San Joaquin Genealogical Society

Library Resources

 
 
 
Cesar Chavez Central Library
605 North El Dorado Street
Stockton, CA 95202
(209) 937-8221
 
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.