Genealogy & Local History

About Us

The Genealogy and Local History Department serves as the Chattahoochee Valley area’s primary repository for genealogical and historical research materials. Genealogy and local history reference services and materials are located on the second floor of the Columbus Public Library. Visitors searching their ancestry in Georgia or one of the states of the American Southeast will find the Library’s Genealogy Department to be of valuable assistance. Access to digital resources are available at all locations.

The Department provides the beginning and experienced researcher with a broad and well-rounded collection of research materials. These materials include: 

  • Local History 
  • Biographical and Historical Resources 
  • City Directories 
  • Census Data 
  • Maps 
  • Periodicals & Newsletters
  • Military Records
  • Court Records 
  • Newspapers
  • Local Subscription Genealogy Databases 

And more! 

Upcoming Events

Local History Documents

Columbus Georgia Birth Index| August 1890-December 1900 *
Columbus Georgia Birth Register | 1901 - 1918 *

* Created by Daniel B. Olds for the Muscogee Genealogical Society.   

Note: These indexes are derived from entries in a book from the Health Department. There are no accompanying certificates. 

Have Questions?

To request information from the Genealogy Department, please call 706-243-2681 or email CVL-Genealogy@cvlga.org.

Resources

Ancestry.com Library Edition

Ancestry.com Library Edition
A comprehensive treasury of American genealogical sources, including unique primary sources, local and family histories, and finding aids. In-library use only.
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Archive Grid

Archive Grid

A collection of nearly two million archival material descriptions, including MARC records from WorldCat and finding aids harvested from the web.

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FamilySearch (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints)

FamilySearch logo
Genealogical records from one of the largest genealogy organizations in the country. Creation of a free personal account is required. Chattahoochee Valley Libraries is a FamilySearch Affiliate. Some content is only available inside the library.
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Fold3

Fold3 logo

Provides access to a premier collection of US military records, including the stories, photos, and personal documents of the men and women who served.

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GALILEO

Galileo logo

GALILEO (GeorgiA LIbrary LEarning Online) is an online library portal to authoritative, subscription-only information that isn’t available through free search engines or Web directories.

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Georgia Historic Newspapers

Georgia Historic Newspapers

An archive of historical Georgia newspapers from 1847-1922. 

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Heritagequest

Heritagequest

Access family and history books, the U.S. Federal Census (1790-1930), PERSI (The Periodical Source Index), Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application Files, Freedman's Bank Records, and more.

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Ledger-Enquirer 1993-Current (Newsbank)

Columbus Ledger Enquirer Logo

Explore current and archived issues with full-color newspaper pages and individual articles, as well as content only published online. 

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