Genealogy

The Genealogy Collection is in the Louisiana Collection on the fifth floor of the State Library.

You do not need an appointment, and all are welcome to browse the collection. We have books, serials, maps, microfilm, and electronic databases for your research needs. If you would like to call ahead, we can have materials ready for your visit.

Email us with any questions at laref1@library.la.gov, call us at (225) 342-4914, or use the Ask-A-Librarian feature.

Staff picks: Books the Louisiana Collection staff recommends for Louisiana genealogy

Staff picks: Websites the Louisiana Collection staff recommends for genealogical research

Important facts to know about Louisiana genealogical research

• Under Louisiana law, birth records are strictly confidential until 100 years after the year of birth, and death records are strictly confidential until 50 years after the year of the death.
• Birth records older than 100 years and death records older than 50 years are available at the Louisiana State Archives. For more recent records, contact the Vital Records Registry. Only Orleans parish has older records.
• Louisiana marriage certificates are available in the courthouse of the perish where your ancestor applied for a marriage license.
• Louisiana has parishes and not counties. After the Louisiana Purchase in 1803, the Territory of Orleans was divided into 12 parishes. Over the years, those 12 were divided into today’s 64 parishes. Louisiana genealogy resources at the parish level are often arranged by parish. You may need to check multiple parishes for an ancestor.
• Colonial Louisiana Research (before Louisiana became a state in 1812) is often difficult because Louisiana was ruled by so many different countries.