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George W. Hawkes Downtown Library
Monday: 9:00 am - 9:00 pm
East Library and Recreation Center
Monday: 10:00 am - 8:00 pm
Ron Wright Lake Arlington Branch Library
Monday: 10:00 am - 8:00 pm
Northeast Branch Library
Monday: Temporarily Closed
Southeast Branch Library
Monday: 10:00 am - 8:00 pm
Southwest Branch Library
Monday: 10:00 am - 8:00 pm
Woodland West Branch Library
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Genealogy & Local History

Getting Started

Children standing next to a car.

Discover the amazing history of you with our collection of genealogical and historical sources.

Most resources are available at the George W. Hawkes Downtown Library.

Get started with our Staff-Selected Genealogy Resources Guide!

Staff-Selected Genealogy Resources Guide

Find genealogy resources selected and curated by our Library staff, many of which you can access from home. We have something for you, whether you're a seasoned expert or are just beginning your journey into family history!

Get started here!

Genealogy Databases

Most of our genealogy databases can be accessed from home.

Visit the "Genealogy & Local History" tab of our eResources page to get started!

Local Newspaper Transcriptions

One of Arlington’s first local newspapers was The Arlington Journal, which began weekly publication in 1897. A competing weekly paper, The Arlington Citizen was started in the 1930s. In 1957, the two papers merged and became The Arlington Citizen-Journal. In fact, the Arlington Citizen-Journal was published by George W. Hawkes, the Central Library’s namesake. The Central Library has partial microfilm holdings of these papers starting with Volume 1, no. 4 of The Journal from August 20, 1897 through to the last editions of the Citizen-Journal in 1995.

Mr. W.E. Keller has transcribed selected items from The Journal and The Citizen, focusing mainly on death notices and miscellaneous news items. These transcripts have been donated to the library’s genealogy section as books, and are also available here.

Arlington Journal

1897 PDF, 235 KB

1901 PDF, 1.15 MB

1902 PDF, 883 KB

1903 PDF, 1.41 MB

1904 PDF, 1.31 MB

1905 PDF, 918 KB

1925 PDF, 270 KB

1927 PDF, 453 KB

1928 PDF, 465 KB

1929 PDF, 683 KB

1930 PDF, 686 KB

1931 PDF, 587 KB

1932 PDF, 235 KB

1933 PDF, 462 KB

1934 PDF, 336 KB

1936 PDF, 625 KB

1937 PDF, 671 KB

1938 PDF, 558 KB

1939 PDF, 501 KB

1940 PDF, 642 KB

Arlington Citizen

1937 PDF, 198 KB

1938 PDF, 468 KB

1939 PDF, 437 KB

1940 PDF, 477 KB

Book Collection

The Genealogy book collection comprises materials from all 50 states except Hawaii as well as various countries. Our book collection emphasizes those locations that are important in historical immigration patterns to Texas.

All books are listed in our library catalog, including Arlington Obituary books compiled by volunteers.

Self-service photocopies are 10 cents per page. The photocopiers accept cash and do provide change.

Ancestry Library Edition

The world's largest online resource for family history documents and family trees is available at all library locations.

Visit Arlington Library Edition.

Local History Resources

Maps and Finding Aids

Located in the Genealogy & Local History Room.

See a complete list of our map collection.

Microfilm

We have two microfilm machines located in the Genealogy & Local History Room at the Downtown Library. Both machines print to our public printers for 15 cents per page.

See a complete list of our microfilm collection..

    The Plotter Printer for Family Trees

    Modern high-tech tool (our Makerspace's large-format plotter printer) to help solve an age-old problem (how to display family trees)!

    Arlington Local History Files

    vertical file

    This a collection of materials such as newspaper clippings, booklets, pictures, pamphlets, and other literature currently held at the Downtown Library.

    Here is the list of materials available.

    Accidents

    Airports

    • Regional
    • DFW International

    Amusement Parks

    • Hawaii Kai – Sea Life Park
    • Seven Seas
    • Six Flags Corp.
    • Six Flags – Hurricane Harbor
    • Six Flags Over Texas
    • Wet ‘N Wild

    Arlington Population (population size/growth)

    Arlington – Backward Glimpses (newspaper series of old photos)

    Arlington Early History

    • General history
    • Timelines
    • Arlington Journal – History series

    Arlington Early History

    • Arlington History 1800s
    • 1900s
    • 1910s
    • 1920s
    • 1930s
    • 1940s
    • 1950s

    Arlington Recent History

    • 1960s
    • 1970s
    • 1980s
    • 1990s
    • 2000s

    Arts & Theatre – Arlington

    • Arlington Museum of Art
    • Artists
    • Grandee, Joe (local artist)
    • Ballet Arlington
    • Antique Sewing Machine Museum
    • Theatre Arlington
    • Misc. – arts

    Business & Industry

    • Clippings 1950s
    • 1960s
    • 1970s
    • 1980s
    • General Motors
    • Great Southwest Corp.
    • Vandergriff Auto Dealerships

    Cemeteries I

    • Cemetery articles
    • Arlington Cemetery – gravesite listing
    • Tarrant County & surrounding area
    • Grand Prairie Cemetery
    • Ford Cemetery & Family history
    • Gibbins Home & Cemetery
    • Moore Funeral Home
    • Tomlin Cemetery
    • Cemeteries – Northside School

    Cemeteries II

    • Berachah Home & Cemetery
    • Harrison Cemetery
    • P.A. Watson Cemetery

    Chamber of Commerce

    Churches I

    • First Baptist Church
    • First Christian Church
    • First United Methodist Church
    • Mount Olive Baptist
    • Tate Springs Baptist Church

    Churches II

    • Baptist churches – misc.
    • West Fork United Presbyterian –Grand Prairie, TX
    • Lonesome Dove Baptist – Grapevine, TX
    • Misc. clippings
    • Catholic churches – misc.
    • Church of Christ – misc.
    • Methodist churches – misc.
    • Presbyterian churches – misc.

    Charities

    City Council I – Misc.

    City Council – Bonds & Decisions

    City Council – members

    • Groves, Ken
    • Holman, Dixon
    • Lynn, Dottie
    • Malec, Dick
    • Snider, Bill
    • Snider, Carolyn

    City Elections

    City Development

    City Hall

    City Employees

    • City managers
    • Campbell, George (former city manager)
    • Misc.

    Civic Organizations

    • Misc.
    • Arlington Band
    • Arlington Boy’s Club
    • Arlington Historical Society
    • Arlington Night Shelter
    • Arlington Youth Orchestra/ Symphony
    • Boy Scouts
    • Cancer Society
    • United Fund
    • YMCA Foundation

    Clubs

    • Kiwanis
    • Jaycees
    • Lions
    • Rotary
    • Seretoma
    • Women’s clubs
    • Misc.

    Community Development

    • Initiative Movement
    • Arlington Community Center
    • 1965 Community Development Survey
    • Public Programs/ Services

    Convention Center

    Crime & Criminals

    • Julie Fuller murder
    • Murders of Christine Vu & Wendie Prescott
    • Murder of Amy Robinson

    Doctors

    • Doctors
    • Misc.
    • Dr. Zack Bobo

    Ethnic Groups

    • African-American
    • Hispanic
    • Vietnamese
    • Mosier Valley
    • Native Americans
    • Misc.

    Festivals & Celebrations

    • Arlington Centennial
    • Festivals – 1990s
    • Festivals – 2000s

    Fire Department

    Fires

    • Fires – 1990s
    • Fires – 2000s

    Fielder Museum

    Historical Buildings

    Historical Homes

    • Misc.
    • Cooper House
    • Fielder House
    • Ralph Mann Home

    Historical – Indians of Arlington

    • Misc.
    • Indian Papers – Treaty of Bird’s Fort
    • Indian Heritage in Arlington
    • Battle of Village Creek

    Historical Sites I

    • Bird’s Fort
    • Cross Timbers
    • Goodwin Cabin – Grand Prairie, TX
    • Heritage Trail
    • Hanging Tree
    • The Hill
    • Johnson Station
    • Marion Loyd Homestead – Mansfield, TX
    • Jopling-MeLear Log Cabin

    Historical Sites II

    • Marrow Bone Spring
    • Mineral Well
    • Village Creek
    • P.A. Watson Log Cabin
    • Screaming Bridge
    • Top of the Hill Terrace – Casino
    • Witness Tree

    Hospitals

    • Arlington Memorial (including bound scrapbook of clippings)
    • CPC Millwood Psychiatric
    • HCA Medical Center

    Johnson Creek

    • Johnson Creek history
    • Johnson Creek Project

    Lakes – Arlington area

    • Joe Pool Lake
    • Lake Arlington
    • Lake Calloway/ Lake Erie (Handley Power Plant)

    Libraries

    • “Origin and Development of the Public Library System in Arlington”
    • Misc. – libraries
    • Friends of the Library
    • Central Library
    • East Arlingtong Branch Library (formerly Southeast)
    • Lake Arlington Branch Library (formerly Southwest)
    • Northeast Branch Library
    • Woodland West Branch Library
    • Southeast Branch Library

    Maps – misc.

    Masonic & Eastern Star Homes

    Mayors

    • Misc.
    • Greene, Richard
    • Odom, Elzie
    • Patterson, Harold
    • Stovall, S.J.

    Newspapers

    • Arlington newspapers history
    • Citizen Journal – 100 year history
    • Star Telegram

    Parks Department

    • Parks – 1950s to 1980s
    • Parks – 1990s
    • Parks – 2000s
    • Randol Mill
    • River Legacy
    • Caelum Moor
    • Martin Luther King, Jr. Sports Center
    • Meadowbrook Park

    Police Department

    • Misc.
    • New police building

    Post Office

    Proclamations & Special Events

    Public Figures

    • Misc.
    • The Johnsons – Glen, Mid & Solon
    • Ayres, Joe
    • Joyner, Arista
    • Nichols, Dora

    Race Track – Arlington Downs

    Residents A – G

    • Including:
      • Dunlop, J.W.

    Residents H – R

    • Including:
      • Solon B. Johnson – Ina Russel: Letters of Correspondence 1886-1889
      • Johnson, Middleton Tate & Family history
      • Mebus, Jerry

    Residents S – Z

    • Including:
      • Wright, C.H. (Punch)
      • Waggoner, W.T.
    • Anniversaries
    • New Arrivals

    Railways & Interurban

    • Railroad
    • Interurban & railways
    • Railtran

    Rivers

    Schools – Charter

    Schools – Private

    Schools – Public School System

    • Johnson Station Schools
    • “Panorama of the Arlington Public School System” (1955)

    Schools – Elementary

    • Elementary schools
    • Elementary school teachers

    Schools – Junior High

    Schools – High School

    • Arlington H.S.
    • Sam Houston H.S.
    • Arlington H.S. – history & reunions
    • Bowie H.S.
    • Lamar H.S.
    • Martin H.S.
    • Seguin H.S.
    • Venture School

    Senior Citizens

    Sister City Program

    Smithsonian

    Streets of Arlington

    Tarrant County

    • Tarrant Co. misc.
    • Arlington Subcourthouse
    • Fort Worth history
    • Dalworthington Gardens
    • Pantego, TX
    • Watsonville, TX

    Texas Rangers Baseball I

    • 1970s – 1980s clippings
    • Ballpark in Arlington (pre 1994)

    Texas Rangers Baseball II

    • 1990s clippings
    • All-Star Game 1995
    • Nolan Ryan

    Texas Rangers Baseball III

    • Misc.
    • Arlington Stadium
    • Ballpark in Arlington (post 1994)

    Texas Sesquincentennial

    Transportation

    Urban Renewal

    Universities & Colleges

    • Arlington Baptist College
    • Arlington State College
    • Bauder Fashion College/ Bryan Institute
    • Carlisle Military Academy
    • Tarrant County Junior College (TCJC)

    Universities & Colleges – UTA

    • UTA Centennial
    • Backward Glimpses
    • UTA – Robertson Colony
    • UTA clippings: 1960s – 1970s
    • UTA clippings: 1980s
    • UTA clippings: 1990s

    Vandergriff

    • Hooker Vandergriff & Family
    • Tom Vandergriff 1950s – 1960s
    • Tom Vandergriff 1971 – 1975
    • Tom Vandergriff 1976 – 1979
    • Tom Vandergriff 1980s – 1990s

    Weather

    • Floods
    • Tornadoes

    Wedding Anniversaries

    City Directories & Telephone Books

    Scans of old City Directoreies

    Arlington City Directories

    1913, 1914, 1940, 1951, 1954, 1957, 1959-1961, 1963, 1964, 1966, 1967, 1969-1975, 1977-1979, 1981, 1982, 1984-1988

    Cole's Directory for Arlington

    1968, 1970, 1971, 1973, 1976, 1978-1984, 1986-2001

    Cole's Directory for Dallas

    1969

    Cole's Directory for Fort Worth

    1976, 1987, 1988, 1991, 1998 (Vol I & II), 2000

    Fort Worth City Directory

    1991, 1994

    Arlington Telephone Books

    1968-2010

    Arlington Chamber Member Directory & Business Guide

    1994-1996

    Grand Prairie, TX Telephone Book

    1979, 1980

    Emory, TX Telephone Book

    1995

    Maps & Finding Aids

    Files are located in the Genealogy & Local History Room of the George W. Hawkes Downtown Library. Listed alphabetically by drawer with description an date created (when known).

    1895 Tarrant Count street map

    Drawer 1

    Arlington, TX

    Arlington, TX 1919

    Arlington, TX pictoral map c. 1977

    Arlington, TX large street map n.d.

    Arlington, TX ariel photo of northeastern part of city n.d.

    Arlington, TX Existing Water Facilities Jan. 1, 1989

    Euless, TX city map n.d.

    Fort Worth, TX Greater Fort Worth street map 1953

    Grand Prairie,TX city map 1967

    Johnson Creek (Arlington, TX) flooded areas 31-Jul-74

    Johnson Creek Corridor Plan Executive Summary Report with maps 25-Mar-97

    Nacogdoches Co. – Texas state map 2-sided map c. 1976

    Oshkosh, WI – Winnebago Co., WI 2-sided map n.d.

    Richmond, VA showing important Civil War battle grounds, fortifications, roads & historic points of interest

    Tarrant Co. in Early Days c. 1840-1896

    Tarrant County, TX 1895

    Tarrant County, TX 1980

    TEXAS Historical Trail map

    TEXAS 1843

    TEXAS (early Texas & part of Mexico) *shows the route of the 1st Santa Fe Expedition n.d.

    UTA map map of campus with buildings c. 1980?

    Drawer 2

    Big Spring, TX (including: Scurry, Howard, Mitchell, Nolan, & Fisher Counties) topographic (2) 1954

    Brewster County, TX north point of county 1914

    Brewster County, TX plat map — southern part of county c. 1890

    Brownwood, TX topographic 1954

    Brown County, TX plat map 1910

    Coleman, Brown Co., TX topographic 1887 (1939 reprint)

    Collin County, TX plat map c. 1880

    Cooke-Tarrant County, TX c. 1860-1870

    Dallas County Road Map 1983

    Dallas, TX (DFW) topographic 1954

    Denton County, TX n.d.

    Gainesville, Cooke Co., TX topographic 1902

    Garza County, TX plat map

    Godley, Johnson Co., TX topographic 1961

    Granbury, Hood Co., TX (also includes Somervell & Bosque Counties) topographic 1887; 1949 reprint)

    Hays County, TX plat map 1902

    Hood County, TX plat map 1893

    Johnson County, TX plat map c. 1887

    Jud, TX quadrangle 1965

    Kent County, TX plat map n.d.

    Kiowa Peak, TX quadrangle 1962

    Lubbock, TX topographic 1954

    Marron County

    Matagorda County, TX plat map 1920

    Milam County, TX plat map 1918

    Nacogdoches County, TX plat map

    Palo Pinto County, TX

    Parker Co., TX general highway map 1963

    Shelby County, TX plat map c. 1870

    Sherman, TX – OK topographic 1954

    Stonewall County, TX plat map n.d.

    TEXAS Early map of TEXAS 1836

    Upshur County

    Victoria County, TX plat map 1921

    Waco, TX topographic 1954

    Wichita Falls, TX topographic 1954

    Drawer 3

    Pike Co., AL General Highway Map 1954

    Gwinnett Co., GA General Highway Map 1972

    Jasper Co., GA General Highway Map 1967

    Bossier Parish, LA topographic 1976

    Boone Co., MO zoning n.d.

    Caplinger Mills, MO quadrangle 1939

    Carthage, MO street map n.d.

    Filley, Cedar Co., MO quadrangle 1939

    Morgan Co., MO general highway map 1978-79

    Davie Co., NC Land Grants of 1700s with index 1700s

    Wake Co., NC c. 1870? 1771-1802?

    Chester District, SC 1820

    Dalrington District, SC 1820

    Kershaw District, SC 1820

    Landcaster District, SC 1820

    Marlboro District, SC 1820

    Marron County, SC 1882

    Sumter Co., SC general highway map 1973

    Sumter District, SC 1821

    Franklin & Brentwood, TN road map 1977

    Cumberland Co., VA 1754-1795

    Frederick Co., VA Old Frederick County — northern neck of VA 1725-1745

    Richmond, VA 1861-1865

    Arizona (Territory of Arizona) 1903

    Orange County Land Patents compiled by & drawn by Ulysses P. Joyner Jr. Jan. 1988

    Virginia & Maryland c. 1751

    Drawer 4

    Major Transportation Facilities of the U.S. call# TD12.11:F 11/999 Jan. 1999

    Transportation in North America (U.S. Department of Transportation)

    Rand McNally – Portfolio of 6 Antique Maps America 1570

    North America 1650

    World 1589

    New World 1695

    World 1626

    North America 1700

    Country Profile: IRAQ

    Colonization & Trade in the New World (produced by National Geographic) 1720

    Maps of Russia in Russian

    Phillips Co, Arkansas & state map

    Greater Spokane, Washington

    Maps of Early Idaho Old Gold Mines, Indian Battle Grounds, Old Military Roads, Old Forts, Overland Stage Routes, & Early Towns

    Indians of North America

    Indian Land Areas (U.S. Dpt. Of the Interior – Bureau of Indian Affairs) 1992

    Shiloh Battlefield Civil War battle at Shiloh, TN April 6, 1862

    Shiloh Battlefield Civil War battle at Shiloh, TN April 7, 1862

    Newspapers

    • Arlington newspapers on microfilm dating back to 1897
    • Fort Worth Star-Telegram 1997 to Present

    Census Holdings

    Census records are often the first stop in genealogical research. You should start with the most recent census and work backward in time. The 1930 census is the latest to be released.

    • Texas Federal Census microfilm covering years 1860, 1870, 1880, 1900, 1910, 1920, 1930 & 1940. Other states also available by various years and counties.
    • Texas Soundex microfilm for census years 1900, 1910 and 1920

    Military

    Military records are an excellent way to delve deeper into an ancestor’s life. For instance, pension records often contain supporting documents that are invaluable to a genealogist.

    • Index to Texas Confederate Soldiers; Texas Confederate Military Service Records
    • War of 1812 Pension Application Files

    State Records

    • Galveston, Texas Passenger Lists: 1896-1948
    • Texas Voter Register of 1867-1869
    • Index to Texas Births: 1903-1976; Index to Texas Probate Birth Records
    • Index to Texas Deaths: 1903-1973

    Miscellaneous

    • Census of the Cherokee Nation–1880 & 1890
    • Freedman’s Bank Records
    • Other miscellaneous. Keyword search our catalog for more titles.

    Yearbooks & Annuals

    Yearbooks and Annuals from various schools in the Arlington, Texas area are available at the George W. Hawkes Downtown Library. If you do not see yours listed, please donate to us!

    1927-1928 Arlington High School Volleyball Team

    Arlington Independent School District

    Arlington High School "Colt Corral"

    1947-1951, 1953-1956, 1962, 1964, 1966-1969, 1971, 1973-1979, 1981-1983, 1985, 1986, 1989-1991, 1993, 1995, 1997, 1999

    Sam Houston High School "Cherokee"

    1967-1970, 1972-1975, 1977, 1981-1983, 1985, 1996, 1998

    James Bowie High School "Explorer"

    1975, 1977, 1980, 1981, 1992, 1993, 1999

    Lamar High School "Valhalla"

    1972, 1975, 1976, 1979, 1981, 1982, 1985-1992, 1995, 1996, 1999

    James Martin High School "Phoenix"

    1983, 1985-1988, 1991-1993, 1996

    University Annuals

    United States Air Force Academy (Colorado Springs, CO) "POLARIS"

    1990

    Texas Christian University (Fort Worth, TX) "Horned Frog"

    1958, 1961, 1962

    Texas Tech University (Lubbock, TX) "La Ventana"

    1967

    North Texas Agricultural College (Arlington, TX) - now UTA - "The Junior Aggie"

    1941, 1946-1948

    Arlington State College (Arlington, TX) - now UTA - "Reveille"

    1960, 1961, 1965, 1966

    University of Texas at Arlington (Arlington, TX) "Reveille"

    1971, 1973, 1974, 1976, 1981

    North Texas State University (Denton, TX) "The Yucca"

    1967, 1968, 1972

    Community Resources

    Arlington Genealogical Society

    The Arlington Genealogical Society meets the second Tuesday of the month, September - June, at 6:30 p.m. in the George W. Hawkes Downtown Library Excellence Room (NW corner of 3rd floor).

    National Archives Southwest Region

    The archives include extensive microfilm and archival holdings for genealogy research. An index of materials is available online.
    2600 W. 7th St. Suite 162, Fort Worth, TX 76115, 817-831-5620

    Family History Center - Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

    One of many centers around the world that offer free information and resources for the beginner.
    3809 Curt Dr., Arlington, TX 76016, 817-446-7088

    Websites

    Connect With Other Genealogists

    Arlington Genealogical Society logo The Arlington Genealogical Society meets online (via Zoom) and in-person (at the Downtown Library, 100 S. Center) at 6:00 p.m. on the 2nd Tuesday of every month from September through June. See listings on the library calendar for more details, including upcoming speakers and how to join meetings online. Visitors are always welcome!

    Northeast Branch Updates:
    Starting Monday, December 4, 2023, the Northeast Branch will be temporarily closed for HVAC renovations. Click here for more information.