Local History & Genealogy

Local History & Genealogy

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Digital Materials

From books, to maps, and everything in between, you can find a variety of digitized materials from our local history collection. Partial funding for digitization was made possible through a grant from the Park Foundation to encourage sustainability through remote access of library materials.

You can also access HeritageQuest Online from our library computers to search census records, books, and documents for information about your ancestors. Want to search HeritageQuest from home? Log into your account, click on the Online Databases tab, and then select "Genealogy & Family Research" to see links for HeritageQuest and New York Heritage. 

We can provide limited research on topics of local history or interest where the information sought is unique to the collection of the library. The Tompkins County Research Service is available to individuals and/or organizations for whom it is impossible to visit the library in person.


For additional resources, visit the following websites:

The History Center in Tompkins County

Names In Stone Cemetery Maps

New York Heritage Digital Collections

Library of Congress New York State Guide
The Library of Congress web guide contains a variety of materials specifically relating to New York State, including manuscripts, documents, photos, books and maps. This site also provides links to websites such as:

The U.S. GenWeb Project
Genealogy websites for genealogical research in every county and every state of the United States.

Cayuga Heights History Project

 

Upcoming Events

This event is in the "Babies, Toddlers, & Preschoolers" group

Preschool Art Studio

10:30am–11:15am
Babies, Toddlers, & Preschoolers
Library Branch: Tompkins County Public Library
Room: Thaler/Howell Programming Room
Age Group: Babies, Toddlers, & Preschoolers
Program Type: Arts & Crafts
About this event::

Toddlers and preschoolers will have the opportunity to have open exploration and discovery with a variety of arts & crafts materials!

A Margaret Johnstone Hilton Endowment Fund program.

This event is in the "Adults" group
This event is in the "Teens" group

Makerspace One-on-One

11:00am–12:00pm
Adults, Teens
Full
Registration Required
Library Branch: Tompkins County Public Library
Room: Makerspace
Age Group: Adults, Teens
Program Type: Classes and Workshops, Makerspace, One-on-One Appointments
Registration Required
About this event::

What do you want to make?

This event is in the "Adults" group

Technology Basics One-on-One

12:00pm–1:00pm
Adults
Full
Registration Required
Library Branch: Tompkins County Public Library
Room: Digital Lab
Age Group: Adults
Program Type: Digital Lab, One-on-One Appointments, Technology Class
Registration Required
About this event::

Need help with basic technology topics, such as using email, searching the internet, or borrowing eBooks?  Make an appointment for one-on-one help from a TCPL librarian or partnering technology tutor. 

This event is in the "Adults" group
This event is in the "Families" group
This event is in the "Teens" group

RESCHEDULED: Supporting Your Siblings with Karina Hagelin

1:00pm–2:30pm
Adults, Families, Teens
Library Branch: Tompkins County Public Library
Room: BorgWarner East
Age Group: Adults, Families, Teens
Program Type: Classes and Workshops, Community Groups
About this event::

In this interactive workshop, participants will learn about community care to better support their LGBTQQIA+ siblings. You'll learn about:
- What community care is
- Why community care is important

This event is in the "Adults" group

Makerspace Open Hours

3:30pm–7:30pm
Adults
Library Branch: Tompkins County Public Library
Room: Makerspace
Age Group: Adults
Program Type: Arts & Crafts, Makerspace
About this event::

Drop-in open hours, no registration required. Come for a short tour, or stay and work on a project - we have lots of art supplies and ideas to get you making!

This event is in the "Adults" group
This event is in the "Teens" group

Meditation and Mindfulness

5:00pm–6:30pm
Adults, Teens
Open
Registration Required
Library Branch: Tompkins County Public Library
Room: BorgWarner Full
Age Group: Adults, Teens
Program Type: Classes and Workshops, Health & Wellness, Other
Registration Required
About this event::

Join Anna Salamone of FireFly Farm Retreat for a monthly meditation and mindfulness practice.

This event is in the "Families" group
This event is in the "Kids" group

LEGO Family Build Night

5:30pm–6:30pm
Families, Kids
Library Branch: Tompkins County Public Library
Room: Thaler/Howell Programming Room
Age Group: Families, Kids
Program Type: STEAM, Other
About this event::

TCPL invites families to a weekly LEGO build night! Buckets of LEGO will be provided for participants to borrow for their builds.

This event is in the "Teens" group

Teen Creative Writing Workshop

5:30pm–6:30pm
Teens
Open
Registration Required
Library Branch: Tompkins County Public Library
Room: Schwarz Jacobson Meeting Room
Age Group: Teens
Program Type: Writing
Registration Required
About this event::

Love to write your own stories? Have ideas for your own characters and worlds, or an interest in writing fanfiction? Join Adrienne Raw for a Teen Creative Writing Workshop!