Archives Library Information Center (ALIC)

Genealogy

A selection of links for how to do genealogical research, genealogy resources around the world, and searchable databases.


Contents


For information on how to do genealogical research at the National Archives, please see the Genealogy section of the NARA web site.


How to Do Genealogical Research

NARA's Calendar of Events
See the calendar for scheduled genealogy workshops in Washington DC.
Family History: Clues in Census Records, 1850-1920
This article by Claire Prechtel-Kluskens appeared in the January 1998 issue of NARA’s The Record.
Library of Congress Research Guides
Resource guides for research on state and other genealogical topics.
Genealogy Notes
Articles of genealogical interest from NARA’s Prologue.
Local History & Genealogy Reference Services, Library of Congress
The Library of Congress provides several guides for genealogical research including Bibliographies and Guides, Searching Tips, and links to Internet resources.
Researching Your Family Tree
A tutorial for performing genealogical research.

 

Other Helpful Genealogy Sites

101 Best Genealogy Websites of 2022
This list was compiled by Family Tree Magazine.
AmericanAncestors: New England Historic Genealogical Society
Located in Boston, the Society provides information on events, tours, and research. The Library is a valuable resource with many useful guides.
Digital State Archives
Genealogists can find links to states’ digital collections on this web site.
Genealogy.com
Offers tips on starting genealogical research, web links, and searchable databases.
Immigration to the United States, 1789-1930
"A web-based collection of selected historical materials from Harvard’s libraries, archives, and museums that documents voluntary immigration to the U.S. from the signing of the Constitution to the onset of the Great Depression."
National Genealogical Society
"To serve and grow the genealogical community by providing education and training, fostering increased quality and standards, and promoting access to and preservation of genealogical records."
National Society of Daughters of the American Revolution
Provides resources for genealogists including an online catalog of the DAR Library’s holdings.
Pathfinder: Genealogy
This guide is designed to help people research their genealogy.
RootsChat.com
RootsChat is a free family history forum that helps researchers learn and navigate family History in the United Kingdom.
Western History and Genealogy
The Denver Public Library’s Genealogy page provides access to several resources, including Colorado Genealogy and Obituaries, Colorado Pioneer Records, Colorado and Nebraska Military, and more.

 

Resources

The 1930 Census
NARA’s comprehensive guide to the 1930 Census.
The 1940 Census
NARA’s comprehensive guide to the 1940 Census.
The 1950 Census
NARA’s comprehensive guide to the 1950 Census.
Cyndi’s List of Genealogy Sites on the Internet
Provides links to thousands of genealogy web sites.
Federal Agency Websites with Information Useful in Genealogical Research
Other federal web sites providing useful information in genealogical research are listed here.
Immigrant Ships Transcribers Guild
Site consists of transcribed passenger lists published in eleven volumes. Researchers can use the search feature, or browse within volumes by date, ship’s name, port of departure, port of arrival, captain’s name, or passenger’s name.
One-Step Webpages by Stephen P. Morse
"This site contains tools for finding immigration records, census records, vital records, and for dealing with calendars, maps, foreign alphabets, and numerous other applications."
TheShipsList
Presents immigration reports, newspaper records, shipwreck information, ship pictures, ship descriptions, shipping-line fleet lists, as well as hundreds of passenger lists to Canada, USA, Australia and even some for South Africa.
USCIS Genealogy
This site, maintained by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS), gives information about immigration and naturalization records and how to access them.
USGenWeb Project
Volunteers around the country provide resources and transcribed records for genealogical research in every county and state of the United States.

 

Searchable Databases

Ancestry
Ancestry is a subscription database available free of charge from any NARA location nationwide. It offers searchable ancestor databases of over 600 million names, as well as specialized databases, including census images. Ancestry.com is available to individual researchers by subscription.
Bureau of Land Management (BLM), General Land Office (GLO) Records
This web site provides "access to Federal land conveyance records for the Public Land States. We also provide image access to more than three million Federal land title records for Eastern Public Land States, issued between 1820 and 1908." The database includes land patents, surveys, and land status records.
DAR Genealogical Research System
"The GRS is a collection of databases that provide access to the many materials amassed by the DAR since its founding in 1890." Included are the Ancestor Database, Member Search, Descendants Database, Genealogical Records Committee Report, and Resources.
Dead Fred’s Genealogy Photo Archive
Free photo genealogy research web site. Reseachers can search the surname database and post their own photographs.
Digital Library on American Slavery
Here is "a searchable database of detailed personal information about slaves, slaveholders, and free people of color." Data is drawn from petitions to southern legislatures and country courts filed between 1775 and 1867 in the slaveholding states and the District of Columbia. Researchers can search for petitions, search by name, or browse by category (such as Marriage and Women, Atttaining Freedom, Slave Ownership and more). A wealth of information.
FamilySearch
This genealogical resource from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints contains three billion names. The site includes a search function, photos, and a wiki with over 75,000 articles.
Maryland State Archives Census Indexes
Created and maintained by the Maryland state archives, this site allows searches of four different historical Maryland censuses.
Soldiers’ Records: War of 1812-World War I
Database abstracted from the individual service cards, and listing more than 576,000 Missourians who served in the military from territorial times through World War I.
Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation
This site has a searchable database of names of immigrants who came through Ellis Island as well as advice on conducting genealogical research.

Genealogy Blogs

B&F: Jewish Genealogy and More
This blog primarily geared to users researching Jewish genealogy, but there are also posts of interest to researchers of all origins.
Eastman’s Online Genealogy Newsletter
Genealogists can find a free newsletter, a premium subscription newsletter, comments, and informative posts.
GenealogyBlog
This blog combines Leland Meitzler’s passions for genealogy, publishing and blogging. He and his wife, Patty, also run a publishing company called Family Roots Publishing, which specializes in the publication and marketing of genealogy guidebooks.

See also additional genealogical material:

 

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