. Arizona State Museum. Photographic Collections
3. Arizona State University. Architecture & Environmental Design Library
4. Arizona State University. Architecture and Environmental Design Library
5. Arizona State University. Department of Archives and Manuscripts
6. Arizona State University. Special Collections
7. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. Aviation Safety and Security Archives
8. Northern Arizona University
9. University of Arizona Library. Bloom Southwest Jewish Archives
10. University of Arizona. Center for Creative Photography
11. University of Arizona. Poetry Center
12. University of Arizona. Special Collections

Public Library and Community Resources and Archives (9)

1. Mesa–Mesa FHC
2. Phoenix–Arizona State Library, Arizona History and Archives Division
3. Phoenix–Arizona State Library, Genealogy Collection
4. Phoenix–Mesa Public Library
5. Phoenix–Phoenix Public Library
6. Tempe–Arizona State University
7. Tucson–Tucson-Pima Public Library. Arizona Collection
8. Tucson–Tucson-Pima Public Library. Steinheimer Collection
9. Tucson–Tucson-Pima Public Library. Genealogy

Finding State Digital Resources and Collections (0)

Digital Library Collections (6)

1. Northern Arizona University, Cline Library, Colorado Plateau Digital Archives
2. University of Arizona, Library
3. Digital Library Initiatives Group
4. Southwest Text Electronic Center
5. Arizona Archives Online
6. Arizona Memory Project

Return to Table of Contents
Genealogical and Historical Libraries and Societies

Colorado Genealogical and Historical Libraries and Societies

The following is a listing of the best Colorado local, county, and state genealogical and historical libraries and societies to assist you in tracing, finding, and writing narratives about ancestors.

What you can expect to find

Many of these libraries and societies have genealogical collections, historical collections, archives, special collections, and digital collections. Digital collections by subject, rare books, oral histories, photography collection, family history, digital projects, genealogical. open collections, virtual resources, electronic, and history text which are departments in the library.

Tip: Copy and paste the name of the listed resource into Google or the search engine of choice to find the web address. Once you find the resource you will be able to explore the type of resources you can find to support your historical and genealogy research.

State-wide Resources (5)

1. Colorado Genealogical Society
2. Colorado Historical Society
3. Colorado State Archives
4. Colorado Family History
5. Colorado State Library

University Archives and Collections (15)

1. Adams State College
2. Colorado School of Mines
3. Colorado State University
4. Colorado State University – Pueblo
5. Naropa University
6. Regis University
7. United States Air Force Academy
8. University of Colorado at Denver and Health Sciences Center
9. University of Colorado, Boulder. American Music Research Center
10. University of Colorado, Boulder. Archives
11. University of Colorado, Boulder. Special Collections
12. University of Colorado, Colorado Springs
13. University of Denver
14. University of Northern Colorado
15. Western State College of Colorado

Public Library and Community Resources and Archives (13)

1. Arvada–Jefferson County Public Library
2. Auraria–Auraria Library
3. Boulder–Boulder Public Library, Carnegie Branch Library for Local History
4. Boulder–Boulder Public Library
5. Boulder–Pikes Peak Library District
6. Cañon City–Cañon City Public Library
7. Denver–Denver Public Library, Western History/Genealogy Department
8. Denver–Denver Public Library. Blair-Caldwell African American Research Library
9. Denver–Denver Public Library. Western History Department. Photography Collection
10. Denver–Denver Public Library. Western History Department
11. Fort Collins–Fort Collins Public Library
12. Golden–Jefferson County. Archives & Records Management
13. Lakewood–Jefferson County Public Library

Historical Society and Special Interest Resources and Archives (3)

1. Aspen Historical Society
2. Bessemer Historical Society
3. Colorado Historical Society

Finding State Digital Resources and Collections (1)

1. Colorado Virtual Library

This site is sponsored by the Colorado State Library and the Colorado library community. It offers the citizens of Colorado access to the information resources of the libraries in the state of Colorado.

Digital Collections (9)

1. Colorado Digitization Program
2. Colorado Digital Collections Colorado Virtual Library
3. Heritage Colorado: Digital Treasures of the West
4. Colorado’s Historic Newspaper Collection
5. Colorado Main Streets
6. Colorado Virtual Library
7. Western Trails
8. Collaborative Digitization Program
9. Colorado Digitization Project

Return to Table of Contents
Genealogical and Historical Libraries and Societies

Idaho Genealogical and Historical Libraries and Societies

The following is a listing of the best Idaho local, county, and state genealogical and historical libraries and societies to assist you in tracing, finding, and writing narratives about ancestors.

What you can expect to find

Many of these libraries and societies have genealogical collections, historical collections, archives, special collections, and digital collections. Digital collections by subject, rare books, oral histories, photography collection, family history, digital projects, genealogical. open collections, virtual resources, electronic, and history text which are departments in the library.

Tip: Copy and paste the name of the listed resource into Google or the search engine of choice to find the web address. Once you find the resource you will be able to explore the type of resources you can find to support your historical and genealogy research.

State-wide Resources (4)

1. Idaho Genealogical Society
2. Idaho State Historical Society
3. Idaho State Historical Society Library & Archives
4. Idaho State Library

University Archives and Collections (5)

1. Boise State University
2. Brigham Young University Idaho
3. Idaho State University
4. University of Idaho. International Jazz Collections
5. University of Idaho. Special Collections and Archives

Public Library and Community Resources and Archives (4)

1. Coeur d’Alene–Coeur d’Alene Public Library
2. Ketchum–Community Library, Ketchum
3. Lewiston City–Lewiston City Library
4. Twinfalls–Twin Falls Public Library. Bisbee Photograph Collection

Historical Society and Special Interest Resources and Archives (1)

1. Latah County Historical Society

Finding State Digital Resources and Collections (1)

1. LiLI – Libraries Linking Idaho

This site includes online Databases providing access to full-text articles from magazines, professional journals, newspapers, and reference books free to all Idaho residents. It also includes an online Catalog and resources for librarians.

Digital Library Collections (1)

1. Digital Atlas of Idaho

Return to Table of Contents
Genealogical and Historical Libraries and Societies

Montana Genealogical and Historical Libraries and Societies

The following is a listing of the best Idaho local, county, and state genealogical and historical libraries and societies to assist you in tracing, finding, and writing narratives about ancestors.

What you can expect to find

Many of these libraries and societies have genealogical collections, historical collections, archives, special collections, and digital collections. Digital collections by subject, rare books, oral histories, photography collection, family history, digital projects, genealogical. open collections, virtual resources, electronic, and history text which are departments in the library.

Tip: Copy and paste the name of the listed resource into Google or the search engine of choice to find the web address. Once you find the resource you will be able to explore the type of resources you can find to support your historical and genealogy research.

State-wide Resources (3)

1. Montana Historical Society
2. Montana State Genealogical Society
3. Montana State Library

University Archives and Collections (11)

1. Montana State University, Billings
2. Montana State University, Bozeman
3. Montana State University, Northern
4. University of Montana – Western
5. University of Montana, Missoula
6. Montana State University, Billings
7. Montana State University, Bozeman
8. Montana State University, Northern
9. Rocky Mountain College, Paul M. Adams Library, Heritage Archives
10. University of Montana – Western
11. University of Montana, Missoula

Public Library and Community Resources and Archives (9)

1. Billings–Parmly Billings Library
2. Bozeman–Bozeman Public Library
3. Butte–Butte-Silver Bow Public Archives
4. Great Falls–Great Falls Public Library, Cascade County Historical Society Archives
5. Helena–Lewis & Clark Library, Lewis & Clark County Genealogical Society
6. Kalispell–Flathead County Library
7. Lewistown–Lewistown Public Library
8. Missoula–Missoula Public Library, Montana Room
9. Winnett–Petroleum County Community Library

Historical Society and Special Interest Resources and Archives (4)

1. Cascade County Historical Society
2. Grant-Kohrs Ranch National Historic Site
3. Lewis and Clark Trail Heritage Foundation
4. Museum of the Rockies

Finding State Digital Resources and Collections (1)

1. Montana Library Network & Library Development Department

This site delivers quality networked library materials and services to Montana citizens through standards-based library automation systems, materials, and services. Resources include Montana Shared Catalog, Magazines, Newspapers, Maps, and more.

Digital Library Collections (4)

1. Montana State Library, Montana State Library Digital Library Initiative
2. University of Montana, Maureen and Mike Mansfield Centre, America’s Wars in Asia: Digital Teaching Library
3. Progressive Men of Montana
4. Vigilantes of Montana: Secret Trials and Midnight Hangings, 1863-1864

Return to Table of Contents
Genealogical and Historical Libraries and Societies

Nevada Genealogical and Historical Libraries and Societies

The following is a listing of the best Nevada local, county, and state genealogical and historical libraries and societies to assist you in tracing, finding, and writing narratives about ancestors.

What you can expect to find

Many of these libraries and societies have genealogical collections, historical collections, archives, special collections, and digital collections. Digital collections by subject, rare books, oral histories, photography collection, family history, digital projects, genealogical. open collections, virtual resources, electronic, and history text which are departments in the library.

Tip: Copy and paste the name of the listed resource into Google or the search engine of choice to find the web address. Once you find the resource you will be able to explore the type of resources you can find to support your historical and genealogy research.

State-wide Resources (3)

1. Nevada Historical Society
2. Nevada State Genealogical Society
3. Nevada State Library and Archives

University Archives and Collections (5)

1. University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Nevada Women’s Archives
2. University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Special Collections
3. University of Nevada, Reno. Basque Studies Library
4. University of Nevada, Reno. Special Collections
5. University of Nevada, Reno. University Archives

Public Library and Community Resources and Archives (4)

1. Boulder City–Boulder City Public Library, Nevada Room
2. Las Vegas–Las Vegas/Clark County Library
3. Western Folklife Center

Finding State Digital Resources and Collections (1)

1. InfoNevada

This site provides Nevada residents with access to online databases.

Digital Library Collections (3)

1. University of Nevada, Reno Libraries, Digital Projects
2. Images of Lake Tahoe
3. Just Passin’ Through: The Lincoln and Victory Highways in Nevada

Return to Table of Contents
Genealogical and Historical Libraries and Societies

New Mexico Genealogical and Historical Libraries and Societies

The following is a listing of the best New Mexico local, county, and state genealogical and historical libraries and societies to assist you in tracing, finding, and writing narratives about ancestors.

What you can expect to find

Many of these libraries and societies have genealogical collections, historical collections, archives, special collections, and digital collections. Digital collections by subject, rare books, oral histories, photography collection, family history, digital projects, genealogical. open collections, virtual resources, electronic, and history text which are departments in the library.

Tip: Copy and paste the name of the listed resource into Google or the search engine of choice to find the web address. Once you find the resource you will be able to explore the type of resources you can find to support your historical and genealogy research.

State-wide Resources (4)

1. New Mexico Commission of Public Records
2. New Mexico State Records Center and Archives
3. New Mexico Genealogical Society
4. New Mexico State Library

University Archives and Collections (6)

1. Eastern New Mexico University
2. New Mexico State University. Archives
3. New Mexico State University. Special Collections
4. University of New Mexico. Archives
5. University of New Mexico. Center for Southwest Research
6. University of New Mexico. Iberian and Latin American Resources

Public Library and Community Resources and Archives (1)

1. Albuquerque–Albuquerque/Bernalillo County Library System

Public Library and Community Resources and Archives (1)

1. Santa Fe–New Mexico State Library, Southwest Room

Finding State Digital Resources and Collections (1)

1. Magazines Online – New Mexico State Library

This website provides public, academic and high school libraries in New Mexico and thus the state residents with access to a collection of databases of magazines and journals via the Internet.

Digital Library Collections (0)

Return to Table of Contents
Genealogical and Historical Libraries and Societies

Utah Genealogical and Historical Libraries and Societies

The following is a listing of the best Utah local, county, and state genealogical and historical libraries and societies to assist you in tracing, finding, and writing narratives about ancestors.

What you can expect to find

Many of these libraries and societies have genealogical collections, historical collections, archives, special collections, and digital collections. Digital collections by subject, rare books, oral histories, photography collection, family history, digital projects, genealogical. open collections, virtual resources, electronic, and history text which are departments in the library.

Tip: Copy and paste the name of the listed resource into Google or the search engine of choice to find the web address. Once you find the resource you will be able to explore the type of resources you can find to support your historical and genealogy research.

State-wide Resources (4)

1. The Utah Genealogical Association
2. Utah State Archives
3. Utah State Historical Society
4. Utah State Library

University Archives and Collections (8)

1. Brigham Young University. Music and Dance Library
2. Brigham Young University. Special Collections
3. Southern Utah University. Special Collections
4. University of Utah
5. Utah State University. Fife Folklore Archives
6. Utah State University. Special Collections and Archives
7. Weber County Library
8. Weber State University

Public Library and Community Resources and Archives (4)

1. Logan–Logan Library
2. Provo–Brigham Young University, Harold B. Lee Library, Utah Valley Regional FHC
3. Salt Lake City–Family History Library
4. Salt Lake City–Salt Lake County Archives

Historical Society and Special Interest Resources and Archives (3)

1. Catholic Diocese of Salt Lake City
2. Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
3. Family History Library

Finding State Digital Resources and Collections (1)

1. Public PIONEER – Utah’s Online Library

Provides a portal to a selection of web sites. It also offers licensed databases of magazines, newspapers, pictures, biographies, and research aides that are unavailable on the “free” internet.

Digital Library Collections (9)

1. Mountain West Digital Library
2. Brigham Young University, Harold B. Lee Library
3. Digital Collections by Subject
4. Scholarly Publications Center
5. Digital Collections by Subject
6. University of Utah, J. Willard Marriott Library Digital Technologies
7. J. Willard Marriott Library Digitized Collections
8. Digital Collections by Subject

Return to Table of Contents
Genealogical and Historical Libraries and Societies

Wyoming Genealogical and Historical Libraries and Societies

The following is a listing of the best Wyoming local, county, and state genealogical and historical libraries and societies to assist you in tracing, finding, and writing narratives about ancestors.

What you can expect to find

Many of these libraries and societies have genealogical collections, historical collections, archives, special collections, and digital collections. Digital collections by subject, rare books, oral histories, photography collection, family history, digital projects, genealogical. open collections, virtual resources, electronic, and history text which are departments in the library.

Tip: Copy and paste the name of the listed resource into Google or the search engine of choice to find the web address. Once you find the resource you will be able to explore the type of resources you can find to support your historical and genealogy research.

Wyoming State-wide Resources (3)

1. Wyoming State Archives
2. Wyoming State Historical Society
3. Wyoming State Library

University Archives and Collections (1)

1. University of Wyoming. American Heritage Center

Wyoming Public Library and Community Resources and Archives (10)

1. Buffalo–Johnson County Library
2. Caspar–Natrona County Public Library
3. Cheyenne–Central Library of Cheyenne
4. Cody–Buffalo Bill Historical Center — McCracken Research Library
5. Cody-Cody Library
6. Gillette–Campbell County Public Library
7. Green River–Sweetwater County Library
8. Jackson–Teton County Library County Public Library — Wyoming Room
9. Sundance–Crook County Public Library, Wyoming Room
10. Wheatland–Platte County Public Library — Wyoming Room

Historical Society and Special Interest Resources and Archives (4)

1. Cheyenne Frontier Days Old West Museum
2. Jackson Hole Historical Society and Museum
3. Laramie County Library System
4. Washakie Archives

Finding State Digital Resources and Collections (1)

1. GoWYLD.net – Wyoming’s portal to knowledge and learning

This site includes library catalogs, internet guides, internet research help, online databases, and guides to Wyoming information.

Digital Library Collections (4)

1. University of Wyoming, Digital Initiative
2. Western Trails
3. Wyoming Western Trails Digital Project
4. Wyoming Memory

Return to Table of Contents
Genealogical and Historical Libraries and Societies