Choosing Between the Internet and Databases for Information

MyHeritage
Almost half a million books ranging from family, local and military histories, city and county directories, school, university and hospital reports, church and congregational minutes and much more.

Elephind
Search thousands of historic newspapers from around the world.

Library of Congress Chronicling America
Search America's historic newspaper pages from 1789-1922 or use the U.S. Newspaper Directory to find information about American newspapers published between 1690-present.

DNA Adoption: Find Your Roots Through DNA
A repository for documentation about using your DNA results. While the site was originally conceived of for adoptees, it is proving to be useful for genealogy as well.

GEDmatch
DNA and genealogical analysis tools for both amateur and professional researchers and genealogists. You have to register to use the site, but it is free.

International Society of Genetic Genealogy
Their mission is to advocate for and educate about the use of genetics as a tool for genealogical research while promoting a supportive network for genetic genealogists.

FamilySearch
You will need to create a free user account in order to use this site.

MyHeritage
You will need to create a free user account in order to use this site.

WikiTree
You will need to create a free user account in order to use this collaborative site.

Association of Professional Genealogists
Look here to find a professional genealogist you can hire to search your history.

Boston University Center for Professional Education
An online genealogical education program.

Heritage Genealogical College
Another online genealogical education program.

International Commission for the Accreditation of Professional Genealogists
Become an accredited genealogist via this professional organization, which sets the standards for the genealogical community.

National Institute for Genealogical Studies
An online genealogical education program.

Santa Barbara County Genealogical Society

American Family Immigration History Center
Statue of Liberty/Ellis Island Foundation site where you can search passenger records for immigrants processed through Ellis Island from 1892 to 1924.

Cyndi's list of Genealogy Sites
Free, much-used, comprehensive, categorized & cross-referenced list of links that lead you to genealogical research sites online.

Family Tree Searcher
Searches across multiple sites for genealogy information.

History at Home: A Guide to Genealogy
An essay about doing genealogy with many links to sites online.

Linkpendium
A search engine with more than 10,000,000 links to websites with genealogy and local history data.

National Archives Resources for Genealogists & Family Historians
The U. S. National Archives site offers a good introduction to genealogy for people just getting started.

Pedigree Charts
Free charts you can print out to fill in and keep your family tree organized.

BabyNames.com
Search names by letter, meaning, origin, number of syllables, browse boy/girl names, and view the most popular baby names by year.

Behind the Name
Etymological dictionary of first names - along with lists of most used first names up to 2016, languages referred to, common elements in first names, resources used, and links to other etymology sites.

RootsWeb's WorldConnect Project
Search by surname through millions of online trees in this Ancestry.com product.

Caleb Johnson's Mayflower History
Find everything Mayflower here: passenger list, Pilgrim history, genealogy, research, museums, and more.

FamilySearch
You will have to create an account to use this massive collection of digitized databases from the Church of Jesus Christ Latter-day Saints.

The Foundation for East European Family History Studies
Provides links to resources for a number of Eastern European countries.

General Land Office Records
From the U. S. Bureau of Land Management, find original land patents issued to first landowners of Public Land States.

Genuki
Links to free U.K. and Ireland genealogical sites, administered by a charity.

New York City and the Historical Ellis Island
Information on Ellis Island and general genealogy tips.

Online Military Indexes and Records
A directory of links to online military indexes and records for USA genealogy research. Included is information on wars from the Revolutionary War to the Vietnam War.

Stephen P. Morse Passenger List Database
A free site for searching for immigrants who arrived in the U. S. at various ports beginning in 1820.

Trace Indian Ancestry
U. S. Department of the Interior information on how to trace your American Indian or Alaska Native ancestry for eligibility in a federally recognized tribe.

USGenWeb Project
Volunteer-run website for locating free archives, indexes and databases in the U.S.

Find a Grave
Over 170 million grave records, many with genealogies and headstone photographs.

How to Find U.S. Birth Records (FamilySearch)
Tips and links for beginners on searching U.S. birth records.

Nationwide Gravesite Locator
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs database with more than three million records of veterans and dependents buried in VA’s 120 cemeteries since the Civil War. You can request information from staff if you cannot find it online.

Online Birth & Marriage Records Indexes for the USA
Lists sites by state.

Online Searchable Death Indexes and Records
Lists sites by state.

Summary of Marriage Records in the United States by State
From Family Search.

United States Social Security Death Index (FamilySearch)
Name index to deaths recorded by the Social Security Administration beginning in 1962. Current as of February 28, 2014.

Where to Write for Vital Records
Centers for Disease Control site searchable by state and dominion.