Learning About Genealogy
Genealogy Links and General Search Engines
Metasearch Engines
Compiled Family Data
Mailing Lists and Bulletin Boards
Historical Records
Census Records
Libraries and Archives
Tennessee History and Genealogy
People Searching and Maps
Societies
Miscellaneous Sources

Learning About Genealogy

• Ancestors
  http://byubroadcasting.org/ancestors/
  Under Helpful Resources, click “5-step process.”
  Useful on-line tutorial with built-in tests and answer keys. Free pedigree charts and group sheets.
  To print, locate “Online Tools” and click “Free Charts.”
  A link to Adobe Acrobat Reader is provided if needed.
• Family Search
  http://www.familysearch.com
  Site of the LDS (Mormon) church. Use “How Do I Begin” for their 5-step process for beginning genealogy. Use “Search for Ancestors: Step-by-step Research Guidance” as a tutorial for using the LDS records on the web.
• Family Tree Maker Online
  http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com
  Commercial site from front-running genealogy software maker.
  Offers 1900 census with every-name index.
  Use the link, “Helpful Web Sites” to find How-To articles.
  Use the “Site Features” link to find Classes.

Genealogy Links and General Search Engines

• Cyndi’s List (Links)
  http://www.cyndislist.com/
  Links to more than 100,000 genealogy-related sites.
  Use “Search It!” to search the text of the links and descriptions.
• Hotbot (Search Engine)
  http://www.hotbot.com/
  Good general search engine. Option to search exact phrase or individual word search.
  Note advanced search options: forced inclusion/exclusion, truncation, etc.
• Google (Search Engine)
  http://www.google.com/
  Good general search engine; claims to be the world’s most powerful.
  Offers forced exclusion and phrase searching.

Metasearch Engines

• Dogpile
  http://www.dogpile.com/
• Metacrawler
  http://www.metacrawler.com/
  Runs your search on several search engines at once. Provides results in one merged list.

Compiled Family Data

• Family Search
  http://www.familysearch.org/
  Search the databases of the LDS church – free of charge.
  Use “Search for Ancestors” to search four different data sources: Ancestral File – compiled genealogical data from contributors.
  IGI – individual bits of data (birth, marriage, death) from many sources.
  Pedigree File – similar to ancestral file; only the index is on the web.
  Web sites – searches sites selected by LDS, very limited.
  Some entries allow user to contact original contributor.
  Use the “Share Information” option to upload your data.
• Ancestry World Tree
  http://www.ancestry.com/share/awt/main.htm
  Part of Ancestry’s commercial site, but this database is free.
  Family data contributed by subscribers and users.
  Note various options of ways to view data: register style is most readable.
• Rootsweb World Connect
  http://worldconnect.rootsweb.com
  Free database using family information contributed by thousands of genealogists.
  Appears to be less comprehensive than Family Search or Ancestry World Tree, but can be used as an alternative search site.
  Some lineages appear on several sites; in other cases there will be discrepancies between sites, even about the same individual.

Mailing Lists and Bulletin Boards

• Rootsweb Mailing Lists
  http://lists.rootsweb.com/
  Accessible to anyone with e-mail address. Receive messages posted by everyone on the list.
  Lists are not moderated, but generally subscribers follow etiquette rules.
  Use “Browse Archives” to check number of subscribers; determine popularity of lists.
• Genforum Message Boards
  http://genforum.genealogy.com
  Accumulated messages and responses by surname, locale or subject.
  Able to show an outline of all the “threads” of responses to a single message, and to trace up and down through them.
  Check total number of postings to determine popularity of list.
  Use “Forum Finder” to search for surname lists, lists by location or subject.
• Rootsweb Message Boards
  http://boards.rootsweb.com
  Similar to Genforum with slightly different format.
  Check both Genforum and Rootsweb, different genealogists posts to each one.
  One surname may be more active on one or the other of them.

Historical Records

• U.S. GenWeb
  http://www.usgenweb.org/statelinks.html
  Nationwide volunteer project, with a web site for every county in the US (there is also a world-wide site).
  County pages vary in usefulness, many contain some local record abstracts.
  Pages usually also contain references to local libraries and historical/genealogical societies.
  Each page also includes query service – links to post queries or view archived queries.
• Ancestry's Free Databases
  http://www.ancestry.com/
  Commercial site with free access to selected databases.
  Select “List all Databases” to see what is available; most will be inaccessible without subscription.
  Caution: database titles often promise more than they deliver.
• Freedmen's Bureau
  http://freedmensbureau.com
  Full text of many records, including marriages of former slaves.
  Reports of Klan activities and other harassment of freedmen.
  Labor contracts negotiated between former slaves and landowners.
• Federal Land
  http://www.glorecords.blm.gov/
  Search purchasers of Federal Lands beginning in 1820.
  Most lands in Alabama, Mississippi and the upper Midwest.
  View and print original land patent at no cost.
• Social Security Death Index
  http://ssdi.genealogy.rootsweb.com/
  Records for deceased members of the SS system from about 1962.
  Useful for identifying strayed family members, finding death dates.
• Vital Records
  http://www.vitalrec.com/
  Information for obtaining births, records, marriages in each state.
  Describes which records are available by year, where to request.
  Some states allow downloading of forms and online index searches.

Census Records

• Heritage Quest
  http://www.heritagequest.com
  Use “Census Research Headquarters” to find reel numbers for census by year and county.
  Membership is free, cost is $3.25/reel.
• Census Microfilm Rental Program
  http://www.archives.gov/publications/microfilm_catalogs/how_to_rent_microfilm.html
  Your local library can borrow census microfilm through this service for patron use, or patrons can join as individuals.
  Fee is $7.50 per roll for first roll, with discounts on additional rolls.
• Census Forms
  http://www.genealogy.com/00000061.html
  Forms for all census years, show all columns
  Very helpful when transcribing data – and free!
• Soundex Converter
  http://resources.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/soundexconverter
  Rootsweb site for determining Soundex code.
  Use in conjunction with Heritage Quests reel listings for Soundex.
• Census Online
  http://www.census-online.com
  Follow “Links to Online Data” and search by state/county.
  Very few full transcriptions are on the web; many partials or special census records.
• Statistical Census Data
  http://icg.fas.harvard.edu/~census
  Powerful search engine for census data including population, religion, manufacturing and agriculture, slavery, ethnic groups.
  Not for individual name searching; but to learn about ancestors’ locale.
  Search by census year for state summaries, then break down by counties.
  Match two or more variables for comparisons; use graphing function.
• Clues in Census Records
  http://www.nara.gov/genealogy/cenclues.html
  Quick reminder page for important changes in data collected by each census.
  Useful link to NARA’s naturalization page.

Libraries and Archives

• LDS Library
  http://www.familysearch.org
  From the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Mormons) in Salt Lake.
  Under Family History Library, link to extensive catalog of books and microfilm.
  Note that these records include both original documents(microfilmed county records, for example) and published works.
  Microfilm (but not print materials) may be borrowed through their Family History Library System. Addresses and hours provided.
• Library of Congress
  http://www.lcweb.loc.gov/rr/genealogy
  Massive catalog can be searched on line, beginning at their genealogy page.
  Limitation: a large database, so a high number of irrelevant hits is common.
• LSG: Genealogy Libraries on the Web
  http://www.genealogy.org/~holdiman/LSG/libraries.html
  Not a comprehensive list, but a good way to find a genealogy library in a place you are not familiar with.

Tennessee History and Genealogy

• Tennessee State Library and Archives
  http://www.tennessee.gov/tsla/
  Click on History & Genealogy.
  This site won an award for it's content. Search vital records, Tennessee newspapers, county or census records. Special features include searchable military records, a manuscript guide, TN place names and maps, historical photos and images, and many services are available through the mail.
• McMinn County Historical Society and Archives
  http://www.rootsweb.com/~tnmchsa/index.htm
  Major content includes Publications for Sale, Family Files, and Research Books.
  Additional links are provided.
• Osiyo : McMinn County Tennessee Links
  http://www.geocities.com/mcminncountytennessee/links.html
  Many local information sites.
• Other State Libraries Links to all State Library web sites
  http://www.loc.gov/global/library/statelib.html
  Many state libraries have large genealogical collections.
  Virtually all have on-line catalogs at these web sites. Some will have other genealogical aids.
• Other State Archives Links to all State Archives web sites
  http://www.sos.state.ga.us/archives/rs/sarl.htm
  Many of these sites contain indexes to state records, information about how to request copies of records, and other genealogical aids.
• National Archives
  http://www.nara.gov
  Go to The Research Room, then History and Genealogy for great overviews and research tips on a variety of subjects.
  In the Research Room follow link to search the ARC catalog. ARC can be searched for surnames, but main use is for subjects.
  When searching ARC, always view the Series record for details.
• My Tennessee Genealogy New!
  http://www.mytennesseegenealogy.com/index.htm
  Search via county for many resources.

People Searching and Maps

• AnyWho
  http://www.anywho.com
• Switchboard
  http://www.switchboard.com
  Search for individuals, or to find everyone of a surname in a place.
  Must know the state, or search each one individually.
  Sites are very similar but different data is retrieved from each.
• Yahoo Maps
  http://maps.yahoo.com
• MapQuest
  http://www.mapquest.com
  Both sites will provide maps of cities, streets, addresses.
  Use with old city directories to identify ancestor’s home or business location.
  Zoom in-and-out feature can be difficult to get used to.
  Can provide driving directions, but remember it is a computer and has never actually driven anywhere!
• United States Geological Survey – Geographic Names Information System
  http://geonames.usgs.gov/gnishome.html
  Detailed maps of the entire United States.
  Includes geographical features such as creeks, mountains, etc.
  Includes all incorporated and unincorporated towns.
  Includes many named man-made features such as schools, cemeteries.
  Powerful search engine can search by all of these features; links to map.

The resources listed above were reviewed and selected by
Chuck Sherrill, Director
Brentwood Library,
Brentwood, TN,
for his workshop entitled, "Genealogy for 2003 and Beyond: A Solinet Workshop".