Internet Research
Getting Started section has some general websites to begin your research as well as research guides.
Below, I've put together some more research sites including those focusing on military and immigration.
This is by no means a comprehensive list but sites I have found to be useful.
If you have a specific region of focus, there are some sites listed here.
Below, I've put together some more research sites including those focusing on military and immigration.
This is by no means a comprehensive list but sites I have found to be useful.
If you have a specific region of focus, there are some sites listed here.
Comprehensive Research Sites
Ancestry.com - probably the most popular online database for family history research. To do any kind of record research where you can actually see a scan or original documents, you will need to pay unless you are accessing their FREE Ancestry records. You can also go to Ancestry's Facebook page for FREE Upcoming Livestream Events or check out past seminars.
Random Acts of Genealogical Kindness - this isn't a research site exactly but a place where you can connect with other researchers and get advice and, in some cases, research assistance Heritage Quest Online - is a great& free online source for censuses, articles & other information if your library is a member. Check with your library's membership or reference department to find out if you can take advantage of this resource. I find the census information to be a little less overwhelming than what Ancestry sometimes shows in a search but I've also noticed that Ancestry seems to have more censuses and every once in a while Heritage Quest will tell me my person can't be found but then I found them in the same census on Ancestry. Fold3.com - Known mostly for its military records, some of which aren't on Ancestry.com it also has census and other records; they are paid but offer a 7-day free trial World Vital Records - includes censuses and other records; seems to overlap with what Ancestry.com has so it might be worth checking out; fee is charged but there is a 3-day free trial National Archives - some records are available online; others you can download forms to request copies US GenWeb Project - volunteers working together to provide free genealogy websites for genealogical research in every county and every state of the United States Familysearch - compilations of records, many by volunteers, sponsored by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints; you can find census records, transcriptions of records including birth or death and volunteer-submitted data (fyi, check sources for these submissions, there often are mistakes) List of Resources - compiled by the California USGenWeb Project, this list has everything from book resources to grave information Vital Statistics
Social Security Death Index
- this is a free way to find and/or confirm a person's birth or death
information. You should try an exact and a soundex search just to be
sure. I've also occasionally found married women listed under their
maiden name instead of married name. Also be aware that older relatives
and some immigrants likely won't be found because they probably never
got a social security card
World Vital Records - includes censuses and other records; seems to overlap with what Ancestry.com has so it might be worth checking out; fee is charged but there is a 3-day free trial PA State Archives - images of marriage registers for 1885-1889 _Italian Genealogical Group - volunteer group that has several searchable databases including marriage and death indexes Specific Lineage
Daughters of the American Revolution - genealogy resources for finding your Revolutionary War ancestor; obtain copies of applications of other DAR members
Sons of the American Revolution - genealogy resources for finding your Revolutionary War ancestor Native American Genealogy - website with resources for Native American research Death Certificates & ObituariesRutherford B. Hayes Presidential Center - host to various collections including online Ohio obit index
Death Records Index - PA death index for 1906 to 1961 Italian Genealogical Group - volunteer group that has several searchable databases including marriage and death indexes Burial and CemeteriesFindagrave - free search for burial information and gravestones for ancestors; create your own virtual memorials for family; you can also volunteer or request a volunteer to take a tombstone photo
EdandDebby - gravestone transcriptions and photos for Indiana cemeteries; also obituary index Rhode Island Historical Cemetery Commission - Detailed information and photos of burials in historic cemeteries. Several FREE databases online and some locally. US GenWeb Tombstone Transcription Project - tombstone subscriptions compiled from all over DeadFred - free database of deceased ancestors that have been identified as well as mystery ancestors Ontario Cemeteries Resources - volunteers assist others with information about those buried in various cemeteries including tombstone transcriptions NJ Civil War Gravestones - digital images of gravestones Union & Confederate soldiers who served in the Civil War & are buried throughout New Jersey; free; you can find your ancestor or post one |
MilitaryBurial Cards of WWI Soldiers - free cards offered by the National Archives Catalog
American Battle Monuments Commission - online database of military memorials, monuments and markers where American armed forces have served overseas since April 6, 1917 and within the U.S. as created. Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) - free records search of 1.75 million men and women in service of the Commonwealth - and some civilians - who died in WWI and WWII; Commonwealth Commission member states include the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, India & South Africa; also offers links to other sites for military research Defense POW/MIA Reporting Agency - click on "our missing" tab for lists for specific conflicts Honor State - National Purple Heart Hall of Honor - database of Purple Heart recipients from all branches of service, all wars for which the Purple Heart was awarded, and from all across the U.S. National WWII Memorial - The World War II Memorial honors the 16 million who served in the armed forces of the U.S., the more than 400,000 who died, and all who supported the war effort from home. The Memorial is in the National Mall in Washington, DC. To view the online registry, click here. United States Navy Memorial - free online database of navy memorials Veterans Affairs of Canada - search records & collections online including the Virtual War Memorial honoring veterans who died in service Library & Archives of Canada - collections include a free search of soldiers of WWI Civil War For print books, see recommended reading Civil War Research Guide - online book Civil War Research Guide: A Guide for Researching Your Civil War Ancestor by Stephen McManus, Thomas Churchill, Donald Thompson Civil War - offers timelines, profiles, descriptions of engagements and more Last TAPS - Kent A. Smith compiled and published his book LAST TAPS: Civil War Soldier Obituaries Published in Howard County, Indiana, Area Newspapers in 2005 U.S., Union Soldiers Compiled Service Records, 1861-1865 - database that you can search on Ancestry.com; there also is one for Confederate soldiers; they claim to be free but direct you to Fold3, which will give you a 7-day free trial but after that it's paid Civil War Soldiers and Sailors Database - free searchable database on Confederate & Union soldiers & sailors; also information on regiments, significant battles & some prisoner of war records The Civil War Archive - has lists of regimental histories by state NJ Civil War Gravestones - digital images of gravestones Union & Confederate soldiers who served in the Civil War & are buried throughout New Jersey; free; you can find your ancestor or post one William S. Stryker's Record of Officers and Men of New Jersey in the Civil War, 1861-1865 - free searchable database for holdings at the NJ State Archives; if your ancestor comes up you can order a copy through the site Civil War Round Tables - round tables for different states; meet fellow history buffs & researchers Civil War Information by location: NY State Military Museum - has exhibits of regimental flags, regiment histories and more Ohio Civil War - has regimental histories, regimental flags and more PA Volunteers of the Civil War - offers biographies, Regimental information, diaries and more American Revolution The Daughters of the American Revolution library - search for ancestors who may have been submitted by other descendants Books & Family Histories
Google Book search - you'd be surprised what you might find when you plug in an ancestor's name
Genealogical.com - they sell family history books that you might not be able to find elsewhere Archive.org - search for publications for free and often you can view the books online. Newspapers
Google News Archive - advanced search lets you look for a person including the source newspaper
ImmigrationEllis Island - search passenger information for free
Galveston Immigration Database - search immigrant passenger information; Galveston was another major point of immigration Web pages by Steve Morse - offers information on other ports besides Ellis Island Immigrant Ships Transcribers Guild - Palatine Immigrants to New York in 1710 - reconstructed passenger lists MiscellaneousOur Timelines - This is fun and helpful for kids & adults to put our ancestors' lives into context. Just go to the Timeline, enter the name, the years of birth and death and get an interactive timeline of historical events during that person's lifetime.
Old Disease Names - look up names alphabetically for a modern equivalent of a disease or condition |
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