Genealogy Room

The library’s genealogical collection is primarily focused on the migration path to Texas. It includes limited census and tax records, primarily for Texas counties. The Library's microfilm collection of the Temple Daily Telegram is also useful for genealogical research in the Temple area. In addition, the library owns microfilm of several other Central Texas newspapers. The Adult Services Staff can do limited searches of the newspaper for out of town patrons and can help them access archival, genealogical, and microfilm materials. Ancestry and Fold3 genealogy databases may be accessed through the Library's public computers. 

For more information contact the Reference Desk at 254.298.5702.
Local Resources

• Springer Archives
  The Fred M. and Dale M. Springer Archives houses the archival records of the Temple Railroad & Heritage Museum and serves as the official repository for the Santa Fe Railway Historical & Modeling Society. The archives cover local and railroad history. Railroad-related holdings include photographs, engineering and mechanical records, maps, drawings, timetables, employee magazines, etc. The Springer Archives has one of the largest collections of railroad mechanical drawings and the most complete set of Santa Fe employee timetables. Visitors also have access to 5,000 books in the research library.
• Bell County Genealogical Society 
  BCGS, formed in 1991 under the Texas Non-Profit Corporation Act, promotes genealogical research and preservation of genealogical records to perpetuate the memory of our ancestors and their contributions to the cultural heritage of our country.  BCGS is a partner society of Texas State Genealogical Society.  Locally, BCGS supports Temple Public Library and holds open search days on the 4th Saturday of the month at 11AM in the 2nd floor Genealogy Room.

Ancestry Databases

• Castle Garden
  Created by the Battery Conservancy from records at NARA, this free online searchable database contains entries for 10 million immigrants from 1830 through 1892, the year Ellis Island opened. Searchable by passenger name, the database provides information including age, sex, literacy, occupation, country of origin, port of embarkation, date of arrival into New York, and ship name. From 1855 - 1890, Castle Garden was America's first official immigration center.
• Ellis Island
  Ellis Island has an online searchable database using records from NARA, (created by the Statue of Liberty/Ellis Island Foundation), of 22.5 million arrivals to New York between 1892 - 1924. Registration is required but free, and you can view scanned images of actual passenger manifests. You can also purchase copies through the site. Over 20 million immigrants passed through the Port of New York at Ellis Island from 1892 - 1924.
• Family Search
  Search from many databases of records from around the world, including many provided from the National Archives. This website is a project of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons).
• Passenger Lists 
  Electronic records at NARA relating to immigrants to America from Germany (1850-1897), Russia (1834-1897), Ireland (1846-1851), and Italy (1855-1900). The National Archives offers the AAD database as a free public resource and it can be accessed from anywhere.