The Main Library's Civil Rights Room remains closed until further notice due to ongoing renovation.

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Collection Finding Aids

Manuscript Collections

Our manuscript collections are divided into five different record groups: Personal Papers, City of Nashville Records, Davidson County Records, Metro Government Records, Mayor's Office Records. 

Please note, we do not accept donations of non-government manuscript collections.

Court Records

Court records contain vital pieces of information about our city's history and people. Beginning in the 1780s, our minute books, case files, and other court-related materials record not only legal and government proceedings, but also the social structure, the ever-changing attitudes, and the collective conscious of the city and county. These records can illustrate the ways in which a person's life could be changed by and/or within the court system and record the lives and labors of long-forgotten ancestors. 

View Court Records Finding Aids

Wills

Wills, inventories, and other probate records are valuable resources for genealogy research, as they can give information on the lives of their creators and identify other family members. The Metro Archives has searchable indexes to wills from 1783–1963.

View Wills Finding Aids

Vital Records

Our vital records include birth records from 1881 to 1913, death records from 1874 to 1913, and marriage records from 1789 to May 2002. These records are key resources in genealogical research, and can give invaluable information to researchers.

View Vital Records Finding Aids

Yearbook Collection

Indexed collection of elementary, middle school, junior high, high school, and college yearbooks from across Nashville and Davidson County, acquired through donations, covering the years 1900 to 2017.

View the Yearbook Index (Link goes directly to the Open Data portal)

Nashville Weather Reports

View Weather Reports Finding Aids