Genealogy Databases

The library subscribes to two genealogy databases: Ancestry and Heritage Quest. Ancestry is available in the library only, whereas Heritage Quest is available through our web site 24 hours a day.

Ancestry® Library Edition (available in the library only) is a rich genealogical source containing birth, marriage and death records; church records; military records; court, land and probate records; directories, passenger lists and more.  While the focus is on Australian, Canadian, UK and US records, more and more records from non-English countries are being added daily

Heritage Quest Online primarily focuses on US genealogy as it contains the full US census from 1790 to 1930, Freedman’s Bank records (1865-1874), Revolutionary War Pension Records, and the US Serial set. However, relevant content to genealogists researching Canada includes PERSI (Periodical Source Index) -- a comprehensive subject index covering more than 6,600 genealogy and local history periodicals written in English and French (Canada) since 1800. Over 23,000 full-text books covering areas through the US and Canada are also available. Examples of such include Chadwick’s Ontarian families : genealogies of United-Empire-loyalists and other pioneer families of Upper Canada, 1898; Kirkconnell’s Victoria County centennial history, 1921; Canniff’s History of the settlement of Upper Canada (Ontario) : with special reference to the bay Quinte, 1869; and Herrington’s Pioneer life among the loyalists in Upper Canada, 1915.

For more information, please consult our Genealogy Databases brochure.