Knowing where to look can save a lot of time in your research process. Here are some of my favorite resources. If you have questions, hit a brick wall or need assistance, I’m here to help.
Online
- Ancestry.com
- Family Search
- FamilySearch—Family History Library Catalog
- GenealogyBank.com
- Newspapers.com
- Fold3.com
- AmericanAncestors.org (NEHGS)
- FindMyPast.com
- National Archives Records Administration (NARA)
- NARA—Online Public Access
- NARA—Access to Archival Databases
- NARA—Request Military Service Records
- Library of Congress (LOC)
- LOC—Chronicling America (Historical Newspapers Collection)
- LOC—Century of Lawmaking
- LOC—American Memory Collection
- LOC—Digital Collections & Services
- Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) Descendents Database
- Jewish Genealogy Resources—America Jewish Historical Society
- The Statue of LIberty—Ellis Island Foundation (Passenger Search)
- Cyndi’s List
- RootsWeb
- US Gen Web
- Find A Grave
- Names In Stone
- SteveMorse
- Veromi (use for clues only)
- TheShipsList
- Open Library
- Google Books
DNA Testing
- FamilyTreeDNA – Benefit: Largest Y-DNA and mtDNA Database in the world, used by most genealogists for numerous reasons, ability to join surname projects, discover ancestry composition.
- AncestryDNA – Benefit: Easy find/connect with family on Ancestry.com, discover ancestry composition.
- 23AndMe – Only FDA approved DNA company to provide health markers.
Topics
- Traditional Nicknames in Old Documents (FamilySearch)
- Guessing a Name Variation (FamilySearch)
- Abbreviations for English Given Names (Wiki)
- Handwriting Assistance (FamilySearch)
- American History Timeline (AnimatedAtlas)
Tools & Calculators
- Age calculator (Cornell University)
- Historical Weather (Weather Underground)
- Inflation Calculator, Value of $1 from 1913-1914 (Bureau of Labor Statistics)
Free Forms & Online Training
- Online Videos & Training Courses (FamilySearch.org)
- Charts & Forms (Ancestry.com)
- Print Forms & Research Help (BYU Family History Library)
- Research Forms, Charts, Worksheets & Census Templates (FamilySearch)
Books
(A FEW of the MANY excellent books available)
Mills, Elizabeth Shown. Evidence Explained: Citing History Sources from Artifacts to Cyberspace, 2nd ed. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Company, 2009.
Professional Genealogy: A Manual for Researchers, Writers, Editors, Lecturers, and Librarians. Baltimore: Genealogical Publishing Company, 2001.
Black, Henry Campbell. A Dictionary of Law, St. Paul, Minn.: West Publishing, 1891. (scroll down, first digital page is blank)
Black, Henry Campbell. A Dictionary of Law, 2nd Ed., St. Paul, Minn.: West Publishing, 1910.
Board for Certification of Genealogists. The BCG Genealogical Standards Manual. Orem, Utah: Ancestry, 2000.
Mills, Elizabeth Shown, ed. Evidence: A Special Issue of the National Genealogical Society Quarterly 87 (September 1999).
