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Genealogy & Obituaries

Online Resources

Ancestry Library (*In-Library Access Only) Library Card Required.

Search genealogy records and discover more about your family history. Ancestry includes records from the U.S. Census, military records, court, land and probate records, vital and church records, directories, passenger lists, and more. Watch tutorial video., opens a new window 
*Ancestry can only be used inside the library. When visiting the library, you can access Ancestry from a personal laptop computer that is connected to our WiFi network, or by using one of our library computers including library laptops from the laptop kiosk. 
Available for in-library use only

Digital ReeL – Newspaper Microfilm Collection

Digital ReeL provides online access to SCCLD’s microfilm collection of historical local newspapers, digitized for enhanced access and searching capabilities. Up to ten patrons can access this service concurrently. If you are unable to access this service, please check back at a later time. Access from Home: From outside the library you can access Santa Clara County historical newspapers from 1895-1923. The archive includes local newspapers from Campbell, Gilroy, Morgan Hill and Saratoga.    Access from the Library: From within the library you can access our entire collection of Santa Clara County historical newspapers from 1895-2018.  The archive includes local newspapers from Campbell, Cupertino, Milpitas, Morgan Hill, and Saratoga.  
Available for in-library use only

Fold3 Library Edition Library Card Required.

Provides access to a growing collection of U.S. military records from the Revolutionary War to the Iraq and Afghanistan conflicts, including the stories, photos, and personal documents of the men and women who served. Contains millions of archived records, many of which are exclusively available on Fold3. Fold3 is perfect for researching the military, history, and genealogy.

Mercury News Online, The (2006-Current) Library Card Required.

Get full access to today's articles from your local newspaper through the online version of The Mercury News. Headlines are updated throughout the day and readers may enjoy local, national, and world news. Read the latest articles about business, technology, sports, etc. or review editorials, obituaries, and much more. Full-text articles including articles from the Associated Press may be available as far back as 2006. If you are interested in articles from before 2006, we offer an additional, separate online service through a different provider, Newsbank. Use your library card number and PIN to enjoy unlimited access to articles from The Mercury News (1985-Recent).
Please Note: The Mercury News requires users to be 18 or older. The Mercury News asks users under the age of 18 to obtain parental or legal guardian consent to The Mercury News Terms of Use and The Mercury News Privacy Policy. By following the link above to access The Mercury News, you certify that you are 18 or older, and that if you are under the age of 18 years, that you have obtained the consent of your parent or legal guardian to the The Mercury News Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. When accessing The Mercury News link, you will be leaving the Santa Clara County Library District website and directed to The Mercury News site. This service is provided at no charge to Santa Clara County Library District patrons. Please be aware that policies that apply to the Library and its website may not be the same as the Terms of Use for other websites. By proceeding, you agree to accept and assume all risks and responsibilities for the losses and damages that may arise from your use of The Mercury News website and release the Santa Clara County Library District from all liability.
Available for in-library use only

My China Roots New! Library Card Required.

My China Roots is a genealogy resource for researching Chinese ancestry. Collections include records in both English and Chinese such as census, immigration, Chinese exclusion, community directories, burial and genealogy records. Users can research ancestral villages, surname origins, digitized zupus (documents compiled by families to record the names and details of ancestors), and upload images with Chinese text to obtain a transcription. 

New York Times, The (Current Issues) Library Card Required.

The New York Times Online is available in three editions: English, Spanish and Chinese. Click on ESPAÑOL or 中文 on top of the New York Times website to access the Spanish or Chinese edition. Headlines are updated throughout the day. Lending Information. FAQ.

Accessing The New York Times

  • Redemption Code limit: 24 hours access. After 24 hours you can return to this page and redeem another access code.
  • To use the app:
    • First redeem your code through the library website.
    • Then follow the prompts to log in or sign up in the browser.
    • Once you've signed in on the browser, you can switch to the app and sign in with the same New York Times account.
  • The New York Times recommends using the newest version of the Chrome browser for the best loading and browsing experience. More information on this topic can be found in the New York Times Help Center, opens a new window.

For articles from 1851 to three years previous to the current year, visit the New York Times Historical Archive.

Please Note: The New York Times (NYT) requires users to be 13 or older.  The NYT also asks users age 13-17 to obtain parental or legal guardian consent to the NYT Terms of Service and NYT Privacy Policy.  By following the link below to access the NYT, you certify that you are 13 or older, and that if you are 13-17 years old, that you have obtained the consent of your parent or legal guardian to the NYT terms of service and privacy policy.

When accessing the New York Times link, you will be leaving the Santa Clara County Library District website and directed to the New York Times site. This service is provided at no charge to Santa Clara County Library District patrons. Please be aware that policies that apply to the Library and its website may not be the same as the terms of use for other websites. By proceeding you agree to accept and assume all risks and responsibilities for the losses and damages that may arise from your use of the New York Times website and release the Santa Clara County Library District from all liability.


Download New York Times, The (Current Issues) on the App StoreGet New York Times, The (Current Issues) on Google PlayNew York Times, The (Current Issues) available at Amazon App Store

New York Times, The (Historic Issues) Library Card Required.

From leading issues and events, like the U.S. Civil War, westward expansion, industrial developments, race relations, and World War I and II; to international, local and regional politics, society, arts, culture, business, and sports the New York Times: Historic Issues provides easily-searchable firsthand accounts and coverage from 1851 through three years previous to the current year. Every issue includes the complete paper, cover-to-cover, with full-page and article images in easily downloadable PDF format.  Available in ProQuest Historical Newspapers. To browse individual issues, click on "Publications." You will see three different editions of the New York Times available: The New York Daily Times (1851-1857), The New York Times (1857-1922), The New York Times (1923-three years previous to the current year).

WorldCat: Search Other Libraries’ Collections Library Card Required.

Search the collection and holdings of other library systems from around the world. Find books, magazines, newspapers, archival material, videos, audio recordings, maps, and other items not owned by the Santa Clara County Library District. This is a great resource for patrons looking for reference items, archival material, primary sources, or hard to find items that maybe out of print.  You may place an Interlibrary loan (ILL) request (fee charged) for items to be delivered to an SCCLD library.
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