Lockport Public Library
Lockport, New York 14094

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Local History

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Local History Room Resources

The Local History collection includes mainly information on Niagara County and Lockport; the Erie Canal; famous persons, industries, schools, events, and historic buildings.

Limited staff time does not allow us to do in-depth research. We will look in standard indexed sources (this does not include the New York State Census) in the Library's collection, as well as in the newspapers listed below to locate obituaries if you provide us with a date of death. Monetary donations are always appreciated. Photocopy charges are $0.15 per page. If you wish to send us a local history or genealogy related reference question, please go to our Ask-A-Librarian page.

Some of our resources may be useful for genealogical research, such as:

RESOURCE
DATES OF COVERAGE
FORMAT
Lockport Daily Advertiser & Democrat 8/2/1858 - 12/31/1859 * microfilm
Lockport Daily Union/Sun 7/11/1866 - 12/30/1899 * microfilm
Lockport Union Sun & Journal 10/1899 - present * microfilm
Niagara Democrat 1/6/1883 - 12/27/1884 * microfilm
Lockport City Directories 1856 - present microfilm and print
Niagara County Directories various years between 1869 and 1887 microfilm and print
Lockport High School Yearbooks 1897 - present print
DeSales Catholic High School Yearbooks 1950 - 1989 print
United States Niagara County Census 1820 - 1930, with the exception of 1890 microfilm
New York State Niagara County Census 1855, 1865, 1875. There is a printed index for the State census. microfilm

* There are gaps in the newspaper collection. The newspapers have no index; therefore, knowing the dates of the events you are researching will expedite your search. We are, however, slowly creating an obituary index for the Union Sun & Journal. The years 1900, 1901, and 2007 are complete and are available in this Microsoft Excel file.

You may find our links to selected genealogy web sites useful, as well.

Access to Ancestry Library Edition database is available from the library's public-access computers.

Photograph Collections
We have two photograph collections in the Local History Room--the Polster Photo Collection and the Sand Photo Collection. Photocopies of the items in each collection may be viewed during library hours.

Polster Photo Collection: Request for Photo Duplication form
Sand Photo Collection: Request for Photo Duplication form

Visiting Us
If you are planning to visit us, note that the Local History Room on Floor 3 can be accessed any time the library is open. We have 2 microfilm scanners (purchased through the Charles A. Upson Fund) for public use. Printouts are $0.15 each. Text and images from microfilm and microfiche can also be saved to disk, USB drive, or sent as an email attachment. Availability is on a first come, first served basis. Time is limited to 30 minutes if others are waiting to use the readers. Your library card is needed to log in to the microfilm machines. Guest passes are available for out-of-towners.

Other Local Resources
We are not a specialized historical library, although the local history collection is important to us. We recommend that you also consider consulting other resources such as:

The History Center of Niagara County
215 Niagara Street
Lockport, New York 14094
(716) 434-7433
  Niagara County Historian's Office
139 Niagara Street
Lockport, New York 14094
(716) 439-7324
 
Niagara County Genealogical Society
215 Niagara Street
Lockport, New York 14094
(716) 433-1033
  Lockport City Clerk's Office
(for birth and death certificates)
One Locks Plaza
Lockport, New York 14094
(716) 439-6676
 
The History Website of Niagara County, NY   Lockport Public Library's
selected Genealogy Web sites
     
Niagara County Historical Society's Bicentennial Moments: Articles on Niagara County's Rich History   History of Lockport, NY (from the City and Town of Lockport, NY, official Web site)
     

 

 

Lockport Public Library, 23 East Avenue, Lockport, NY 14094 - (716) 433-5935
Doors open: Monday-Thursday, 10:00 AM - 9:00 PM; Friday-Saturday, 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Last updated 02/02/2010