Texana/Genealogy Department

The Central Library's Texana/Genealogy Collection on the 6th floor is currently closed for browsing due to ongoing building improvement projects. The department will provide reference service by appointment on the 2nd floor until further notice. Staff are available to assist researchers remotely, Tuesday 12pm-8pm and Wednesday through Saturday 10am-6pm.  You may submit online research requests through our Ask-A-Librarian service and we will respond as quickly as we can.

In order to accommodate as many people as possible, appointments are limited in duration and available in one-hour blocks. You may register for two appointments in a day, depending on availability. Researchers are encouraged to make appointments at least 24 hours in advance. Library staff will confirm the date and time of your scheduled appointment.

Appointments are available:

• Tuesday 12pm—4pm or 5pm—7pm;
• Wednesday through Saturday 10am—5pm. 

Schedule a research appointment by emailing GenealogyDesk@sanantonio.gov or calling 210-207-2500 and request to speak with the Texana/Genealogy Department.  

A few things to keep in mind:

• Researchers will be unable to browse the open stacks or use subscription databases from the designated temporary reading room.
• Please remember to bring your own camera for reproductions.
• We recommend that city employees and visitors wear a face mask when indoors at city facilities. If you are sick or feeling unwell, please cancel or reschedule your appointment for a later date.

We look forward to assisting you with your research. 

The Texana/Genealogy Department is a Reference Only Collection. The materials are not allowed to leave the department, however, copies of some of the books are also in the circulating collection and available for check out.  

Since 1995, the collection has been located on the sixth floor of the Central Library at 600 Soledad Street downtown.  The department occupies approximately 10,000 square feet.

Within the Department are: 

• approximately 60,000 microforms 
• 75,000 books
• 110 drawers of archival files
• 11 map cabinets
• 300 cubic feet of archival collections.

This guide is designed to introduce you to books, databases, web sites, and information on microfilm held by the Texana/Genealogy Department.   

While almost all Texana and genealogy books are listed in the online catalog, items in the specials collections, maps, clipping files, archive collections, and those on microfilm and microfiche do not appear in the catalog. 

Books in the Texana Collection follow the Dewey system. Books on individual counties are given a specific county number, and then filed by author, title entry, etc. 

Books in the Genealogy Collection also follow the Dewey system. Books about individual states are file according to the appropriate state number and then filed by individual county in possible. Those items with material on several counties or general topics are filed by author or title entry. Patrons should use the catalog because some materials on a county of interest may be filed in one of these more general titles. 

Books on specific families are filed in 929.2, and then by the first surname that appears on the title page. The catalog will contain all surnames on the title page. Other surnames listed in the text or index will not be in the catalog. Patrons should check the catalog under “_____ family” or “_____ genealogy” 

The Texana/Genealogy Department is a Reference Only Collection. The materials are not allowed to leave the department, however, copies of some of the books are also in the circulating collection and available for check out.