Perhaps you’re a beginner family tree researcher and don’t know where to start. Or perhaps you’re well into your genealogy research but you’ve hit a brick wall, and it feels like you’ve exhausted all your resources. Especially with the advent of the internet age, there is a huge amount of genealogical resources right at your fingertips, if only you know where to look.
Family Tree Resources Online
The internet age has made genealogy research much more convenient—and extensive. From the comfort of your own home, you can reach thousands and thousands of different resources related to family history research. But how do you go about finding these resources?
One easy and efficient way to go about finding genealogy resources online is to go to directories of links related to genealogy.There are many such directories, although Cyndi’s List is perhaps the best-known genealogy directory. Simply searching for “genealogy directory” or “family history resources” on your favorite search engine is likely to get you multitudes of directories, each linking to all kinds of genealogy resources, from beginner guides to the depths of advanced research methodology to the minutia of migration routes to the West.
There are also websites that help you do your search for genealogical resources, linking you to all types of public records. At times you will need to go offline to find the actual public records, but the internet can help even in these instances: there are websites that compile information on how to reach different public records offices and what each state’s policies are regarding public records requests. You can also visit state websites, which may contain pages specifically for genealogy researchers looking for public records.
Search Offline: The International Genealogical Index and More
Although the internet provides an almost mind-blowing amount of information, there are also many wonderful resources available offline. For example, sometimes a trip to the cemetery where your ancestor is buried can yield a surprising amount of information—you might find that the placement of gravestones clarifies previously murky family relationships, or you might discover a new ancestor that had been hitherto unknown.
Historical societies and public libraries are also great offline resources. Historical societies can provide valuable contextual information that helps both in your hunt for genealogy facts and for enlivening your family history, in addition to public records. Public libraries, especially local ones, are a treasure trove of public records, naturalization records, and passenger lists—often ones dating very far back that cannot accessed online.
The International Genealogy Index, an index maintained by the Church of Latter Day Saints, is also a great resource. This database contains birth, marriage, and baptism records of millions of deceased individuals worldwide. Not only do they have an electronic version of the database online, they also have family history centers located throughout the world. These family history centers may well be worth a visit, since they provide access to microfilms of these records, as well as have volunteers who can help orient you to the IGI and answer research questions.
People as a Resource: Genealogical Societies
Finally, people are also excellent resources that should not be forgotten. Genealogical societies are great places to find family history information, with members-only databases, conferences, and publications. More importantly, they allow you to network with people—people with whom you can share the pleasure of finally locating a mysterious ancestor or commiserate over impassable brick walls. Sometimes a conversation about a particular brick wall may be the key that leads to a breakthrough.
Online and offline, there are a myriad of genealogy resources available. Dabbling widely in these varied sources is the key to successfully and thoroughly completing your family tree research.
