University Genealogy Collections around the US

 

https://www.library.ca.gov/sutro/

Many genealogists can become fixated on the big four online genealogy websites and ignore other important collections of valuable genealogical records in local university libraries.

There isn't a single, definitive number of university genealogy collections (like "425 libraries") because no central agency tracks every university with a "genealogy collection." However, based on repository lists and digital archive directories, the landscape looks like this:

Major Hubs: There are roughly 20–30 major US university libraries that are considered national-level genealogy destinations (e.g., BYU, Yale, University of North Carolina).

Regional Repositories: There are hundreds of universities (likely 300+) that don't call themselves "genealogy libraries" but host the primary Digital Special Collections (yearbooks, local newspapers, oral histories) for their specific region. See “Digital Archives | Ohio University.” Accessed December 3, 2025. https://www.ohio.edu/library/collections/digital-archives. for example.

You likely won't find a button labeled "Genealogy" on their homepages. Instead, you have to look for "Special Collections," "Archives," or "Digital Commons." See “Special Collections | ALA.” Accessed December 3, 2025. https://www.ala.org/tools/challengesupport/selectionpolicytoolkit/special.

The "Big Three" Types of University Genealogy Collections

If you are hunting for records, it helps to know which universities hold what specific types of data:

A. The Genealogy Giants (Religious & Specialized) 

A few universities have genealogy as a core part of their mission, often due to religious affiliation or historical endowments. Brigham Young University (BYU): The Family History Archive is one of the largest online genealogy book collections in the world. It is massive and free. The Family History Archive is presently located on the FamilySearch.org website. 

The Allen County Public Library (affiliated with universities): While a public library, its collection is so academic and vast (the second largest after Salt Lake City) that it functions like a university archive for researchers.

B. The Regional History Keepers

Most state universities serve as the official historian for their state. If your ancestors lived in a specific county, the nearest state university likely holds the papers for that county. The University of North Carolina (Chapel Hill): Their "Documenting the American South" collection is the premier spot for Southern U.S. ancestry, slavery records, and diaries. The University of Washington holds the Digital Collections for Pacific Northwest history, including unique labor and ethnic history records. The University of Florida's The Digital Collections (UFDC) hosts vast Caribbean and Florida pioneer records.

C. The "Hidden" Collections (Alumni & Student Data)

Almost every US university (thousands of them) has a digital archive containing: The Yearbooks: Often fully searchable by name, The Alumni Directories: Lists of graduates, often with biographical details, The Student Newspapers: A goldmine for finding ancestors who attended college (mentions of marriages, awards, campus visits).

Key Collections to Bookmark

If you want to browse, these university libraries have the most accessible online portals:

University Library	Best For...
Brigham Young University (BYU)	Family history books, western US migration, LDS history.
Harvard University	Colonial history, legal documents, early American diaries.
University of Texas (Austin)	The "Perry-Castañeda Library" Map Collection (the best historical maps online).
Cornell University	"Making of America" collection (19th-century journals and censuses).
University of Illinois	Digitized historical newspapers and rural midwest history.

Genealogists who have the time and resources will never run out of places to find more records about their ancestors.