Genealogy

The Genealogy & Local History Department of the Hillsboro City Library is located upstairs on the north side of the building. The Local History Department houses a collection of family history books and books published about the Hillsboro area. The collection contains a selection of Hillsboro Newspapers, yearbooks, and census records back to 1886 on Microfilm. These items may now be accessed digitally on the genealogy computer at the Circulation Desk.

The Genealogy & Local History Department offers an on-line genealogy data base that can be used in researching family history.The Local History Department supports the Hill County Genealogical Society by housing all of their books and publications that are needed to research family history.

For more information on the Genealogy & Local History Department of the Hillsboro City Library contact the Library staff at

(254) 582-7385.

Census Bureau: Provides links to data tools, such as: QuickFacts, American FactFinder, Population Finder, 2010 Census, Economic Census, Interactive Maps, the International Database, and much, much more.

Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers: This database allows you to search and view public domain newspaper pages (1690-1963) and find information about American newspapers published between 1690-present. The National Endowment for the Humanities aims to have every state and U.S. territory represented in Chronicling America.

Civil War Soldiers & Sailors Database:

This web site promotes Civil War heritage with a state-by-state listing of parks and resources devoted to remembering the Civil War. There are searchable databases for Union and Confederate army units and the names of men who fought in the war. It also has descriptions of life in the Union and Confederate navies, and brief discussions of prisons, medals, and the burial of the dead.

Digital Public Library of America: The Digital Public Library of America makes millions of materials from libraries, archives, museums, and other cultural institutions across the country available to all in a one-stop discovery experience.

Find a Grave: Find the graves of ancestors, create virtual memorials or add photos, virtual flowers and a note to a loved one's memorial.

Handbook of Texas Online: The Handbook of Texas is a digital state encyclopedia developed by the Texas State Historical Association (TSHA) that is freely accessible for students, teachers, scholars, and the general public. The Handbook consists of overview, general, and biographical entries focused on the entire history of Texas from the indigenous Native Americans and the Prehistoric Era to the state's diverse population and the Modern Age. These entries emphasize the role Texans played in state, national, and world history.

Hill County Clerk's Office: The Hill County Clerk's Office is located in the Hill County Courthouse. The Clerk's Office provides access to local records such as birth, marriage, and death certificates.

Hill County Genealogical Society: The Hill County Genealogical Society Website holds a wealth of information on local historic sites, First Families, deeds and more.

Library of Congress: The Library of Congress is the largest library in the world. The collection includes millions cataloged books and other print materials in 470 languages; millions of manuscripts; the largest rare book collection in North America; and the world's largest collection of legal materials, films, maps, sheet music and sound recordings.

Military Records: The National Archives holds Federal military service records from all branches of the military.

National Archives: The National Archives has a plethora of tools for genealogists. Census records, military service records, immigration records, and more.

Nationwide Gravesite Locator: Search for burial locations of veterans and their family members in VA National Cemeteries, state veterans cemeteries, various other military and Department of Interior cemeteries, and for veterans buried in private cemeteries when the grave is marked with a government grave marker.

Papers of the War Department: On the night of November 8, 1800, fire devastated the War Office, consuming the papers, records, and books stored there. Two weeks later, Secretary of War Samuel Dexter lamented in a letter that "All the papers in my office [have] been destroyed." For the past two centuries, the official records of the War Department effectively began with Dexter's letter. An innovative digital editorial project, Papers of the War Department, 1784-1800, has brought about a major change. Some 55,000 documents of the early War Department, long thought irretrievable, have now been reconstructed through a painstaking, multi-year research effort and made available to scholars, students, and the general public. Funded in part by the National Historical Publications and Records Commission and the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Portal to Texas History: The Portal to Texas History is a gateway to rare, historical, and primary source materials from or about Texas. Created and maintained by the University of North Texas Libraries, the Portal leverages the power of hundreds of content partners across the state to provide a vibrant, growing collection of resources.

Texas Heritage Museum: The Texas Heritage Museum serves an active and successful role in the educational and service missions of Hill College and brings increasing national and international prestige to Hill College. The Texas Heritage Museum is comprised of three divisions: the Galleries & Collection, the Historical Research Center, and the Hill College Press. Furthermore, on the front of the museum grounds is the Home of the Official Texas State Medal of Honor Memorial to Native-Born Texans.

Texas State Library & Archives: The Genealogy Collection at the Texas State Library and Archives Commission includes vital statistics indexes, city directories, county records, publications such as printed family and county histories, a variety of Texas government records, federal census schedules and many other resources to help you compile your family history.

Where to Write for Vital Records: Where to Write for Vital Records is an alphabetical directory provided for those users who want direct access to individual State and territory information. Links are also provided to related resources.