Click on the logo above to access the research page of the library's website. From there, you can search the library catalog, or link to the genealogy page with additional information and resources.

SJGS Volunteers

SJGS volunteers are available to assist you at the Cesar Chavez Central Library on the first and last Tuesday of the month from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. We are located on the second floor of the library adjacent to the Genealogy Collection. Let us help you with your family history research, free of charge!

In addition to our volunteer services, the following genealogical resources are available to library visitors:

Local History Collection

This is a closed stack collection consisting of significant works of local importance, including books, maps, and more. It is housed at the Cesar Chavez Central Library on the second floor. The emphasis of the collection is on Stockton and San Joaquin County. Access to the collection is through the main library catalog and various special indices. You must speak with a librarian at the second floor Reference Desk if you're interested in viewing materials in this collection.

Local Newspaper Collection

Newspapers have been printed in Stockton since 1850 and the Library has a subject index that covers many (but not all) years of local newspapers. Nearly all of these newspapers are on microfilm, and the Library's microfilm readers allow patrons to view, print, and email images or save images to a USB or "flash" drive.

The SJGS Genealogy Collection

This collection at the Cesar Chavez Central Library consists of:

Over 1,500 genealogy reference books. The primary emphasis of the collection is on United States research, although there are also books on special topic genealogy and guides to research in other countries. Additional items include local directories; publications from various hereditary societies; U.S. military and land records; San Joaquin County vital records and cemetery records; and books published by the San Joaquin Genealogical Society and other local authors.
Approximately 200 family histories from across the United States.
Approximately 175 periodicals from genealogical and historical societies. The SJGS currently subscribes to a dozen genealogy magazines.

Materials in the Genealogy Collection are non-circulating and are for in-library use only; however, the library also owns many other circulating genealogy books that can be checked out and used at home.

Online Database

The Stockton-San Joaquin County Public Library subscribes to Ancestry Library Edition (an institutional version of Ancestry.com), and it's available on most public computers at the Cesar Chavez Central Library and at other branch libraries in San Joaquin County:

Margaret K. Troke Branch Library, 502 W. Benjamin Holt Drive, Stockton, CA 95207
Maya Angelou Branch Library, 2324 Pock Lane, Stockton, CA 95205
Fair Oaks Branch Library, 2370 E. Main Street, Stockton, CA 95205
Weston Ranch Branch Library, 1453 W. French Camp Road, Stockton, CA 95206
Escalon Branch Library, 1540 Second Street, Escalon, CA 95320
Lathrop Branch Library, 450 Spartan Way, Lathrop, CA 95330
Linden Branch Library, 19059 E. Main Street (Highway 26), Linden, CA 95236
Manteca Branch Library, 320 W. Center Street, Manteca, CA 95336
Mountain House Branch Library, 250 E. Main Street, Mountain House, CA 95391
Ripon Branch Library, 333 W. Main Street, Ripon, CA 95366
Thornton Branch Library, 26341 N. Thornton Road, Thornton, CA 95686
Tracy Branch Library, 20 E. Eaton Avenue, Tracy, CA 95376

Your library card gives you free access to Ancestry when you log on with your card number and personal identification number (PIN) at one of the library computers. Free library card access to Ancestry will NOT work from home or other locations, and it does NOT work on laptop computers or oher personal devices brought to the library.