Reference & Research Assistance
Library staff are available to help you find the answers you need in person, emailing a librarian, or by calling (319) 291-4476.
Local History
Located on the second floor of the library, our Local History & Genealogy collection features:
- A microfilm reader with file saving, emailing, and printing capabilities
- Microfilm copies of the Waterloo Courier (1859-present), Waterloo Times-Tribune (1901-1922), Waterloo City Directories (1873-1991), and more
- A computer for genealogy research*
- Local & historical articles, books, Waterloo City Directories (1950-present) and more
*Patrons who wish to conduct research on the computer or use the microfilm computer must present their library card.
Local History & Genealogy Databases
Ancestry.com
Discover your family history and start your family tree.
This database may only be accessed inside the library.
Enslaved
Explore or reconstruct the lives of individuals who were enslaved, owned slaves, or participated in the historical trade.
Fold3
Access US military records including stories, photos, and personal documents.
Heritage Quest
Discover digital, searchable images of U.S. federal census records with the digitized version of the popular UMI® Genealogy and Local History book collection.
HeritageHub
Provides comprehensive coverage of obituaries and death notices from 1704 through today.
Historical Cedar Valley
A collection of postcards, photographs and other material primarily focused on Black Hawk County along with some images from communities across the state.
Newspaper Archive
Search newspaper archives for Obituary, Birth Records, Death Records. Courier records available from 1859-1964.
USA Today Collection
Explore Waterloo history through local news, events and people with the USA TODAY Collection. Search current and archived issues with full-color newspaper pages, full-text articles and content only published online. Also available remotely 24/7 on any device.
Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier Archives
Search Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier content from 2001 to present.