Denver Public Library: Western History Genealogy: Browse Collections

Access to Collections

Books, Maps, Manuscripts, Photographs and Audio/Visual Materials

Most books, maps, manuscripts, photographs and audio/visual materials can be located by using the Library catalog. All Archives Collections are cataloged and a brief record is available through the Library catalog. Only a portion of the Archives Collection has extensive online guides found in the Archives Finding Aids that contain detailed descriptive information and lists of contents. In the Library catalog, items in the Western History and Genealogy Department generally have a C at the beginning of the Call Number in the catalog record and the Branch listed is Central Library - West Hist & Genealogy. Items in the Department may not be circulated, meaning they are for in library use only.

Online Access

Many of the resources on this site are available to anyone, including the Library's catalog, the digital images catalog, the archives catalog and research tools created by our Western History and Genealogy Department, its volunteers, and other organizations. Some resources are licensed from third-party vendors. All resources are available to anyone who visits the Western History and Genealogy Department of the Denver Public library. Many are available for library cardholders to access from home.

Here is a key to the accessibility of the Research Tools:

In the Library or from home with a library card
Locally created content
Available at Denver Public Library

Photocopying

The Western History staff will photocopy all requests. If the paper is in poor condition, the material may not be photocopied. Copying large segments of a collection or an entire collection is not permitted.

Archives Access

Unique and fragile, the manuscripts, photographs and audio/visual materials are used on location. Please see the Archives Guide for more information.

Police Files Access

Part of the Police Files archive is currently available to the public and part is a restricted collection, accessible only by those individuals and organizations specifically named in the documents.

Gates Reading Room, Western History and Genealogy Department.