Genealogy / Local History

The High Point Public Library is now a FamilySearch affiliate library. 

This means that many of the restricted digital records you can view only in an LDS Family History Center on the FamilySearch website are now available in our facility.

COMING SOON! 

A new Heritage Book Club topic...


The Life and Legacy of Edgar Allan Poe
Fridays, Sep. 9 & 23, Oct. 14 & 28
10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. each day both in person and via Zoom

One of the only Southern authors we remember and study from the 19th century, Poe was a founder of Gothic as well as of a uniquely American literature. He invented the detective story. He wrote haunting poetry and barbed satire. He had a huge influence on European writers. We’ll study his work and his life through John Tresch’s The Reason for the Darkness of the Night and J. W. Ocker’s Poe-Land. We’ll also explore specific stories, poems and essays.

Contact Larry Cates at (336) 883-3637 during normal business hours or via e-mail larry.cates@highpointnc.gov by August 15th.

Topical Research Guides

  1. African American Research
  2. Census
  3. Court Records
  4. How to Begin in the Research Center
  5. Land
  6. Military Records
  7. N.C. State Archives
  8. Poor and Landless Ancestors
  9. Vital Statistics
  10. Wills and Estates

City Directories


High Point City Directories from 1910 to the present are available.


High Point Government Documents


Minutes from City Council meetings from 1859 to 2002 are available in the HRC (although there is a long hiatus of missing records in the late 19th century). We also have other select city records of historical value, and copies of some current government documents required to be available for public viewing. We recommend you call in advance for specific interests.

Furniture


High Point (and nearby) Furniture Companies by Joe Exum Brown provides basic information on furniture companies and our vertical files have newspaper articles on some furniture manufacturers. However, we do not have furniture catalogs nor the means to determine when a piece of furniture was manufactured. The Furniture Library is the best research center for furniture.

Newspapers


The High Point Enterprise, Greensboro Patriot, and other High Point newspapers are available on microfilm. Our collection of issues from the High Point Enterprise begins in 1886 but prior to 1915 these holdings are incomplete.

The Tribunal Aid


View the Tribunal Aid online.

Obituary Index


Deaths and obituaries from the High Point Enterprise are indexed and staff will search the index for you.

Vertical Files


These files consist primarily of newspaper articles. A few of the topics are businesses, churches, city government, education, manufacturers, neighborhoods, parks, racial integration, schools, and streets.
Some special materials include nomination forms submitted for the National Register of Historic Places. The forms for Historic Buildings include:
  • Blair School
  • Deep River Friends Meeting House and Cemetery
  • Grayson House (Bernice Bienenstock Furniture Library)
  • Guilford County Office and Court Building
  • Haley House
  • Hardee Apartments (Jarrell Apartments)
  • Kilby Hotel
  • Kirkman House & Outbuildings
  • Siceloff House
  • Taplin Apartment Building
  • Tomlinson Chair Manufacturing Company Complex
  • William Penn High School (High Point Normal and Industrial Institute)
Nomination forms for High Point's historic districts include
  • Johnson Street
  • Oakwood Historic District
  • Sherrod Park (Woodrow Avenue)

Yearbooks


Our collection includes yearbooks from local schools including:
  • High Point Central High School
  • High Point High School
  • Southwest Guilford High School
  • T. Wingate Andrews High School
  • Wesleyan Christian Academy
  • Westchester Academy
  • William Penn High School
All yearbooks are cataloged and the volumes in our collection may be found in the library's catalog.

Look for additional links & information coming soon!

James Joseph Ferris/Chamber Of Commerce Memorabilia


View memorabilia online.

"HERITAGE DEEP DIVE" -- The HRC's own YouTube Channel!

View new videos most months about genealogy methods and sources, High Point's history, and interviews with local authors."

Link: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYcGCd4FJ9RCtw5aBBSswLA

Southern Heritage Book Club

The HRC sponsors a book club on the intersection between Southern history and genealogical research which covers three or four topics per year. We explore aspects of Southern history that affect the world we live in today and which help us to better understand the lives of our ancestors. Call us or write to larry.cates@highpointnc.gov about getting involved.