7 FREE Genealogy Websites You're Overlooking

Genealogy with Amy Johnson Crow
8 Feb 202209:59
EducationalLearning
32 Likes 10 Comments

TLDRThe video script emphasizes the importance of diversifying your genealogy research by exploring various websites to uncover a wealth of ancestral records. It introduces seven free resources: Internet Archive for a trove of digitized materials, State Archives for local records, genealogy society websites for regional expertise, the Digital Public Library of America (DPLA) for a vast collection of digital items, Linkpendium for curated genealogy links, WorldCat for a global library catalog, and the FamilySearch Research Wiki for in-depth location and topic research. The speaker encourages thinking beyond names, using subjects like locations, organizations, and occupations to enrich the search process.

Takeaways
  • 🔍 **Internet Archive**: A vast resource for digitized materials including yearbooks, city directories, and family histories, useful for genealogy research beyond the Wayback Machine.
  • 🏛️ **State Archives, Libraries, and Historical Societies**: Often overlapping in function, these institutions provide online catalogs and digital records, including military and vital records.
  • 📚 **Library of Virginia and Wisconsin Historical Society**: Two exceptional examples of state resources offering rich digital collections beneficial for genealogical research.
  • 👥 **Local Genealogy Societies**: Even for non-members, these societies offer valuable resources such as research guides, historic church listings, and cemetery locations.
  • 🌐 **Digital Public Library of America (DPLA)**: A portal to over 44 million digital items from libraries, archives, and museums, useful for finding a wide range of historical documents.
  • 🔗 **Linkpendium**: A curated list of genealogy and historical websites, functioning as a search engine and a browsable directory by location, offering a wealth of genealogical links.
  • 🌟 **WorldCat**: A global catalog of library holdings, useful for tracking down unique or rare genealogical materials that may not be housed in obvious locations.
  • 💡 **Research by Subject**: When using genealogical websites, consider searching by subject matter such as locations, organizations, and occupations to uncover hidden resources.
  • 🌍 **FamilySearch Research Wiki**: A comprehensive resource for information on records, historical context, and research guidance for various locations and topics worldwide.
  • 📈 **Expanding Digital Collections**: Many state libraries and archives are continually adding to their digital collections, making them increasingly valuable for genealogical research.
  • 📘 **Unique Materials**: Genealogical research often involves locating unique or rare materials, which can sometimes be found in unexpected library collections around the world.
Q & A

  • What is the primary purpose of the Internet Archive?

    -The Internet Archive is primarily known as the home of the Wayback Machine, which allows users to view old versions of websites. It also hosts a vast collection of digitized materials, including yearbooks, city directories, county histories, family histories, and annual reports for government agencies, making it a valuable resource for genealogy research.

  • Why are state archives, libraries, and historical societies important for genealogy research?

    -These institutions often have online catalogs for their collections, which can help researchers track down different record groups. They are increasingly adding digital materials to their websites, including photograph collections, digital copies of original records, military records, and vital records, providing a wealth of information for genealogical research.

  • What can local genealogy societies offer to non-members?

    -Even if a person is not a member of a local genealogy society, they can often find valuable resources on the society's website, such as research guides, listings of historic churches, locations of cemeteries, and information on where different records are held.

  • How does the Digital Public Library of America (DPLA) assist genealogy researchers?

    -The DPLA serves as a portal to the digital holdings of thousands of libraries, archives, and museums across the United States. It links to more than 44 million digital items, including photographs, family Bibles, yearbooks, maps, and original records, providing a vast array of resources for genealogical research.

  • What is unique about Linkpendium in the context of genealogy research?

    -Linkpendium is a curated list of over 10 million genealogy and historical websites, including family and surname websites. It offers a search engine specifically for genealogy and allows users to browse by location, making it a powerful tool for finding specialized and local resources.

  • What is the role of WorldCat in genealogy research?

    -WorldCat, put together by OCLC, a consortium of libraries worldwide, allows users to search the catalogs of member libraries. It can help researchers track down unique or rare materials that may not be found in commonly known libraries or archives.

  • How does the FamilySearch Research Wiki assist researchers when they encounter new locations or topics?

    -The FamilySearch Research Wiki provides detailed information about various locations and topics relevant to genealogy. It offers insights into when major records started being kept in a particular area, the history of county formations, and links to relevant websites and collections, making it a valuable first stop for researchers entering new areas of inquiry.

  • What are some alternative search strategies suggested for the Internet Archive and DPLA?

    -Instead of just searching for an ancestor's name, researchers are encouraged to broaden their searches by considering topics, locations, organizations, churches, and other subjects related to their ancestors. This approach can uncover a wider range of resources and records.

  • Why are military records often highlighted as a valuable resource on state library and archive websites?

    -Military records can provide detailed information about an individual's service history, which can include dates of service, places of deployment, and even physical descriptions. These records can be particularly useful in genealogy research as they often cover periods and aspects of life that may not be as well documented elsewhere.

  • What is the significance of the Library of Virginia and the Wisconsin Historical Society in the context of the provided transcript?

    -The Library of Virginia and the Wisconsin Historical Society are highlighted as outstanding examples of state resources that have extensive digital collections and materials available online. These resources are particularly beneficial for genealogy research and can serve as models for what other state institutions might offer.

  • How can the FamilySearch Research Wiki aid researchers who are not focusing on the United States?

    -The FamilySearch Research Wiki has pages for locations around the world, not just the United States. It also covers a variety of topics, making it a versatile resource for genealogical research regardless of the geographical focus of the study.

  • What is the importance of considering the broader context when using genealogy websites like Linkpendium?

    -Considering the broader context, such as the location, church, school, or fraternal organization an ancestor was associated with, can lead to the discovery of hidden gems of information that may not be found through a simple name search. This approach can provide a more comprehensive understanding of an ancestor's life and social connections.

Outlines
00:00
🔍 Exploring Genealogy with Internet Archive and State Resources

The first paragraph introduces the importance of diversifying the sources used for genealogical research. It emphasizes the value of the Internet Archive, not only for its Wayback Machine but also for its vast collection of digitized materials such as yearbooks, city directories, and government reports. The speaker advises to search not only by names but also by topics, locations, and organizations associated with the ancestors. Additionally, the paragraph highlights the utility of state archives, libraries, and historical societies, which often overlap in function and are increasingly digitizing their records, with particular praise for the Library of Virginia and the Wisconsin Historical Society.

05:01
🌐 Leveraging Local Expertise and National Databases for Genealogy

The second paragraph discusses the benefits of including state and local genealogy societies in research, as they possess regional expertise and can guide to specific records. It mentions that even non-members can access valuable resources on these society websites, such as research guides and records. The paragraph then introduces the Digital Public Library of America (DPLA), which serves as a portal to millions of digital items across numerous libraries, archives, and museums. It encourages thinking broadly about subjects related to the ancestor's life for more effective searches. The paragraph also introduces Linkpendium, a curated list of genealogy links, and WorldCat, a global catalog that helps locate unique or rare materials in libraries worldwide. It concludes with the FamilySearch Research Wiki, a comprehensive resource for understanding record-keeping practices and accessing relevant websites and collections globally.

Mindmap
Keywords
💡Genealogy Research
Genealogy research refers to the study of one's ancestry and family history. It involves tracing back through historical records to understand the lineage and details about one's ancestors. In the video, genealogy research is the central theme, with the speaker discussing various resources and websites that can be utilized to enhance one's research.
💡Internet Archive
The Internet Archive is a digital library that offers free access to digitized materials, including books, movies, software, music, and websites. It is known for the Wayback Machine, which allows users to view archived versions of web pages. In the context of the video, the Internet Archive is highlighted as a valuable resource for genealogy research, where one can find digitized yearbooks, city directories, and other historical documents.
💡State Archive
A State Archive is an institution that collects, preserves, and makes available historical records of a particular state. These archives often hold a wealth of information relevant to genealogy research, such as original records, photographs, and documents pertaining to the state's history. The video emphasizes the importance of including state archives in one's research rotation, as they may contain unique records about one's ancestors.
💡Genealogy Society
A genealogy society is an organization dedicated to helping individuals trace their family histories and preserving genealogical records. These societies often have local or regional expertise and can provide valuable resources, such as research guides and access to records. The video mentions that even non-members can benefit from visiting genealogy society websites, which may offer publicly accessible records and helpful research aids.
💡Digital Public Library of America (DPLA)
The Digital Public Library of America (DPLA) is a digital platform that aggregates the digital collections of libraries, archives, and museums across the United States. It serves as a portal to millions of digital items, including photographs, maps, and original records. The video discusses how the DPLA can be an astounding resource for genealogists, allowing them to find a wide range of materials related to their ancestors.
💡Linkpendium
Linkpendium is a curated list of genealogy and historical websites that provides a search engine specifically for genealogical research. It was developed by the founders of RootsWeb and contains over 10 million links to relevant websites. The video describes Linkpendium as a valuable tool for genealogists, allowing them to search across a vast number of websites for information about their ancestors and browse by location to discover local resources.
💡WorldCat
WorldCat is a global catalog of library collections, created by the Online Computer Library Center (OCLC). It allows users to search the combined catalogs of member libraries worldwide. In the video, WorldCat is presented as a useful tool for genealogy research, as it can help researchers locate unique or rare materials that may not be found in more obvious locations, such as family Bibles or local historical documents.
💡FamilySearch Research Wiki
The FamilySearch Research Wiki is a collaborative platform that provides information on genealogical research in various locations and topics around the world. It is a part of FamilySearch, a genealogy organization, and serves as a comprehensive guide for researchers. The video emphasizes the Wiki as a first-stop resource when researching a new location or topic, offering insights into record-keeping practices and providing links to relevant websites and collections.
💡Wayback Machine
The Wayback Machine is a part of the Internet Archive that allows users to view archived versions of web pages. It is useful for genealogy researchers when trying to access information from websites that have been removed or have changed over time. The video mentions the Wayback Machine as a feature of the Internet Archive that can be particularly handy for genealogists.
💡Digitized Materials
Digitized materials refer to physical items that have been converted into digital formats, making them accessible online. This includes books, documents, photographs, and other historical records. In the context of the video, digitized materials are crucial for genealogy research as they allow researchers to access a wide range of historical records and resources that would otherwise be difficult to obtain.
💡Research Guides
Research guides are tools or documents that provide information and direction for conducting research in a specific field or subject. In genealogy, these guides can include listings of historic churches, cemetery locations, and information on where different records are held. The video mentions that even if a genealogy society does not offer many records for non-members, they often provide research guides that can be invaluable for genealogical research.
Highlights

Genealogy research involves exploring various websites to discover records about your ancestors.

Internet Archive is a valuable resource for digitized materials such as yearbooks, city directories, and family histories.

The State Archive, State Library, and State Historical Society websites often have online catalogs and digital records.

The Library of Virginia and the Wisconsin Historical Society are particularly noteworthy for their digital collections.

Local genealogy societies provide regional expertise and may have records and research guides available to non-members.

The Digital Public Library of America (DPLA) offers access to over 44 million digital items from libraries, archives, and museums.

Linkpendium is a curated list of genealogy and historical websites that can be searched or browsed by location.

WorldCat, a global catalog of library collections, can help track down unique or rare family history materials.

The FamilySearch Research Wiki is a comprehensive resource for information on major records, county formations, and relevant websites.

When using genealogy websites, broaden your search to include topics, locations, organizations, and churches associated with your ancestors.

State and local genealogy societies can offer valuable insights into local records and resources.

DPLA is a portal to a vast array of digital items, including photographs, family Bibles, and original records.

Linkpendium functions as a search engine for genealogy websites and can also be browsed by location for more targeted results.

WorldCat allows for searching the catalogs of libraries worldwide, which may hold unique or rare family history documents.

The FamilySearch Research Wiki is an essential tool for genealogists, providing information on records and resources globally.

Genealogy research can benefit from exploring a variety of free online resources to uncover a wealth of information about ancestors.

The importance of thinking beyond just names when searching genealogy websites, considering subjects and broader contexts.

The potential for discovering hidden gems of information through curated lists and specialized search engines in genealogy research.

The value of exploring state and local archives, even for those who are not members, for access to research guides and local knowledge.

Transcripts

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