The Microfilm Collection is a large collection of original records available in a compact form. The collection is comprised of records from multiple sources, including the Huntsville Times and the National Archives.
We have 3 digital microfilm readers, available on the second floor. Please see a staff member to give you a tutorial on how to use the machines.
If you bring a thumb-drive/flash-drive, you can scan images for free! Otherwise, records are subject to a photocopy or scan fee. We also sell flash-drives for $5.00 if you are planning to do a lot of scanning.
Want to bring your own microfilm or microfiche? That's fine! We have individuals visit us with their own records (military, court, etc) on microfilm. You are welcome to use our machines to view your personal records. Note that the microfilm readers are in a public space and privacy cannot be guaranteed.
Newspapers - including an almost complete run of The Huntsville Times from 1928 – 2018, along with many early Huntsville papers, including The Huntsville Democrat, Southern Advocate, and the Mercury papers.
Genealogical Records - including records from the Freedmen's Bureau and the Native American tribal rolls.
Federal Records - including Andrew Jackson's Presidential Papers, military records, Freedmen's Bureau, and more.
Local, State, and Regional Records
The HMCPL Obituary Index was a collaborative project between department staff and volunteers to catalog every obituary in our microfilm and newspaper collection. Due to a database malfunction and other limited resources, not every obituary is represented. If you do not find who you are looking for in the index, please contact us and we will conduct a search in the records.
