Services
Consistently named one of the top ten genealogical libraries in the nation -- is worth the trip! This History Research Center houses a national and international collection of family history research materials in print, microprint and online.
Our professional staff will consult with you one on one discussing your specific research problems. Our goal is to help you navigate our vast international resources, helping you to discover your ancestors!
Our professional staff will consult with you one on one discussing your specific research problems. Our goal is to help you navigate our vast international resources, helping you to discover your ancestors!
Family History Research Center at the Clayton Library Campus
Reserve a meeting room that is perfect for everything from group projects to solo study sessions.
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Step back in time with a visit to the first Black public school in Houston, nestled in the heart of historic Fourth Ward. Get a unique glimpse in to a 1926 restored classroom, galleries showcasing the establishment and developement of Freedmen's Town after emancipation, and other rotating exhibits. Tours accommodate groups of 10 to 50 people. Late arrival of 30 minutes or more may result in a cancellation or a self-guided tour.
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Stay informed with the latest updates and developments regarding the Family History Research Center! Visit our blog for a curated selection of recent articles, stories, press releases, and more. Stay Linked to HPL.
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History
Started as a small special collection of the Houston Public Library in 1921, the genealogy research collection was originally -housed in the Julia Ideson Building in downtown Houston. In 1968, the collection was relocated to the Clayton House at 5300 Caroline Street in Houston’s historic Museum District. This was the former home of Houston businessman and statesman William Lockhart Clayton and wife Susan Vaughan Clayton, who deeded the property to the City of Houston for use as a public library.
The collection continued to grow while in the historic home. Through the generosity of an anonymous donor, the site adjacent to the Clayton House was purchased in 1986, and construction of a new library building was completed in 1988. The new building was designed to complement the style and structure of the historic Clayton House, and it provided more space for the genealogical collection to expand.
Genealogy Collections
GENEALOGY DATABASES
Access to subscription databases include Ancestry.com, Fold 3, and other premium sources. Some are accessible from home with a HPL MYLink card.
BOOK COLLECTION
An international collection of local record materials including vital records, histories, land records, and cemetery records. This collection houses materials not available online.
FAMILY SEARCH
Free online international collection of digitized books and document resources. The FHRC is a digitization partner and affiliate library of FamilySearch. As an affiliate library, restricted images can be viewed.
DIGITAL ARCHIVES
Find select digital holdings of highly requested photographs, papers, and oral histories. Download collections and save image files for your personal or research use.
Genealogy Resources
Explore the online resources available in-library only and remotely with an HPL MYLink library card. These online resources include getting started materials, subscription databases and other information that supplements the book, microfilm, periodical collection, and expert staff available to help.
Research Guides
Research Guides
Digital Archives
Select materials from the family history research collection have been digitized. In addition to our extensive book, microprint and periodical collections, we also have a growing number of digital collections to discover.
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Explore Now
History Research Center Events
Have a question, want to donate materials?
For the archive to continuously grow we welcome donations from your personal collections:
Bound Family Histories (we don’t accept family trees or loose personal documents)
Yearbooks
Original documents like funeral programs, wills, and deeds accepted on a case-by-case basis
Yearbooks
Original documents like funeral programs, wills, and deeds accepted on a case-by-case basis
If you have questions about donations click below to contact us.
Clayton Library Friends
The Clayton Library Friends, Inc, is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that seeks to enrich the resources of the Family History Research Center at the Clayton Library Campus, a unit of the Houston Public Library. In the pursuit of that mission, the officers, and directors of the organization, in coordination with the manager of the FHRC, organize and direct fundraising projects to support the acquisition of research material for the library, and to enhance library services.