Finding Printed Local History and Genealogy Materials in the Durham County Library

Subject Headings in the Library’s Catalog

When searching for genealogical materials in the catalog at the library, use the “subject starts with” selection and these subject headings to find many of the genealogical materials the library owns. These headings are less useful when you use them to search from home, since the “search the catalog” option is more limited.

• Genealogy.
• North Carolina—Genealogy.
• North Carolina--Census.
• North Carolina--Gazetteers.
• United States--Genealogy.
• United States--Census.
• Obituaries.
• African-Americans--Genealogy.
• African-Americans--North Carolina--Genealogy.
• Women—Genealogy
• Smith family. (Use the family name plus the word “family if you are looking for a specific family)

How-to Manuals

The beginning genealogical researcher will find how-to manuals indispensable for help with devising strategies to find information, keep records, and do research, and discovering what types of information are available. Each manual has its strengths and weaknesses. Look carefully for the one that is right for you. In the Durham County Library, these manuals can be found under call number 929.107.

Leary, Helen F. M., ed. North Carolina Research: Genealogy and Local History. Raleigh, NC: North Carolina Genealogical Society, 1996.
The goal of the editor and publisher of this book is to provide in a single, accurate, and conveniently organized source the information necessary for pursuing North Carolina research.

Dictionaries and Gazetteers

Black, Henry Campbell. Black's Law Dictionary. St. Paul, Minn.: Thomson/West Pub. Co., 2004.
Black's Law Dictionary is an essential tool for deciphering many of the terms and phrases found in legal documents such as estate papers.

FitzHugh, Terrick V. H. and Susan Lumas. The Dictionary of Genealogy. A&C Black 1998.
Published in England and concentrates on British terms; it is very useful for looking up general genealogical terms, especially those that appear in colonial and early American records.

Powell, William S. The North Carolina Gazetteer. Chapel Hill: University of North Carolina Press, 1968.
A geographical dictionary listing all geographical features and place names in North Carolina, current and historical. Not only can it help find obscure towns in the state, it is fascinating to read. Many entries also contain information on the origins of names. First published in 1968, it was re-released in 1985 and is still in print.

Juvenile Sources

Genealogy books for young people can be found in the children's room under the call number 929.1.

Last Update: August 5, 2008