Genealogy at William & Mary Libraries

Welcome to William & Mary Libraries genealogy guide! Doing genealogical research is a fun and thrilling experience for many people and families. It is a great way to learn about your history and the history of the world as you learn about what your ancestors were doing during historical events.

This guide highlights the genealogical resources available at WM Libraries. Supported by the enthusiasm and generosity of the Mary and Dennis Rebman family of Atlanta, our genealogy resources are a mix of online and print materials. While our catalog is accessible to the public, most online resources are only accessible to visitors while they are in Swem Library.

The information below will help you identify the types of information available in this guide.

• Visit W&M Libraries: find the information you need to help you plan a visit, including directions, parking instructions, hours of operation, and a preparedness checklist.
• W&M Libraries Genealogy Resources: find descriptions of specific resources we provide access to that may be relevant to your research, including Ancestry, the Virginia Historical Index, passenger lists, historical newspapers, and more.
• Early Jamestown: find resources relevant to early arrivals in Jamestown, Virginia.
• African American Genealogy: find resources within our collection that are particularly helpful to those searching for African American ancestors.
• Special Collections Research Center: find the information you need to help you plan a visit to our Special Collections Research Center (SCRC), including appointment information, collection information, and hours of operation.
• Genealogy Projects and Other Area Libraries: find information about genealogy projects at William & Mary, including the Lemon Project Genealogy Research Initiative & Bray School Descendants, as well as information about other area libraries.