Old stories and new stories are essential: They tell us who we are, and they enable us to survive. We thank all the ancestors, and we thank all those people who keep on telling stories generation after generation, because if you don’t have the stories, you don’t have anything.
Leslie Marmon Silko, Storyteller
Russell Lee, Library of Congress
Genealogy is about discovering and telling your family's stories
Start by talking to parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, and cousins to see what they may know about your family's origins.
Their memories can help you can search for more detailed information in census records, immigration and naturalization papers, birth/death and marriage certificates, passport documents, church archives, maps, land records, historic newspapers, military records, archival and online databases.
Whether you are inspired by an old scrapbook, talking with family or simple curiosity, your family's story is a giant puzzle waiting to be put together and shared.
Come explore the many genealogical resources at the New Mexico State Library.
Our collections can provide you free access to:
There are many online sources that can help with advice about genealogy research.
For advice and how-tos, here are some sources to review:.
If you would prefer a book in print, the NM State Library has a Genealogy General Reference Collection available to borrow directly or through interlibrary loan. All state residents can visit the NM State Library in Santa Fe and are eligible for a free card. If you live at a distance from the State Library, ask your local library about Interlibrary Loan.
