The free section of a major commercial website (Ancestry.com), RootsWeb
contains a great deal of information about what genealogy is and how to conduct a genealogical search.
The section of the site entitled The Guide to Tracing Family Trees,
is listed among the readings for
this course. (If you decide to print down any of webpages from this site,
be certain to use the "print" version; that way, you not have to print
the cute little drawings, thus saving your ink cartridge and using
fewer pages of hardcopy. )
http://www.genealogy.com
A leading commercial websites belonging to the same parent
company as Ancestry.com, Genealogy.com
contains a Learning Center with a How-To section that
is part of the reading for this course.
Although the site contains numerous links, many if not most of them
end in "pay-for" information.
http://www.byubroadcasting.org/ancestors/
The series Ancestors, produced by Brigham Young University, appeared
in several parts on public television. It is the best available video
dealing with the many aspects of genealogy and will be shown in segments over the course of
the semester. This link brings one to the website
established in connection with the program. The site contains a
great deal of information. What is more, one can download for free a number
of useful forms for recording information about ancestors (e.g. Pedigree
chart, Family group record, Research log, Research questions form.)
Major Free Sites at Which to Start a Genealogical Search
http://www.familysearch.org
Family Search is the website maintained by the
Church of the Later Day Saints (LDS) otherwise known as the Mormons.
While Mormon interest in genealogy is primarily theological, the
churches' scholarly work in this field is invaluable to any historian
who is doing genealogy. The site contains a great deal of free material
concerning millions of individuals about whom the Church has compiled
information.
http://www.usgenweb.org/research/starting.html
The USGenWeb Project is one of the oldest free genealogical websites on the
web (it was established in 1996). The project is, in its own words,
"non-commercial and fully committed to free access for everyone." Useful
links
direct the user to resources available at the state and county level.
http://ssdi.rootsweb.ancestry.com/
The Social Security Death Index (SSDI) is a major source for
tracing Americans who lived in the second half of the 20th century.
It contains a list of people who have died who were part of the Social
Security System. All that is needed to undertake research in this
index is a name.
http://www.cyndislist.com
Cyndi's List contains an enormous number of links to genealogical sources
on the web, many of which can be followed without having to pay user-fees.
The site describes itself (correctly) as follows:
A categorized & cross-referenced index to genealogical
resources on the Internet.
A list of links that point you to genealogical research sites online.
A free jumping-off point for you to use in your online research.
A "card catalog" to the genealogical collection in the immense library
that is the Internet.
Your genealogical research portal onto the Internet.
http://www.genealogy.org/
Genealogy.org is valuable primarily for the way in
which it ranks other
genealogical sites on the web (to each of which it maintains a link). The
site's homepage contains a list of
approximately 400 such sites listed in order of their "popularity" as
measured by the number of hits they have received. The
rankings vary over time as the numbers change.
http://www.genhomepage.com/
The Genealogy Home Page has a number of useful
links to genealogical websites. Under North American Genealogical
Resources, the researcher will find a state-by-state listing of such
sites.
Commercial Sites
http://www.ancestry.com
The most important commercial website dealing with genealogy.
Many records have been uploaded onto the web and are accessible.
In other cases, the site's search engines lead to the source of the
record which can then be purchased.
http://www.genealogy.com
Another leading commercial websites belonging to
the same parent company as Ancestry.com, Genealogy.com contains
numerous links, though many if not most of them lead to sources that
require payment for the information they contain.
Gov-Records.com is a paid subscription site that helps members
track down government records of all sorts that appear on the web.
Regional Genealogical Societies
http://www.newenglandancestors.org/
This site can be of use for those able to trace their roots back
to the New England region.
Genealogical DNA Testing
http://www.dnaancestryproject.com/
This is an important source of information explaining the use of DNA in the study
of genealogy.
http://dna.ancestry.com/welcome.aspx
Ancestry.com DNA testing. The site
contains considerable information about the process that can be
accessed through links on the main page. Particularly valuable
is the link entitled "Learn More" contained under the heading "Get
Started with a DNA Test." To place an order, click through the
button "Order Now."
Genealogical Books, Microfilm, Tools for
Sale