The mission of this collection is to identify, acquire and preserve research materials related to local, state, and regional history. Stamford Room contains a collection of materials in a variety of formats.

Books and Manuscripts:
The Stamford Room contains sources for Stamford, and Connecticut history. This room also houses municipal documents, old city directories, genealogical materials, and biographies of prominent people of Stamford and Connecticut.

Periodicals:
The library holds more that 50 genealogical periodicals donated by the Connecticut Ancestry Society. The collection also includes Connecticut Ancestry, a quarterly published by this society that contains references to many Stamford families.
 

Microform:
The library holds over 250 reels of US Census records, vital, church and cemetery records, city directories, and school yearbooks.

Obituaries:
An index of obituaries from Stamford.
Advocate in available from 1830 to present.

Newspapers:
The library maintains a complete file of Stamford’s daily and weekly newspapers beginning from the early 1800’s.

Stamford File:
Valuable clipping file collection contains articles from the Stamford Advocate, on all aspects of the community, its business, government and people, cultural, and educational institutions, different historical events, city documents and booklets.

Photographs:
The library has two large collections of early Stamford photographs, donated by Charles Kurz and Carl Lobozza. Mounted and labeled photographs are available for public only with special permission. Photocopies of the photos are located at the second floor reference desk.

Overbrook Collection:
Extensive collection of materials published by Overbrook Press, Stamford, CT in 1934-1969.

Yearbooks:
The library owns a number of yearbooks from local high schools.

Online Resources:
The Ferguson Library offers vide variety of online genealogical sources you can search in the library or using our website.

Correspondence:
Mailed, e-mailed and faxed inquiries will be answered, but detailed genealogical or historical research in books and microfilms will not.

Microfilm/ Microfiche Resources

Barbour Collection of Connecticut Vital Records Prior to 1850
The collection was compiled under the supervision of Generals Luciius A. Barbour and Lucius B. Barbour. Microfilm reels are available alphabetically both by town and surname.
Stamford Barbour Index (1641-1853)

Connecticut Cemetery Records 1673-1911
The microfilm collection was compiled by William A. Eardley.

Historical Grave Stones in Stamford
Headstone Inscriptions, Town of Stamford, Connecticut.

The microfilm collection was compiled by Charles R. Hale.
The Hale Collection of CT Cemetery Inscriptions for selected Fairfield County Towns.

International Genealogical Index (IGI)
The microfiche collection was compiled by the Church of Latter Days Saints. The collection is housed in metal cabinets outside of the Stamford Room.
Copies are also available at all Mormon Family History Libraries.

Sanborn Fire Insurance Maps for the City of Stamford

US Census of the Population
for Connecticut and Fairfield County (1790-1930).

Stamford Room
Items described below highlight the types of materials available in genealogy and local history.
Bibliographies

Connecticut: A Bibliography of its History - RLq 016.9746 C752
DAR Library Catalog - RLq 016.9292 D2381
Genealogies in the Library of Congress - RLq 016.9291 U58g
Genealogical & Local History Books in Print - RL 016.9291 Y24g
U.S. Local Histories in the Library of Congress - RL 016.973 U58u
City Directories:
Stamford (1881- ).
Darien-New Canaan; Greenwich (1930- )
Stamford Grand Lists (1744- ) - RLq 333.332 S783r
Historical Atlases & Gazetteers – RL 912 - 917

Genealogies and Family Source Materials and Vital Records:
Connecticut Census Indexes - RLq 929.3746 C752
DAR Lineage Books – RL 929.3 D2381
Passenger & Immigration Lists Indexes (Filby) - RLq 929.373 P287
Stamford Genealogical Society Ancestor Charts: (with index) - RLq 929.3 S783m
State Census Records (Lainhart) - RL 312 L187s

Surnames, Heraldry, Peerage – RL 929.4 - 929.8
Connecticut Church Records – RL 280-285
Connecticut Vital Records – RL 312.746, also 929.3746
War Records - RL 973.3 - 973.8

Genealogies and Family Histories
Arranged by family surname:
RL 929.2 A
RL 929.2 B, etc.

Local Histories
Connecticut - RL 974.6
Stamford - RL 974.69
New England - RL 974.1 - 974.5
New York - 974.7

US & Foreign Compendia & Manuals
Munsell's Index to American Genealogies - RL 929.1 M969I
Genealogical Dictionary . . . New England (Savage) - RL 929.374 S264g
History & Genealogy . . . Old Fairfield (Jacobus) - RL 929.2 J15h
Compendium of American Genealogies (Virkus) - Rl 929.1 V81a

Periodical Indexes
Genealogical Periodicals Annual Index - RL 929.1 G326p
Index to Periodicals (Jacobus) – RL 929.1 J17I
Periodical Source Index (PERSI) - RLq 929.1 G326pS, also available trough
Heritage Quest at http://persi.heritagequestonline.com/hqoweb/

Periodicals:

The American Genealogist – RL 929 A512g
Connecticut Ancestry – RL 929 S783b
New York Genealogical and Biographical Record – RL 929 N
National Genealogical Society Quarterly - RL 929 N277g
Connecticut Ancestry – RL 929 S783b
New England Historic Genealogical Register – RL 929.1 N44

List of Genealogical Periodicals