Findmypast | Los Angeles Public Library

Accessible from Central Library only.

Trace your ancestry and build a family tree by researching extensive birth records, census data, obituaries and more with Findmypast.

Findmypast is a database specializing in British records, but it also includes worldwide resources such as the U.S. Census and U.S. military records from the Revolutionary War up to World War II. It contains the largest collection of Irish records and parish records anywhere online. Parish documents include 40 million baptism, marriage and burial records from across England and Wales dating back to 1538. It also includes passenger lists of ships leaving the U.K. from 1890 to 1960; British Army Records from 1760 to 1915; and a rapidly growing collection of local English, Welsh, Irish and Scottish records dating back to 1700. Theses local documents include school admissions, workhouse registers and apprenticeship records.

Findmypast provides current and complete access to the Periodical Review Source Index (PERSI). This is a specialized genealogy index that is compiled by Allen County Public Library in Fort Wayne, Indiana (HeritageQuest provides access to PERSI, but only up through 2009). In addition, Findmypast is digitizing articles which PERSI refers to so you will see a growing number of full-text articles along with citation information.

Try out this database and find some surprises in your family history!

Find A Library

Choose Branch:

Support Your Library

Why support the Library?

The Los Angeles Public Library serves the largest most diverse population of any library in the United States.

Through its Central Library and 72 branches, the Los Angeles Public Library provides free and easy access to information, ideas, books and technology that enrich, educate and empower every individual in our city's diverse communities.

With more people than ever before using the library—a record 17 million last year alone—your support helps the Library provide people with the resources they need to succeed and thrive.

How to support the Library

You can support the Los Angeles Public Library in several ways:

Join a “Friends” group. There is a “Friends of the Library” group for most branch libraries and departments of the Central Library. Friends groups raise money for improvements to their library through memberships, used book sales and other activities. For more information click here or talk to your local librarian.

Join the Library Foundation of Los Angeles. The Library Foundation is a non-profit organization that raises funds for Library enhancement programs such as adult and early literacy, children and teen reading clubs, technology, and cultural programs. Foundation members receive a variety of benefits with their membership. For more information, see http://www.lfla.org.

Make a donation by check to the Los Angeles Public Library and send it to:
Support the Library, 630 W. Fifth St., Los Angeles CA 90071 or call (213) 228-7555.

Genealogy Programs