Arizona Archives and Libraries

United States Arizona  Arizona Archives and Libraries

Many archives and libraries have resources such as maps, gazetteers, and other place-finding aids to help you locate information about Arizona. They may have collections of previous research, such as family and local histories and biographies. Many have record-finding aids such as guides to their own collections or inventories of records housed elsewhere in the state.

To learn more about the history and record-keeping systems of Arizona counties, use the inventories of the Maricopa, Pima, and Santa Cruz county archives published by the Historical Records Survey around 1940. These inventories are available at the Family History Library.

Online Records
The Mountain West Digital Library is a search portal for an aggregation of digital collections from more than 50 universities, colleges, public libraries, museums, and historical societies in Utah, Nevada, and Idaho. It is in partnership with 60 academic libraries, public libraries, museums, historical societies, cities, counties, and state agencies from Utah, Nevada, Idaho, and Hawaii (coming soon: over 60 new partners in Arizona!)

Libraries and Archives
The following archives, libraries, and societies in Arizona have collections or services to help genealogical researchers:


 * National Archives—Pacific Region (Riverside) The National Archives at Riverside has more than 38,000 cubic feet of archival holdings dating from about l850 to the l980s. In addition to textual records, there are architectural drawings, maps, and photographs. These holdings were created or received by the Federal courts and over 50 Federal agencies in Arizona, southern California, and Clark County, Nevada. Federal law requires that agencies transfer permanently valuable, noncurrent records to the National Archives.


 * Department of Libraries, Archives and Public Records The Arizona State Archives maintains collections from state, county and local government offices, boards and commissions as well as collections from private citizens and non-governmental groups. These records help document the official actions of state, county and local governments and the private lives and accomplishments of people and organizations in Arizona.


 * Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records, Genealogy Collection The book and periodical sections of the Collection are the largest in Arizona and specific titles may be located by using the Library and Archives' online catalog. Additional access to CD-ROM's, premium online databases and through interlibrary loan.


 * ASU Museums, Galleries &amp; Collections ASU has a variety of collections that reflects much of ASU's and Arizona's history and culture. The Archaeological Research Institute hosts a collection of Arizona artifacts that have been discovered. ASU also has the Museum of Anthropology and the Luhrs Gallery which exhibits the collections of historical writings and manuscripts about Arizona.


 * Mesa FamilySearch Library One of the largest Family History Centers in the world. The public is welcome. They have a good collection of United States genealogy books, and an outstanding collection of U.S. federal census microfilms. They also have free guest computers with access to FamilySearch, Ancestry.com, and other popular family history websites.


 * Arizona State University Library, Archives and Special Collections, Hayden Arizona Pioneer Biographies a good place to look for early Arizona families.


 * University of Arizona Library, Special Collections Materials on Arizona, Southwest American history, and the U.S./Mexico Borderlands, including rare books, manuscripts, and photographs.


 * Arizona Historical Society Tucson Library and Archives has a Mexican and an early Arizona collection, Colorado River topics, manuscripts 1860-present, oral histories, maps, and photos.


 * Northern Arizona University, Cline Library Their collection includes Arizona history, Arizona photographs, archives, and oral histories.


 * Phoenix Public Library, Burton Barr Central Library Their Arizona history collection is a good place for genealogy research.


 * Pima County Public Library, Joel D. Valdez Main Library Arizona collection, and the Southern Arizona Genealogical Society collection are housed here.


 * West Valley Genealogical Society An active society with a good little library. Probably represents outside Arizona better because of retirees who contribute genealogies from all around the U.S.

Outside Arizona

 * Bancroft Library, Univ. Calif. Berkeley. An outstanding collection for early settlers, migration trails, stagecoaches, miners, and histories. They probably have more Arizona historical material than any repository in Arizona.


 * Southwest Museum, Braun Research Library Includes the Monk Library of Arizoniana, California and Arizona history, and records of southwest American Indians.