Top 25 Genealogy Sites: FREE & Worth Paying For! (2024)
TLDRAmy, a passionate genealogist, shares her top 25 favorite websites for family history research, emphasizing their utility and frequency of use. She highlights the value of both free and paid resources, such as Ancestry, FamilySearch, Newspapers.com, and Google Maps, for their unique records and user-friendly interfaces. Amy also recommends specialized sites like Fold3 for military records, MyHeritage for European and Jewish genealogy, and DNA Painter for DNA research. She advises on leveraging local libraries for free access to subscription sites and using tools like Google Translate and Black's Law Dictionary to overcome language barriers and understand legal terms. Her comprehensive guide aims to enhance the research experience for both novices and seasoned genealogists.
Takeaways
- 🌟 Ancestry is a favorite and frequently used resource for building family trees, despite its cost, due to its extensive record collection and user-friendly interface.
- 📚 FamilySearch Catalog is a valuable tool for identifying gaps in research and exploring various record groups, which may not be as easily accessible through other platforms.
- 💡 FamilySearch Wiki is a rich resource offering research guides, county information, and record group details, enhancing the genealogical research process.
- 🌳 FamilySearch Trees is a collaborative platform that allows users to benefit from others' contributions, such as photographs and family stories, which can be unique and invaluable.
- 📰 Newspapers.com is a go-to site for uncovering family stories through historical newspaper articles, and is accessible complimentary with an Ancestry all-access subscription.
- 🗺️ Google Maps is a versatile tool for visualizing geographical distances and locations, aiding in understanding the historical context of family movements.
- 🔍 Google Search is a fundamental tool for a wide array of research needs, often used alongside other resources to locate Wiki pages, family records, and more.
- 💰 VitalChek is a paid service for obtaining US birth, marriage, or death records, sometimes offering quicker access compared to ordering directly from counties or states.
- 🏛️ County sites are essential for ordering specific records like probate or land records, and the FamilySearch Wiki often provides direct links to these county courthouses.
- 📈 MapsofUS.org offers interactive historical maps that help researchers understand county formation history, which is crucial for locating records held in the county of creation.
- 🇺🇸 Fold3 is an indispensable resource for military records across several countries, with its content included in the Ancestry all-access subscription, making it a cost-effective choice for military research enthusiasts.
Q & A
What is the first website mentioned in the transcript that Amy uses daily for family history research?
-The first website mentioned is Ancestry, which Amy uses daily to build client trees and work on family history. It is not free but offers a wealth of records and an interface that Amy finds easy to use.
How does the FamilySearch Catalog help Amy in her research?
-The FamilySearch Catalog helps Amy to determine whether she has found all the necessary records and to identify any gaps in her research. It allows her to see all the records that FamilySearch has for a specific location.
What is unique about the FamilySearch Wiki that Amy appreciates?
-Amy appreciates the FamilySearch Wiki for its collaborative effort, providing guides to research, additional resources, and county courthouse information. It also includes valuable user-contributed content like photographs and family stories.
How does Amy feel about the collaborative nature of the FamilySearch Tree?
-Amy acknowledges that some people find the collaborative nature of the FamilySearch Tree frustrating, but she frequently uses it because of the added content like photographs, family stories, and other unique information that users contribute.
What is the benefit of having an All Access subscription to Ancestry?
-With an All Access subscription to Ancestry, users get free access to Newspapers.com, which Amy considers one of the easiest ways to find newspaper articles. This subscription also includes access to other premium features on Ancestry.
Why does Amy recommend using Google Maps for genealogy research?
-Amy recommends Google Maps to figure out distances between places or to locate specific areas within a state. This can help in understanding the geographical context of ancestors' lives.
What is the significance of using Google Books for family history research?
-Google Books is significant for family history research because it may contain books about families, including county biographies from the late 19th to early 20th centuries. These can provide insights into family origins and other historical information.
How does Amy suggest using the Family History Wiki pages for genealogy research?
-Amy suggests using the Family History Wiki pages to find county courthouse information, including details about record keeping, boundary changes, and potential record losses due to events like fires.
What is the advantage of using mapsofus.org for genealogy research?
-Mapsofus.org provides interactive historical maps that show county formation history, which is crucial for understanding where records were kept and how to find them, especially in areas that have undergone significant boundary changes.
Why is Fold3 a recommended resource for military records?
-Fold3 is recommended for military records because it has a comprehensive collection, especially for the United States, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom. It is owned by Ancestry and is included in the All Access subscription.
How can sharing an Ancestry All Access subscription with others benefit users?
-Sharing an Ancestry All Access subscription with up to four other people allows multiple users to split the cost of the subscription and gain access to Ancestry, Newspapers.com, and Fold3, potentially saving each person money.
Outlines
🌟 Top Family History Websites and Tools
Amy introduces her favorite family history websites, both free and paid, that she uses regularly. She emphasizes the importance of these sites in her research, mentioning that while most are free, some paid options like Ancestry.com provide extensive records and a user-friendly interface that justifies the cost. Amy also discusses the value of Pro Tools on Ancestry, which she doesn't personally use but acknowledges can be beneficial for others.
📚 FamilySearch Catalog and Wiki for In-Depth Research
Amy highlights the FamilySearch Catalog as a critical tool for identifying gaps in her research. She demonstrates how to use the catalog to find records for a specific location, such as Jefferson, Kansas. The FamilySearch Wiki is also praised for its wealth of information, including research guides and county-specific resources that can provide unique insights into family history.
🌐 Utilizing Online Resources for Genealogy
Amy discusses various online resources for genealogical research. She mentions Newspapers.com for accessing newspaper articles, Google Maps for geographical context, and Google search for a wide range of inquiries. She also talks about VitalChek for obtaining vital records in the U.S. and the importance of checking county sites for additional records. Amy also recommends using the FamilySearch Tree for collaborative research and accessing local libraries for free access to subscription sites.
🏛️ Exploring Land and Property Records
Amy delves into the importance of land and property records in genealogy. She explains the difference between land patents and deeds and how they can be found on FamilySearch and the Bureau of Land Management's GLO records website. She emphasizes the value of historical maps in understanding county formation history and how it can impact record searches.
🧬 DNA Research and Additional Genealogical Tools
Amy covers DNA painting with DNA Painter and how it can help in understanding DNA relationships. She also discusses the use of White Pages for current contact information in DNA research and the Social Security Administration's Freedom of Information Act request page for original Social Security applications. Amy mentions the National Archives website for digital records, Google Translate for deciphering foreign records, enumerator instructions for understanding census records, and Black's Law Dictionary for legal terms found in wills and deeds.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Ancestry
💡FamilySearch
💡Newspapers.com
💡Google Maps
💡Google Search
💡Vital Check
💡County Sites
💡Maps of US
💡Fold3
💡Google Books
💡DNA Painter
Highlights
Amy shares her top 25 favorite websites for family history research, including both free and paid options.
Ancestry.com is recommended for its extensive records and user-friendly interface, despite being a paid service.
FamilySearch Catalog is praised for helping researchers identify gaps in their family history documentation.
The FamilySearch Wiki is highlighted as an invaluable resource for in-depth research tools and collaborative efforts.
FamilySearch trees are appreciated for their collaborative nature, allowing for the sharing of photographs and family stories.
Newspapers.com is favored for its ease of navigation and wealth of information on family history through news articles.
Google Maps is frequently used to understand geographical distances and locations relevant to family history.
Google search is emphasized as a daily tool for a wide range of research needs in genealogy.
VitalCheck is mentioned as a quick method for ordering vital records in the United States, albeit at an additional cost.
County sites are recommended for obtaining specific records like birth, marriage, or death certificates directly from the source.
MapsofUS.org is lauded for its interactive maps and historical atlases that help trace the locations of ancestors over time.
Fold3 is recognized for its comprehensive military records and its inclusion in the Ancestry all-access subscription.
Google Books is a valuable resource for finding books about families and local histories.
The importance of accessing local FamilySearch affiliate libraries for free access to premium genealogy websites is discussed.
Chronicling America is highlighted as a free resource for searching historical newspapers and finding newspaper directories.
The Bureau of Land Management's GLO Records is recommended for tracing land patents and accessing historical maps.
DNA Painter is mentioned as a free tool for analyzing and understanding DNA test results in genealogy research.
White Pages is used for finding current contact information of individuals for genealogical research purposes.
The Social Security Administration's Freedom of Information Act request page is a valuable resource for obtaining original Social Security applications.
The National Archives website is commended for its digital records and the ability to conduct research from home.
Google Translate is utilized for deciphering records written in foreign languages, aiding in international genealogy research.
Enumerator instructions from the National Archives are essential for understanding the context and specifics of census records.
Black's Law Dictionary is recommended for interpreting legal terms found in historical documents like deeds and wills.
Transcripts
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