Location, Contact, and Hours
Phone:
(479) 783-0229
Fax:
(479) 783-5129
Hours:
Monday 9 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Tuesday 9 a.m. – 8 p.m.
Wednesday 9 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Thursday 9 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Friday 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Saturday 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.
Sunday CLOSED
Holiday Closings
Staff at the Barbara Jones Walker Genealogy and Arkansas History Department specialize in helping customers research their family history and make the most of their time spent with the library’s genealogy collection. The genealogy collection contains about 25,000 titles including Fort Smith city directories from 1881 to present, local high school yearbooks, local funeral home records dating back to the early 1900s, Fort Smith birth, death, and cemetery indexes, and a Sebastian County marriage index. Genealogy resources for Arkansas, Oklahoma, and 43 other states are available. The Genealogy and Arkansas collections are non-circulating. The Genealogy collection is in open stacks, while the Arkansas collection, as well as original documents of genealogical value, is in closed stacks.
Staff can also help researchers use online databases such as Ancestry, Heritage Quest, and the Access Newspaper Archive. Local newspapers dating to 1848, Dawes Commission rolls and census (enrollment cards) for the Five Civilized Tribes, and census records are available on microfilm. Some newspapers have been digitized as part of an ongoing multi-year newspaper digitization project. Microfilm may be viewed during regular library hours even if the Genealogy Department is closed.
Resources on Fort Smith history including Judge Isaac C. Parker’s court and the U.S. Marshals Service are also available.
Genealogy Databases
African American Heritage
African American Heritage was created in partnership with leading African American genealogists and recognized leaders in genealogical information to develop a comprehensive mix of resources, records, and tools specifically pertaining to African Americans.
“The Traveler Statewide Resource project is made possible by a grant from U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services to the Arkansas State Library under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act.”
American Ancestors
Explore resources available at the New England Historic Genealogical Society. Genealogical articles and records not only from the North East United States but from other states and other countries are available to search, print, and/or download.
This website is accessible from FSPL’s four locations ONLY (NOT from home).
Ancestry (Library Edition)
Covers more than two billion names throughout the various databases collection. This database offers access to Ancestry.com. It is available in the library only, and customers are limited to six emailed documents per email address.
By vendor contract rules, this website is accessible from FSPL’s four locations ONLY (NOT from home).
Chronicling America
Search America's historic newspaper pages from 1789-1963 or use the U.S. Newspaper Directory to find information about American newspapers published between 1690-present. Chronicling America is sponsored jointly by the National Endowment for the Humanities and the Library of Congress.
FamilySearch
The Fort Smith Library is a FamilySearch Affiliate Library, which means it has access to more genealogy resources to help you make more family discoveries. FamilySearch is a world leader in family history. Customers will have access to a wealth of genealogical resources available through FamilySearch and additional records are accessible by visiting the Genealogy Department at the Main Library.
The additional resources are accessible from FSPL’s four locations ONLY (NOT from home).
Fold3 (Library Edition)
Fold3 provides convenient access to military records, including the stories, photos, and personal documents of the men and women who served.
Fort Smith City Birth Records
This index is the official “Record of Report of Births Filed With the City Clerk of Fort Smith Arkansas.” Births were first recorded with the City of Fort Smith in 1881, and continued to be recorded at the city level until 1965. Many local births were never recorded with the city. The period currently covered by this index is 1881-1921.
Fort Smith City Death Records
This index is the official “Record of Report of Deaths Filed With the City Clerk of Fort Smith Arkansas.” Deaths were first recorded with the City of Fort Smith in 1881, and continued to be recorded at the city level until 1965. Many local deaths were never recorded with the city. These records are in the process of being indexed, and will be updated periodically. The period currently covered by this index is 1881-1924.
Fort Smith Digitized Newspapers
Fully digitized and searchable images of Fort Smith newspapers from 1848 to December 31, 1961 are currently available. In addition, some issues of Entertainment Fort Smith magazine, Lincoln Echo newspaper, and Fortnightly Club archives are also available. More dates will be added to the collection as funding allows.
Fort Smith Public Library Cemetery Index
This index includes individuals buried in Fort Smith, Arkansas. The information was taken from interment records from the following cemeteries: Calvary (Catholic)–to 1991; Forest Park–1910-1988; Rose Lawn & Holy Cross–1930-1991; U.S. National Cemetery–to 1990; Washington Cemetery–1943-1996; Woodlawn Memorial Park–1959-1989.
HeritageQuest Online
Search census data, family records, local histories, and other artifacts to help you find out more about your family’s past.
“The Traveler Statewide Resource project is made possible by a grant from U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services to the Arkansas State Library under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act.”
Newspapers.com World Collection (Library Edition)
Historical newspapers archive from the 1700s - 2000s containing thousands of well-known regional, state, and small local newspapers in the United States and other countries.
Sanborn Maps
A searchable database of the fire insurance maps published by the Sanborn Map Company housed in the Library of Congress collections of the Geography and Map Division.
Sebastian County Marriage Records
This index includes individuals married in Sebastian County (Fort Smith and Greenwood) from years 1847, 1861, 1863-June 14, 2001. Source Information provided by the Sebastian County Clerk’s marriage records. These records will be updated periodically.
History Databases
American History
Surveys American history from the Colonial era and American Revolution through to the nation's rise to eminence as a global superpower. Analyzes American political conflict, economic development, and changing culture.
“The Traveler Statewide Resource project is made possible by a grant from U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services to the Arkansas State Library under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act.”
American History Online
By providing the most comprehensive range of information in one complete resource, American History offers a virtual library of American history for educators, students, and researchers of all ages. Includes articles, images, primary source documents, timelines, videos, and slideshows.
American Mosaic: The African American Experience
Includes student learning modules related to African American studies; includes biographies, scholarly articles, primary sources, and images.
“The Traveler Statewide Resource project is made possible by a grant from U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services to the Arkansas State Library under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act.”
CultureGrams
Primary sources, statistics, and cultural reports covering the countries of the world, states, and Canadian provinces. Explore the United States and discover state flags, maps, sports teams, recipes, symbols, songs, and more.
“The Traveler Statewide Resource project is made possible by a grant from U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services to the Arkansas State Library under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act.”
History Study Center
History Study Center is a collection of primary and secondary sources on global history from ancient times to the present.
“The Traveler Statewide Resource project is made possible by a grant from U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services to the Arkansas State Library under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act.”
World Book Timelines
World Book Timelines allows you to discover and map important events with accurate information.
“The Traveler Statewide Resource project is made possible by a grant from U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services to the Arkansas State Library under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act.”
