Databases

All databases are available in every branch of the Birmingham Public Library, unless otherwise noted. A JCLC library card can be used to access many of the databases, however licensing restrictions force us to limit access to certain databases to residents of Birmingham.

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Subject Applicable Databases

The "WPA Index to Alabama Biography" was a Works Progress Administration project begun in the 1930’s then abandoned when funding for the WPA was curtailed. Although the index was never completed, over 97 titles such as Who's Who in America, other biographical dictionaries, and local histories were... Learn more about Alabama Biography (WPA Index)
Publicly Available.
Remote Access Available.
The Alabama Coal Mine Fatalities Database consists of 2188 records compiled by the staff of the Government Documents department using available annual reports of Alabama mine inspectors from 1898 through 1938. Learn more about Alabama Coal Mine Fatalities, 1898 - 1938
Publicly Available.
Remote Access Available.
The Alabama Episcopal Church Registers database lists confirmations, baptisms, marriages and burials for more than 14,000 people in sixteen Alabama parishes for the period of the 1830s to the 1970s Learn more about Alabama Episcopal Church Registers
Publicly Available.
Remote Access Available.
This database includes inventors who lived in Alabama at the time they received their patents from the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). The Government Documents Department of the Birmingham Public Library has compiled these records and will add to and update them as information... Learn more about Alabama Inventors Database
Publicly Available.
Remote Access Available.
AlabamaMosaic (Alabama's Digitization Project) is a work in progress. A number of collections are available for browsing and searching. More collections will be added in the near future. The purpose of AlabamaMosaic is to make unique historical treasures from Alabama's archives, libraries, museums,... Learn more about Alabama Mosaic
Publicly Available.
Remote Access Available.
World-class electronic resources are available to the citizens of Alabama from home or their local public library. Learn more about Alabama Public Library Service (APLS)
Requires a JCLC card.
Full Text Available.
Remote Access Available.
Family name information, genealogy, histories, census data, military records, passenger lists, vital records, directories, photos, and more. Ancestry Library Edition is subject to ongoing updates and new content is added frequently. Ancestry Library Edition is only available from computers inside... Learn more about Ancestry Library Edition
Birmingham Public Library - In Library Use Only.
World-class electronic resources are available to the citizens of Alabama from home or their local public library. Learn more about APLS (Alabama Public Library Service)
Requires a JCLC card.
Full Text Available.
Remote Access Available.
The experience and impact of African Americans as recorded by the news media 1704 through today. Learn more about Black Life in America
Requires a JCLC card and residence in Birmingham, AL.
Full Text Available.
Remote Access Available.
Search America's historic newspapers pages from 1836-1922 or use the U.S. Newspaper Directory to find information about American newspapers published between 1690-present. There are currently 664 historical newspapers available to browse and view in this site and over 140,000 newspapers listed in... Learn more about Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers
Publicly Available.
Full Text Available.
Remote Access Available.
The Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System is a computerized database containing very basic facts about servicemen who served on both sides during the Civil War. The initial focus of the CWSS is the Names Index Project, a project to enter names and other basic information from 6.3 million soldier... Learn more about Civil War Soldiers & Sailors System
Publicly Available.
Remote Access Available.
Search for your ancestors in free family history, family tree, and genealogy records and resources from around the world. Learn more about FamilySearch
Publicly Available.
Remote Access Available.
Access to our ever-expanding collections of over 2 billion historical records from around the world, including US censuses from as far back as 1790, the largest collection of Irish records anywhere online, and US military records from the Revolutionary War up to World War II. In addition, you’ll be... Learn more about Find My Past - World
Birmingham Public Library (Central) - In Library Use Only.
Full Text Available.
Fold3 Library Edition by Ancestry provides convenient access to US military records, including the stories, photos and documents of the men and women who served. It contains millions of records from world-class archives, many of which are exclusively available on Fold3. Fold3 is invaluable for... Learn more about Fold3 by Ancestry
Requires a JCLC card and residence in Birmingham, AL.
Full Text Available.
Remote Access Available.
Search America's historic newspapers pages from 1836-1922 or use the U.S. Newspaper Directory to find information about American newspapers published between 1690-present. There are currently 664 historical newspapers available to browse and view in this site and over 140,000 newspapers listed in... Learn more about Historic American Newspapers
Publicly Available.
Full Text Available.
Remote Access Available.
Jefferson County Probate Court, Loose Records is an Index for Boxes 1-637 (Birmingham) and Bessemer - 1916-1936. (Note: Boxes 1-637 refers to the Woodruff Boxes (Drawers) the cases were originally filed as -- not the archival boxes they are in now.) Learn more about Jefferson County Probate Court, Loose Records (1852-1936)
Publicly Available.
Remote Access Available.
The experience and impact of African Americans as recorded by the news media 1704 through today. Learn more about NewsBank - Black Life in America
Requires a JCLC card and residence in Birmingham, AL.
Full Text Available.
Remote Access Available.
Newspapers.com Library Edition - Southeast Collection contains full text digital images from over 1000 historic and recent newspapers. Learn more about Newspapers.com Library Edition - Southeast Collection
Requires a JCLC card and residence in Birmingham, AL.
Full Text Available.
Remote Access Available.
In 1871 the City of Birmingham purchased from the Elyton Land Company 21.5 acres of land for a city cemetery (later named Oak Hill). The deed was issued December 29, 1873. As the first city cemetery, Oak Hill became the resting place for virtually all of the Birmingham pioneers. Although the... Learn more about Oak Hill Memorial Cemetery Interments
Publicly Available.
Remote Access Available.
The Obituary Index : Birmingham Area Newspapers database is an ongoing project of the Government Documents Department of the Birmingham Public Library. Obituaries from four Birmingham area newspapers are included: the Birmingham News, the Birmingham World, the Methodist Christian Advocate, and the... Learn more about Obituary Index : Birmingham Area Newspapers
Publicly Available.
Remote Access Available.
Fold3 Library Edition by Ancestry provides convenient access to US military records, including the stories, photos and documents of the men and women who served. It contains millions of records from world-class archives, many of which are exclusively available on Fold3. Fold3 is invaluable for... Learn more about ProQuest Fold3
Requires a JCLC card and residence in Birmingham, AL.
Full Text Available.
Remote Access Available.
Red Mountain Cemetery, sometimes called Southside Cemetery, was used by the City of Birmingham from 1888 to 1906 as a place to bury the indigent dead. The cemetery contains 4,711 burials and was located south of the city on the site that is now Lane Park and the Birmingham Zoo. The graves were not... Learn more about Red Mountain Cemetery, Records of Interments, 1888-1906
Publicly Available.
Remote Access Available.
Shadow Lawn was originally deeded in 1889 as a "colored" burial ground and is the largest African American cemetery in Birmingham. The database includes the name and grave location for every person identified in the cemetery's surviving records. Learn more about Shadow Lawn Memorial Gardens Cemetery Interments
Publicly Available.
Remote Access Available.
The "WPA Index to Alabama Biography" was a Works Progress Administration project begun in the 1930’s then abandoned when funding for the WPA was curtailed. Although the index was never completed, over 97 titles such as Who's Who in America, other biographical dictionaries, and local histories were... Learn more about WPA Index to Alabama Biography
Publicly Available.
Remote Access Available.