“I want you to know how much help I received from the Library over a period of many years… As I was searching for a ‘lost’ family member, I needed help finding not only Frederick G. Hoenes but also all of the members of his family as well. These discoveries have thrilled our extended family to no end, as we never knew what had happened to this branch of the Hoenes family.” – Laurie Kade
UNDERSTAND YOUR PAST
Trace your roots and discover your past at Spokane Public Library, located on the 3rd floor of the Central Library within the Inland Northwest Special Collections. Genealogy research at Spokane Public Library maintains a special emphasis on Spokane, Eastern Washington, and the Inland Northwest.
Get in touch with the Inland Northwest Special Collections team at (509) 444-5338 or insc@spokanelibrary.org.
Spokane City Directories | Obituary indexes | Census microfilm | Periodicals | Family histories | Vertical files | County plat maps | Sanborn fire maps | Early Spokane newspaper indexes | Spokane newspapers from 1882 – 1894 on microfilm | Spokane newspapers from 1895-present | And more!
Search a regional directory of obituaries dating back to the early 1900s. This will show you the publication and where to find it at Central Library.
The Eastern Washington University (EWU) Racial Covenants Project is a groundbreaking research initiative that emerged from a need to address historical racial injustices embedded in property
Visit the third floor of Central Library this month to view two incredible exhibits celebrating and honoring the history and legacy of Asian and Asian
A library card is your key to lifelong learning! Get your limited edition library card in celebration of Expo ’74’s 50th anniversary at any library
ANCESTRY LIBRARY EDITION
Ancestry Library Edition contains collections with unparalleled coverage of the United States and the United Kingdom. Note: This is only available on computers at a Library location.
DIGITAL PHOTO ARCHIVE
Explore Spokane’s history through historic images of the homes, buildings, streets, Indigenous Peoples, and activities in and around the region. A physical photograph collection is also available with staff assistance.
FAMILYSEARCH
Access FamilySearch genealogical resources. You will not need your library card to login, but you will need to create your own personal FamilySearch account to access the database. Note: Only available on computers at any Library location.
Search full text and images of a wide variety of historic Washington and Idaho newspapers, along with newspapers in Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Hawaii, Montana, Nevada, and Wyoming.
Discover searchable digital images of Spokane’s historic newspapers, from 1883 to 2009 and the Spokane Chronicle from 1890 to 1992.
Search a regional directory of obituaries dating back to the early 1900s. This will show you the publication and where to find it at Central Library.
Access digital death certificates for all those who died in Washington State from July 1, 1907 – December 31, 1995.
Browse digitized versions of more than 200 hundred Spokane high school yearbooks from the years 1911-1977.
Spokane Public Library is a Community of Learning
