Key Genealogy Web Sites

Key Genealogy Web Sites

By Rick Crume

1. The FamilySearch online guides to family history research

How to Start Your Family History

Research Guidance

Research Helps

2. Genealogy software

Family Tree Legends

Legacy Family Tree

Personal Ancestral File. Click on Order/Download Products and on Family History Research Products for the CD-ROM version or Software Downloads - Free to download the program without charge.

RootsMagic

Reunion . For the Macintosh.

3. Pedigree databases

Ancestral File & Pedigree Resource File

Ancestry World Tree and the WorldConnect Project. The two databases have the same information.

GenCircles

4. Surnames lists, message boards and mailing lists

Ancestry.com Message Boards

GenForum

RootsWeb Mailing Lists

RootsWeb Surname List

5. USGenWeb Project

6. Search directories and search engines

Cyndi’s List of Genealogy Sites on the Internet

Online Searchable Death Indexes & Records

Online Military Indexes & Records

All the Web

Google

Yahoo!

7. Library catalogs

Allen County Public Library

California Libraries (MELVYL)

DAR Library

Family History Library Catalog

Genealogical Library Master Catalog. Order the CDs from the NGS Bookstore or search part of the database on Ancestry.com (requires a subscription).

Library of Congress

Minnesota Libraries (PALS)

MnLINK (Minnesota Library Information Network)

New York Public Library

8. Phone directories and public records

Any Birthday

AnyWho

InfoSpace

Intelius

Switchboard

Teldir.com

USSearch

9. Social Security Death Index (several versions)

Ancestry.com

FamilySearch

Family Tree Legends

New England Ancestors

RootsWeb

10. Genealogy megasites

All of these sites, except FamilySearch, require a paid subscription.

Ancestry.com Check with your local public library to see if it subscribes.

FamilySearch

Genealogy.com

HeritageQuest Online Check with your local public library to see if it subscribes.

New England Historic Genealogical Society

11. Immigration

Ellis Island Records

12. County histories and newspapers

Accessible Archives County histories from Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania, as well as 18th and 19th-century newspapers.