Local History Collection

Shelf of books at The Dalles Local History and Genealogy section

Local History and Genealogy

The Dalles Library has an extensive collection of local history and genealogy information. From genealogists and family historians, to patrons researching the history of their home and local students searching for class project resources, we can help. With our local history, genealogy, and microfilm collections, we can track down the information you need.

Genealogy materials and documents

Genealogy Collection

Card Description: Researching your family history with Oregon connections? The Dalles Library is a great place to start. Search our card catalog for local family names, look through our genealogy information divided by county, or look through our early settler information and cemetery indexes.

Row of antique books

Local History

Card Description: Looking for information on local history or Oregon history? Visit our local history collection with several books on Oregon, the Columbia River Gorge, and The Dalles. Look through scrapbooks that were assembled by past community members, biographies of local Oregonians, copies of Lewis and Clark’s journals, as well as information about houses and businesses built years ago.

Woman operating microfilm reader

Microfilm Collection

Card Description: Look up and print articles from local newspapers and the federal census starting in the late 1800s. Newspapers include: The Dalles Chronicle, Dufur Dispatch, Maupin Times, and more. Also available: Early Oregon Wills, Health Division Center for Health Statistics and Marriage and Divorce Index.