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Discover Your Story: The Topeka Room & Baker Genealogy Center
Located on the second floor of the library, our local history and genealogy suite is a sanctuary for the curious. Whether you are walking through the doors to trace your family tree or to explore the vibrant history of our city, you are stepping into a space where the past is preserved and easily accessible.
The Topeka Room: Our Physical Archive
The Topeka Room is the "heart" of our collection—a beautiful space furnished with local history. Here you can browse physical books and documents while surrounded by historic artifacts donated by our community including our 1871 Chickering Square Grand Piano, the 1908 Grandfather clock and our signature stained-glass window.
Best for browsing:
- The Vertical Files: Thousands of physical folders containing clippings on Topeka’s people, schools, businesses and neighborhoods.
- Local Authors: Books written, illustrated or produced by Topekans.
- City Directories: Hardbound directories dating from 1870 to the present.
- Community History: Published histories of Shawnee County, local biographies and migration records.
The Baker Genealogy Center: The "Tech Chapel"
Known internally as the "Tech Chapel," this dedicated space within the Topeka Room is our digital and technical hub. It is designed for deep-dive research offering the tech tools necessary to uncover electronic records from across the globe.
Best for data-driven research:
- Vital Records: Digital and microfilm access to birth, marriage and death records.
- Military & Census: Extensive archives of federal census data and military service records.
- Obituaries: Searchable digital databases and historic newspapers.
- Property & Maps: Plat and insurance maps, tax records and probate files.
- Immigration: Passenger lists and naturalization records.
Tools for Discovery
We provide the professional technology you need to bring your findings to life:
- High-Powered Tech: Public computers and photocopiers.
- Digital Microfilm Readers: Our ScanPro units allow you to view historic microfilm and save high-resolution images.
- Expert Assistance: Researching can be a journey, but you don’t have to do it alone. A professional librarian is on-site 78 hours a week—every hour the library is open—to help you navigate our collections.
