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Local History
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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.  There is no charge for the above mentioned services; however, 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 print index for the State census only.		 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.

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 for public use.  Printouts are $0.15 each. Text and images from microfilm can also be saved to disk 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.

We are not a specialized historical library, although the local history collection is important to us.  We recommend that you also consider consulting other area 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

 
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