Free Genealogy Resources Genealogy Databases Long Beach Public Library card holders have free access to the Library's subscription genealogy databases. The Heritage Quest database contains U.S. Federal Census records from 1790-1933 and may be accessed online or in the library from the link below. The Ancestry Library database is in-library use only. More information can be found on the Genealogy Databases page. Historic Long Beach Newspapers Historic Long Beach newspapers on microfilm are available to search in person, for free, during regular open hours at the Main Library. Current, and some historic, newspaper articles can be accessed through our Newspaper & Magazines Databases. A valid LBPL card is required. Also, see below for information about Long Beach newspaper citations in the Long Beach History Index. Learn more about the Long Beach History Collection.

Sunnyside Cemetery Long Beach, 1938

Long Beach History Index (Online) The Long Beach History Index includes citations to obituaries published in Long Beach newspapers between the years 1890-1925 and 2001-present. Also indexed are Mottell's Funeral Register from 1912-1928 and biographical data on various Long Beach individuals from various books. The Long Beach History Index is temporarily available in-house at any LBPL location. We apologize for the inconvenience. Be sure to select History Index from the drop down menu. Often, searching by keyword is a good way to start. Alternatively, try a subject search using this format: Biography - Lastname, Firstname. The online index contains citations, not necessarily the full-text of an original obituary. California Death Records & Social Security Death Index RootsWeb provides free basic access to California death records (1940-1997) and the Social Security Death Index (roughly 1962 - present). Additional Resources The Southern California Obituary Resource Project includes an obituary research tutorial and helpful links to libraries and newspapers online.

Long Beach Obituary Requests: $15.50 Search Fee per Name

The Long Beach Public Library only searches for obituaries for individuals who died in the city of Long Beach. Please be aware that many Long Beach deaths were never listed in the newspapers. The fee for obituary requests is $15.50 per name when the exact date of death and the exact name is known. This is a non-refundable fee for conducting the search, regardless of whether or not an obituary is found. Checks should be made payable to Long Beach Public Library. The library cannot accept credit or debit cards. You must complete the Obituary Request Form (PDF) with the full name of the individual and the exact date of death. Please mail your completed Obituary Request Form, check payment, and a self addressed stamped envelope (SASE) to:

Long Beach Public Library
Attn: Obituary Search
101 Pacific Ave.
Long Beach, CA 90822

If you have questions or do not have enough information to fill out the form, please email lbpl_reference@lbpl.org or call (562) 570-7500.