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U. S. Genealogy Sources and Resources
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items I've been researching my lineage since I was a teen – well before the computer. Trust me, it's a lot easier now. Here are some tools I use.
Sections
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Websites & Software For Tree Building
DNA Organizations, Testing, Books, and other resources
Great Genealogy Books
Free OnlineGenealogy Resources
Substack Genealogy Blogs and Newsletters
Ethnic Genealogical Sites and Societies.
Websites & Software For Tree Building
I try to keep everything on my computer (backing up externally often), but I discovered WikiTree and I'm hooked. Link to that site is below.
I've used this site before on a limited basis to research my overseas connections, especially UK. The largest online archive of British and Irish newspapers, and twice the Irish records of any other online site.
Trace your Family Tree Online | Genealogy & Ancestry from Findmypast
I have never ever used another offline software for documenting my lineages. Minor cost, less than the price of a pizza for upgrades (two within a decade). Easy to use, integrates with Ancestry and with FamilySearch.
Ancestral Quest family tree software/genealogy software for Windows and Mac
The best free genealogy site around, but don't count on the accuracy of the public tree. Still, you can glean a lot of information such as census records and more from this site.
Start Your Family Tree - Search Genealogy Archives
I have been with Ancestry for over two decades, and they've been good to me. You really can go in and out of this program with pauses and respites without losing your information. If you're confused about how to do that, just contact them through cha...
Ancestry® | Family Tree, Genealogy & Family History Records
These days you might find some rather important information about your family, including photos and stories, that you may never have seen or heard before. This site now belongs to Ancestry, but the information is from the ancestors. This site can be ...
Find a Grave - Millions of Cemetery Records
My favorite tree building site online. People can make changes to your tree, but in this case you really want them to do so. Most of the folks here are beyond the rank of amatuer family historian, and they're firm believers in citations. Great inform...
WikiTree
DNA Organizations, Testing, Books, and other resources
Blood is definitely thicker (and more confusing sometimes) than water!
This is the the first society founded to promote the use of DNA testing in genealogy. I haven't delved deeply into it, but I'm eager. Check it out!
Welcome to ISOGG... | International Society of Genetic Genealogy
Very simple and easy-to-understand book about how you can discover the answers to your family history mysteries with DNA. Learn how to interpret your own results first, then navigate possible cousin matches or learn more about your ancestors.
The Family Tree Guide to DNA Testing
Ancstry DNA was my first DNA test site. Althugh I can't afford to use their resources on the daily, anyone who has taken a DNA test has access to their DNA at all times. What I love about this brand DNA test is the way Ancestry unlocks both parents a...
AncestryDNA® | DNA Tests for Ethnicity & Genealogy DNA Test
All DNA points to this site to learn more about cousins and ancestors. No matter where you gave your spit, your results should be uploaded here to learn more about how you are related to others worldwide. GEDmatch gives you access to the largest 3rd ...
GEDmatch
This is the first site I used when my father donated his spit to learn about his ancestors. I learned quite a bit from this site, including how DNA samples can dry up and become useless over time (color me surprised). That said, the results you have ...
FamilyTreeDNA
The Library of Congress offers an invaluable resource for learning about DNA before you ever take a test. DNA research is a serious and popular branch of modern day genealogy. There are many excellent guides, tools, and case studies available to educ...
Research Guides: Genetic Genealogy: DNA and Family History: Online Resources
If your native language is not English, then this site is great, because it's available in 42 languages, more than any other DNA platform by far. Like GEDmatch, MyHeritage’s user base is more globally spread than both Ancestry’s and Family Tree's DNA...
MyHeritage DNA
Talk about falling down a rabbit hole! This site contains everything you'd want to know about genetic genealogy. This Wiki was established for the benefit and education of the genetic genealogy community. To contribute to this Wiki you can join ISOGG...
ISOGG Wiki
FREE course with course materials. Great way to get started on learning how DNA and genealogy work together. “This class will discuss the types of DNA tests used for genealogy, the companies that provide them, and which test will best help you with y...
How Genealogists Use DNA • FamilySearch
I don't know much about this site yet, but I'll learn. I'm adding it here so I won't forget about it. What? You didn't know these lists are for me as well as for you? ha! Now you know!
Free DNA Education - Your DNA Guide - Diahan Southard
WOW – The woman's name is Connie and she's a genealogist, and that's all I know about her. She has a ton of videos available to peruse about genealogy, including DNA resources, interviews, and research tips. Follow her on Facebook as well as on YouTu...
Genealogy TV – Helping you go further, faster, and factually with ...
Blaine Bettinger created one of the first blogs to examine the intersection of traditional genealogical gechnics and modern genetic research on February 12, 2007. Genetic genealogists use genetics to learn more about their ancestry, their ancient roo...
The Genetic Genealogist
Great Genealogy Books
From general research to specific ways to cite a fact, these books can help you produce a professional genealogy for your family.
Find a less expensive edition anywhere, but be sure you get the “revised edition” or an updated edition of the book, which has been a standard reference in the field of genealogy since it was first published in 1984. The notes following each chapter ...
https://www.amazon.com/Source-Guidebook-American-Genealogy-Third/dp/1593312776/ref=asc_df_1593312776/
The purpose of this research book is to make research easier by identifying, defining, and explaining the growing number of published genealogical sources. The content covers everything from general reference to church records, printed land records, ...
Printed Sources: Guide to Genealogical Records
If you're dead serious about creating detailed and undeniable proof about your ancestry, lean into the National Genealogical Society for their books. This particular edition shows how family historians in the 20th century adapted concepts from the fi...
Mastering Genealogical Proof
This second edition is a little pricey for a paperback, but it's a great resource for a thorough treatment of U.S. records you need for your research. This book not only provides those resources, but tells you why you need them, how to gain access to...
The Genealogist's Companion and Sourcebook
You probably know about Find A Grave and BillionGraves, but do you know about American burial customs or ethnic and religious funeral customs? Do you know how to participate in or lead a cemetery project, including preservation? This book is a must-h...
Your Guide to Cemetery Research
Did you ever wonder what it takes to become a professional genealogist? Anyone can collect money for genealogical research and be called a paid researcher, but the knowledge, training, integrity, and efficiency of genealogists with credentials set th...
Becoming an Accredited Genealogist: Tips
This official manual from the Board of Certification for Genealogists, essentially a users’ guide for family historians, provides standards for genealogical researchers to assess their own and others’ work. First published in 2014, Genealogy Standard...
Genealogy Standards Second Edition Revised
I found this book at my local library and I had to own it. The information and advice about organizing genealogical records is invaluable. Now, instead of one large pile of fading paperwork, I have several digital files that I've backed up on my comp...
Organize Your Genealogy: Strategies & Solutions
You can use a variety of methods to cite your work, including AP, MLA, Chicago, Turabian, etc. ad nauseum. This book is a great way to get started on genealogical resources only, and it's very simple to use and to understand. I have a master's degree...
Evidence! Citation & Analysis for Family Hist.
Sure, you can grab a census online and try to read the often illegible writing. Not only are some original records a mess, the originals are often difficult to discern from the copies. Plus, you may be missing some hints that census records provide. ...
VERSAINSECT: Facts & Worksheets for U.S.
If you had ancestors who landed in Virginia, then you found them in California, would you know where to look for their taxes, census, or other vital information? Sure, you can find information online, but this book provides specific sources for each ...
Red Book: American State, County & Town
It doesn't matter, in my opinion, which version you choose, because both books provide a clever and creative way to trace ancestors with logical piece-by-piece reconstruction of your ancestors' lives. I have the earlier version, and I'm quite happy w...
Sleuth Book for Genealogists: Research Strategies
While you can use “regular” and “traditional” citation methods in your work, genealogy often requires much more than a simple author and title. The information also may be found online, in newspapers, and in other primary, secondary, and “hearsay” so...evidenceexplained.com. Yes, it's by the same author as the Evidence! book listed here, Elizabeth Shown Mills.
Evidence Explained: Citing History Sources
Free OnlineGenealogy Resources
I'm hooked on this site and decided to add DNA and a tree here, despite my best instincts. It's working out pretty well, and I'm stoked to find how easily I could go back over 22 generations on one line--all cited, notated, and verified. If my mother...
WikiTree
This site is run by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. FamilySearch offers access to billions of records, including census data, vital records (birth, marriage, death), military records, and more (almost as much as Ancestry without the ...
Find your family. Free Genealogy Archives
Check with your local library to see if you can gain access to this useful tool…this assortment of regional and national libraries offers family genealogies, surname research books, maps, and more that you can access through your local library for yo...
Genealogy | WorldCat.org
No matter what you think of any organization in this group, each one holds what could be valuable information for your research. Join or just browse, and then find your local chapter to peruse their holdings.
Daughters of the American Revolution
SAR (Sons of the American Revolution) is a non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to promoting patriotism, preserving American history, and promoting education to future generations. They also provide genealogical education, resources, and a...
NATIONAL SOCIETY OF THE SONS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION
The Freedman's Bureau (The Bureau of Refugees, Freedmen, and Abandoned Lands) was established in the War Department by an act of Congress on March 3, 1865. The Bureau was responsible for the supervision and management of all matters relating to the r...FamilySearch.org, but this page also provides more tools for African American research.
The Freedmen's Bureau
“AfriGeneas provides resources, leadership, promotion and advocacy for the mutual development and use of a system of genealogy for researching African related ancestry.” Their goal is to encourage and support all African ancestored individuals and fa...
AfriGeneas ~ African American & African Ancestored Genealogy
The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) is the nation's record keeper. Period. I obtained my own service record from this instution as well as the service records and bounty land records of my fourth great-grandfather. They're very bu...
National Archives
From its humble beginnings in Kentucky to a nationwide resource, the GenWeb project has gained its legs and produced some very valuable resources. This site was and is run by volunteers, and you'd be welcome to add resources or to thank those who add...
USGenWeb® - Always Free
Why am I creating genealogy lists when Cyndi has them all? hahaha – according to this site, “This category (genealogy) was one of the first created on Cyndi's List in 1996. At that time there were a handful of searchable databases online, so highligh...cyndislist.com/facebook
Cyndi's List - Databases: Searchable Online
Do you cry when you can't afford a subscription to an archived newspaper site? Never fear! Chronicling America is here to help you bridge a few gaps until you can afford the price of browsing a paid site. You can search America's historic newspaper p...virginiachronicle.com)
Chronicling America | Library of Congress
You don't need a library card, a subscription, or fees to use this site. It's chock full of resources such as family photos, family Bibles, Civil War correspondence, maps, yearbooks, oral histories, and so much more. If you can't find it anywhere els...
The Family Research Guide to Digital Public Library of America (DPLA)
Do I need to say anything more than the fact that you can explore this site's vast database of 65 million passenger records? I didn't think so. Enjoy!
The Statue of Liberty — Ellis Island Foundation
One of my favorite free sites. I've spent hours connecting family members through their burial records at this site, and it's a wonderful resource when you can find memorial pages that offer stories and connections.
Find a Grave - Millions of Cemetery Records
WHAT??? This site welcomes genealogy event submissions from anyone, anywhere: Local, state, national, and international societies; libraries, both public and private; as well as individuals or businesses. This is a completely FREE service to the gene...
Genealogy Events Calendar | Live – Virtual – Conferences – Seminars – Webinars and more -
Substack Genealogy Blogs and Newsletters
You can get a lot for free, but most of these subscriptions require payment. Oh, to be able to afford them all!
Maud Newton is the author of “Ancestor Trouble,” a book about mental illness and religious fanaticism that “percolated through Maud’s maternal lines back to an ancestor accused of being a witch in Puritan-era Massachusetts.” Who wouldn't want to read...
About - Ancestor Trouble
Dr. Mary M. Marshall's focus is on the African American Family and Women's History.
Mission: Genealogy | Substack
On Saturdays, look for GenStack, a weekly roundup of that week’s posts on family history. On Sundays, look for my Genealogy Matters newsletter about building organized research records, and preserving family history. All from Robin Stewart, founder o...
Genealogy Matters | Robin Stewart | Substack
Tracie Boyle offers a blend of her personal family history research, insights from the field of investigative genetic genealogy, and useful tips, resources, and news for fellow genealogy enthusiasts.
Boyle Genealogy | Tracie Boyle | Substack
Barbara offers the Projectkin community, and her goal is to encourage families to share their stories—in ANY form. An untold story is a story lost (I'll vouch for that!).
Projectkin Community Forum | Barbara at Projectkin | Substack
Carole McCullock offers a safe space for learning, practicing, and implementing AI tools and becoming a NextGenGenealogist. I love this perspective, as I've used AI a lot to gather information about Virginia's history and migration patterns. Don't ju...
NextGenGenealogy | Carole McCulloch | Substack
“From using card catalogs and microfilm readers in libraries more than 20 years ago to untangling DNA matches and experimenting with the possibilities of AI today, Nicole [Palsa's] research skills span a wide spectrum of uncovering both analog and di...
Kinfolks | Nicole Palsa | Substack
Ethnic Genealogical Sites and Societies.
Native American? African? Jewish? No matter what you find in your tree, there are organizations and site to help you find your way. This list is just a smatter. Tell me more!
This site provides sources for birth records, death records, marriage records, census records, tax records, church records, court records, military records, historical newspapers, cemeteries, and ethnic records, and the list goes on…but their special...
AccessGenealogy - Free Genealogy
The Smithsonian-sponsored National Museum of African American History & Culture features a website where you can learn about the basics of African American genealogy. You must visit the museum to register for a genealogy session, view our latest ...
Robert Frederick Smith Explore Your Family History Center
To determine if you are eligible for membership in a federally recognized tribe, you must contact the tribe, or tribes, you claim ancestry from. It is the individual tribes who set tribal enrollment requirements. Additional information on tracing Ame...
Trace Indian Ancestry | U.S. Department of the Interior
The International Association of Jewish Genealogical Societies (IAJGS) is an independent non-profit 501(c)(3) umbrella organization coordinating the activities and annual conference of more than 90 national and local Jewish genealogical societies aro...
IAJGS - IAJGS
The USCIS Genealogy Program is a fee-for-service program that provides researchers with timely access to historical immigration and naturalization records of deceased immigrants. I haven't used this site yet, as most of my ancestors were Virginia col...
Genealogy | USCIS
This site offers databases on families of Northern Mexico, South Texas, California, and New Mexico. At the bottom of this link's page, they also provide resources for land records and other Hispanic or Spanish societies. Some of the links are broken,...
Hispanic Genealogical Society
Irish Genealogical Society International's mission is to provide genealogical education and assistance to its members and to assist the community at large discover Irish history, culture and heritage. Plenty of Irish history, news, and connections fo...
Welcome to the Irish Genealogical Society International website!
Do you think your ancestor might have been an Orphan Train Rider (OTR)? maintains a thriving Orphan Train Rider database that contains collected information on 8,000+ children who rode the orphan trains. This information was either given by the OTRs ...
NOTC Research
The Italian Genealogical Group (IGG) is a not for profit organization that was established in 1993 to provide support for those interested in researching their Italian ancestry. This is one ethnicity I do NOT have, so I know little about this group. ...
POINT: Pursuing Our Italian Names Together (1987-2013)
A non-profit genealogical and historical organization dedicated to French Canadian research. They help with research from the 1600s forward, putting your French ancestors on the colonial map!
American-French Genealogical Society
This organization was founded in 1976 and welcomes as members any person of Belgian descent interested in genealogy, Belgian history, biography or heraldry, either amateur or professional. It appears they are beginning to move their resources, so kee...
welcome to the belgian researchers
This organization seems very active. They offer help with research and connections with families from the Czech and Slovak ancestral lands. Czechoslovak Genealogical Society International (CGSI) focuses on the areas of present-day Czech Republic and ...
Czechoslovak Genealogical Society International
Don't think you belong here? hahaha – think again. Germanic ancestry covers a broad swath of Europe, and the migration patterns are pervasive in other countries. We're talking hundreds of years ago as well as recent migrations. Learn more about the s...
The Germanic Genealogy Society
Speaking of Germanic ancestry, check out this site. The Palatines to America German Genealogy Society might interest quite a few researchers in Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Virginia. If you know a bit about the Palatines' history and ancestry, you mig...
Palatines to America - Home
If you don't know about Huguenots, you're about to learn. Huguenots were French Protestants who were active in the 16th and 17th centuries. Forced to flee France due to religious and political persecution by the Catholic Church and the Crown, many se...
The Huguenot Society of America
The Polish Genealogical Society of America (PGSA), a 501(c)3 tax exempt organization founded on August 23, 1978, and headquartered in Chicago, exists to collect, organize, preserve and disseminate information on Polish and Polish-American family hist...
Home - Polish Genealogical Society of America
There are people all over the world with ancestral roots, affinity or connections to Scotland - and thanks to the internet, it's never been easier for Scots to trace their roots back to the glen or village where they began. Since I am about 45% Scott...
Explore your Scottish heritage | Scotland's People
One more for the Scots, as I need it. This site holds links to old records, historical data, and much more.
Scottish genealogy records
Grow your tree, get notified of new collections, and connect with others passionate about exploring their Chinese heritage. You can join for free!
My China Roots – Trace Your Ancestry in China
Parish records, census records, military records and historical newspapers. If you have a Welsh background, this site is a valuable resource for your research. I'm 25% Welsh, and I didn't know until DNA. I didn't know my paternal grandmother spoke We...
Welsh Ancestry - Online Welsh genealogy records
What a hugely useful and beautiful site for individuals who are researching their Japanese roots. This organization is a member of Association of Professional Genealogists, and they offer services such as family registers, places of origin, connectio...
Global Path to Japan We are Japanese Genealogists｜Japan Genealogy