Genealogy & Local History Collection
Local History Photos from Fortepan Iowa
Genealogy & Local History Resources You Can Access From Anywhere:
Searchable content from the New England Historic and Genealogical Society.
Includes full text local histories and genealogies, census images and indexing, PERSI, and Revolutionary War Pension Records.
Use Access World News to read and search newspapers in Iowa - including The Hawk Eye - the U.S. and across the globe.
Search historic Iowa newspapers by name or keywords.
Use Heritage Hub to read and search obituaries in Iowa and throughout the U.S.
Chronicling America
Find A Grave
IAGenWeb Project
Genealogy & Local History Resources Only Available In-Library:
Search historic Iowa newspapers by name or keywords.
Includes full text local histories and genealogies, census images and indexing, PERSI, and Revolutionary War Pension Records.
Databases including US Census, records of military, court, land, probate, vital, church, directories, passenger lists & more.
Advice on Searching Resources
Tracing Your Des Moines County Ancestors
Follow the link above for an overview of the resources for use at the Burlington Public Library for researching ancestors from Burlington and throughout Des Moines County.
Getting Started With Genealogy Research
Follow the link above for recommendations on where to start with your family history research.
Genealogy Search Services
Local History and Genealogy Request Form
For a $5 fee per record the Burlington Public Library staff will search our local newspapers for articles, birth, marriage, and death notices. A record is defined as 1 article, 1 birth announcement, 1 marriage announcement using month, day, and year) is required for this search. We will search the date you provide plus a maximum of 5 additional days before and after the date provided.
Furniture Look-Up Request Form
For a $5 fee the Burlington Public Library staff will search the Chittenden and Eastman or Northwestern Cabinet Company catalogs for a furniture item for no more than 30 minutes. To search Chittenden and Eastman pieces, we need an approximate date of manufacture. For Northwestern Cabinet Company, we need a model number. Model numbers are usually found on the back of the furniture. Including a photo of the piece of furniture is required. If we find your item, we will mail you a copy of the catalog page. If no such item is found, we will inform you as to what was searched. Please send your payment (checks or money orders can be made out to the Burlington Public Library) along with this completed form and photo to:
Burlington Public Library
210 Court Street
Burlington, IA 52601
319.753.1647