Genealogy

The Southwest Louisiana Genealogical and Historical Library is located on the first floor and to the left of the main entrance to the Carnegie Memorial Library, located at the intersection of Pujo (a one-way street from east to west) and Bilbo Streets, in historic downtown Lake Charles, Louisiana.

Operating hours are 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Saturday. The contact phone number is 337-721-7110.

Library patrons will find one-hour parking available along Bilbo Street on the west side of the library, unlimited parallel parking along Pujo Street, and in the lot at the southeast corner of Pujo and Bilbo Streets. A kitchen area with vending machines, refrigerator, and icemaker is available for use by patrons.

The Calcasieu Parish Public Library system's library catalog is is available on-line in all library branches as well as through this website.
The website also includes a Genealogy Resource Line to the Genealogy Library's holding of microfilm and compiled genealogies as well as links to other interesting genealogy-related websites.

Collection
The Genealogy Library's collection offers a treasure of material to the genealogical researcher in the form of books, periodicals, microfilm, compiled family records and electronic databases. It contains records on most of the American states with special emphasis on Louisiana, Texas, and Mississippi, as well as those stated to the north along the Mississippi River, Canada, and Acadia.

The collection contains a limited amount of information on British genealogy and patriotic organizations' lineage books.
Examples of the types of materials are cemetery and church records, parish courthouse records, military records, compiled family histories, parish histories and land records. Indexes are available for obituary notices that appeared in local newspapers, as well as marriages and some births. How-to Books are available to assist the beginning and experienced researcher.

Changes to Ordering Microfilm from Family Search

In 2008 the Calcasieu Parish Public Library became an authorized affiliate of the Genealogical Society of Utah research and library system (“FamilySearch”) and is designated as a “FamilySearch Center.” The designation allows the Southwest Louisiana Genealogical and Historical Library access to records from the Family Search collection by means of interlibrary loan.

NOTE: Changes have been made recently by FamilySearch and public library affiliates are no longer allowed to order microfilm for patrons. Instead, patrons must order and pay online, and request that the microfilm be sent to the Calcasieu Parish Public Library.
The library will receive, store, and return the microfilm once the patron has viewed the microfilm in the library.

Instructions for registering and ordering can be found by clicking on Help on the top right corner of the website: (https://www.familysearch.org/films)

• In the box under Ask a Question: enter the exact words “Order a microfilm or microfiche using the Online Film Ordering website,” and hit Enter.
• The first entry should have that exact wording and is Document ID: 112358.
• That document will explain how to register and sign in, find the microfilm you want in the Family History Library catalog, and how to order and pay.
• The microfilm will be sent to our library and you will be notified when it is received.

If assistance is needed, contact Linda Gill, Manager for the Southwest Louisiana Genealogical & Historical Library at 337-721-7110.