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kdmorris

(5,649 posts)
Wed Dec 14, 2011, 06:50 AM Dec 2011

Some links to get you started

This discussion thread is pinned.

Last edited Fri Mar 2, 2012, 08:28 PM - Edit history (3)

Free sites:

http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/ (Rootsweb World Connect Site)

http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/ (Rootsweb Home Page)

https://www.familysearch.org/

http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi

http://www.censusdiggins.com/freebies.html (a set of links that are purported to be free)

http://freebmd.org.uk/ (UK sources)

Others:
http://www.archives.gov/ (To order records from NARA)

http://www.sampubco.com/ (ordered a will from them that broke down a wall. Very limited, but still useful)

http://www.ancestry.com/ (free for basic stuff. I have a subscription, so let me know if you need a lookup)

Old Ancestry/Genealogy Group at DU2: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topics&forum=331

Free PDF versions of Family History books: http://books.familysearch.org/primo_library/libweb/action/search.do?vid=FHD_PUBLIC (thanks Rosie!)

16 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies
Some links to get you started (Original Post) kdmorris Dec 2011 OP
Don't forget this one shraby Dec 2011 #1
That's a good one. n/t kdmorris Dec 2011 #2
Here's another free site shraby Dec 2011 #7
I think it's the brackets... URL correction Montauk6 Mar 2021 #16
URL Correction Montauk6 Mar 2021 #15
K&R - great resource -thanks. NRaleighLiberal Dec 2011 #3
Thank you JackCo Dec 2011 #4
Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers CBHagman Dec 2011 #5
WOW! Thank you kdmorris Dec 2011 #6
Tools to help in finding records dragonlady Dec 2011 #8
Thanks, Dragonlady... kdmorris Dec 2011 #9
Another free site that has been around forever Digit Dec 2011 #10
Some from my Bookmarks List Rosie1223 Dec 2011 #11
another one for old newspapers CountAllVotes Jan 2012 #12
For European (and some American) HeiressofBickworth May 2014 #13
Message auto-removed Name removed Feb 2016 #14

NRaleighLiberal

(60,439 posts)
3. K&R - great resource -thanks.
Wed Dec 14, 2011, 11:23 AM
Dec 2011

I will be sure to use this when I decide to reactivate my Ancestry account - due to job loss, suspended for a bit, but got lots done (needed the International part - traced family to Canada, then France and England, also Scotland).

JackCo

(116 posts)
4. Thank you
Wed Dec 14, 2011, 01:37 PM
Dec 2011

After my ancestry subscription ran out last year I've taken some time off...walls ugh. Now I'm digging again but w/o the sub till finances get better. I had never been aware of a few links so am grateful to have those.

I did have one awesome find. I have a wall with my 3ggf John Clark Gorham but was at findagrave last week when I found his grave listed. I was excited to see a photo posted also...at least I know the "Gorham" nose goes back quite a few years. This led to his wife's grave and photo also.

Happy Hunting

CBHagman

(17,124 posts)
5. Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers
Thu Dec 15, 2011, 09:30 AM
Dec 2011

Do not miss the Library of Congress's online searchable database of various American newspapers. You can view the actual source (Zoom on in!) and all without leaving the house.

http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/

I found multiple references to my great-grandparents in the Scranton newspapers. It made a change from going up to Capitol Hill and breaking out the microfilm.

dragonlady

(3,577 posts)
8. Tools to help in finding records
Sat Dec 17, 2011, 05:59 PM
Dec 2011

This site makes it easier to find your ancestors on passenger lists, census records, and many other sources.

http://stevemorse.org/

Digit

(6,163 posts)
10. Another free site that has been around forever
Sun Dec 18, 2011, 12:12 AM
Dec 2011

It is called Genforum and you can search by surname, state, or county.

I have found others on here also searching my line, so it is entirely possibly you may also find distant relatives.

http://genforum.genealogy.com/

Rosie1223

(2,013 posts)
11. Some from my Bookmarks List
Mon Dec 19, 2011, 10:33 AM
Dec 2011

Footnote/Fold3 (Some free, some require subscription)
http://www.fold3.com/?img=2&kbid=1051

Bureau of Land Management
http://www.glorecords.blm.gov/

Civil War Soldiers and Sailors
http://www.itd.nps.gov/cwss/index.html

World Connect -- Uploaded Family Trees (use unsourced material at your own risk!)
http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi

DAR Database Search
http://services.dar.org/Public/DAR_Research/search/?Tab_ID=1

Digital books
http://www.archive.org/
Also check E-Books from Google. Some old county histories are digitized and can be viewed for free

CountAllVotes

(21,032 posts)
12. another one for old newspapers
Fri Jan 20, 2012, 10:17 AM
Jan 2012
http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/

Found the obit. on my late uncle, the fox terrier breeder in San Francisco listed in the old San Francisco Call which can be found (in part) on line here.

Thank you for posting these other links!

HeiressofBickworth

(2,682 posts)
13. For European (and some American)
Thu May 1, 2014, 07:22 PM
May 2014

www.ourfamilytree.org (formerly www.gurganus.org). I particularly like it because, unlike some other sites, it lists an individual only once. Contributors collaborate on sourcing data and conclude which data is more likely accurate. Most other sites will post information even when it is grossly inaccurate (like a parent being born after their child -- I've seen this more than once).

For Scottish research, try the government site: Scotlandspeople.gov.uk. It costs nothing to look at the index but if you want to see the document, you need to sign up and purchase credits. As you download documents, credits are subtracted from your account.

Other sites for contributor-furnished information:

www.mocavo.com -- also has original documents
www.mundia.com

Response to kdmorris (Original post)

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