Nancy, I have used neither of the libraries at the colleges, but have been told by others that both have some good genealogy resources. Since I live out-of-town, I have not began to use all the available materials at the BPL, courthouse and archives. I just discovered the archives recently (actually another volunteer on the book committee mentioned that he had gotten a photo of one of his families' houses that is no longer standing from there). They have a lot of things, but one of the two things I know about and have used is the microfilm of tax records for every year begining in 1873(I think). It takes a little time to use them since there is no index, but some of them are arranged by precinct, and/or beat, etc. If one uses them to track the payment of taxes, it may help to identify location, neighbors, moving dates, death dates, etc. It is especially useful for the time period information gap that the burned 1890 census caused. There are other assorted bits of information included in the various years' records. The other thing I have used is a collection of files that contain all kinds of information about land and/or structures (including photos of some). To use this collection requires knowing the tract no. of the property since they are filed by number, not name. [Note: There are maps and books at the courthouse that one can use to determine the tract no. if the legal description including Section, Township, and Range is known. Also can use location on the map by roads, etc. if they are known.] The archives if open only during "courthouse" hours. They are not open on Saturday, but will leave microfilm in the library microfilm department when requested in advance. My problem with the library, courthouse and archives is that they are TOO FAR from where I live!!!!!! I have to make major decisions every time I go as to which of my family lines to pursue and which resources to use. Melba -----Original Message----- From: Nancy DeVore Williams <william3@hiwaay.net> To: ALJEFFER-L@rootsweb.com <ALJEFFER-L@rootsweb.com> Date: Thursday, January 11, 2001 7:53 AM Subject: [ALJEFFER] research libraries >Melba's right, and then some! I have done research all over the south >and midwest, I'll bet I have visited over a hundred facilities, and I >have YET to visit one as extensive as the Linn Henley Research library! >Melba, I have never used it myself, but I have heard the a couple of the >colleges in Birmingham have pretty extensive libraries too, do you know >anything about that? I think they are Birmingham Southern and Sanford >.... ? >HEY! Melba, I didn't know about the 'archive' in the basement!!! What >kind of records are THERE? >Thanks Nanc > >