Roots to the Past: Local History & Genealogy
We have a wealth of local history and genealogy resources. Learn about upcoming programs and new acquisitions. Check out our digital collections and helpful links. Discover your unique Nova Scotian heritage at the Halifax Public Libraries!
Getting Started
Find a Local Group or Organization
Suggested Reading Lists
- Acadia and the Acadians (PDF)
- African Nova Scotians (PDF)
- Beginner Guides to Genealogy (PDF)
- Explosion In Halifax Harbour, December 6, 1917 (PDF)
- HRM Historic Communities (PDF)
- Literary Firsts Resource List (PDF)
- Literary Walking Tour Resource List (PDF)
- The Sinking of the Titanic (PDF)
Searchable Databases
- Ancestry Library Edition
(** Only available at the Spring Garden Road Public Library **)
Ancestry Library Edition provides unprecedented access to family history via documents that record the lineage of over 5 billion individuals. Answers await users inside the more than 4,000 databases of family information covering Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom and more.
Routes to Your Roots
Routes to Your Roots is an exciting new way to start your family history search. The database contains over 1 million records of births, deaths and marriages in Nova Scotia dating back at least 250 years, and even further for some names. There are over 50 thousand last names and over 27 thousand locations accessed on each search.
Digital Collections
- Acadian Links
- African Heritage Month
- Books of Remembrance
- The Halifax Literary Walking Tour
- Halifax Explosion Links
- The Halifax Explosion: North Branch Memorial Library
- Royal Canadian Naval Centennial
- Spring Garden Road Memorial Public Library - 50th Anniversary
Helpful Links
- General
- Canada
- Automated Genealogy (indices to 1901-1911 Canadian censuses)
- Canadian Museum of Immigration at Pier 21
- Genealogy and Family History (Library and Archives Canada)
- Images Canada
- Nova Scotia
- Halifax
- United States
