PATTERSON-L Archives

From: <>
Subject: [PATTERSON-L] genealogy sources
Date: Tue, 28 Sep 1999 12:47:46 EDT

This is a reprint of an article that one of my newsletters sent me.

June 1999
INTERNET RESOURCES

Genealogy
Finding roots on the Web
by Thomas Jay Kemp

Without a doubt, we live in exciting times. The Internet is expanding our
virtual collections and allowing us to offer service we never could before.
In particular, the Internet is providing practical reference tools for
genealogical research from around the world.

Now every librarian can provide valuable reference assistance no matter how
large his or her genealogical collection is. From full-text books, documents,
and journals to massive indexes like the Social Security Death File Index, we
can instantly provide current, accurate information for beginning or
experienced genealogists.

The growing number of discussion groups also provide a painless way for
librarians to improve their awareness of genealogical reference sources and
gives us a quick way to reach out to colleagues when we are stuck on a
research question.

This column gives you the key resources, discussion groups, and Web sites for
helping students and researchers interested in documenting their family
trees.

Discussion groups and mail lists
Ancestry Daily News. This free newsletter will quickly keep you up-to-date
with feature stories, columns, and tips. Access:
http://ancestry.com/whatsnew.htm.

Archives. This mail list, popular with archivists and librarians, is heavily
used to keep colleagues informed about archival issues, news, and
collections. If it is too much traffic for you, you can always read the
messages online. Access: http://listserv.muohio.edu/archives/archives.html.

Eastman's Online Genealogy Newsletter. This weekly e-newsletter is essential
reading by all genealogical librarians. Current information, trends, and
reviews of reference materials make it a valued resource. Access:
http://ancestry.com/columns/eastman/eastnew.htm.

GENEALIB. The discussion group sponsored by “Librarians Serving Genealogists”
is an essential tool for librarians wanting quick advice from other
genealogical librarians. Access:
http://www.cas.usf.edu/lis/genealib/list.html.

Family History Newsline. Sponsored by Everton Publishers, this site has a
daily (five days per week) genealogical tip that librarians will find useful.
Each day one online resource, upcoming conference, or similar item is
featured. Access: http://www.everton.com/FHN/index2.html.

H-Local. Part of H-Net, H-Local encourages the discussion of local history
topics by librarians, historical society, and museum personnel. Access:
http://www.h-net.msu.edu/~local/.

Several states have discussion groups specifically for their respective
state's local history and genealogy. For example in California there is:
H-California. This discussion group concentrates on California history.
Access: http://www.h-net.msu.edu/~cal/.

NORCAL (California) Genealogy Index. NORCAL focuses on genealogical research
in California. Access: http://homepages.rootsweb.com/~yvonne/NORCAL%20index/.


Hubsites
Cyndi’s List. The mega-hubsite of the genealogical world. Cyndi Howells has
brought together every possible site of interest to genealogists. Access:
http://www.cyndislist.com.

USGenWeb Project. Easy to use, librarians will find this a quick way to
orient their patrons to the genealogical resources available for a given
state, county, or city. Access: http://www.usgenweb.org/.

Journals
Journal of Online Genealogy. This important title includes excellent articles
and reviews. Timely and easy to use, it is a quick way to keep informed.
Access: http://www.onlinegenealogy.com/.

Key genealogical libraries
Family History Library. The largest genealogical society in the world. You
can access their card catalog and key databases online. If you only go to one
site, this is it. It is packed with information, indexes, and practical
tools. Included is the complete SourceGuide™ with hundreds of finding aids
and research papers. Access: http://www.familysearch.org.

New England Historic Genealogical Society. The oldest genealogical society
and library in the country. This important Web site includes online
newsletters, access to databases, and resources. Their online catalog
includes “cataloged” Web sites that librarians will want to know about and
that genealogists will actually want to use. Access: http://www.nehgs.org/.

Allen County Library. One of the largest genealogical collections in the
country. Genealogists from around the country regularly go on organized trips
to the Allen County Library. Access:
http://www.acpl.lib.in.us/genealogy/genealogy.html.

Library of Congress, Genealogy Department. The Library of Congress Web site
includes key finding aids as well as database indexes for genealogists.
Access: http://lcweb.loc.gov/rr/genealogy/.

National Archives and Records Administration, Genealogy Page. This
outstanding site is packed with genealogical tips, guides, and practical
information for obtaining federal records (census, military, passenger lists,
etc.) as well as indexes like the Index to all Veterans Who Died in the
Korean War, which is searchable by name or by state. Access:
http://WWW.NARA.Gov/genealogy/genindex.html.

New York Public Library (NYPL), Genealogical Research. You can learn about
the important genealogical resources of the NYPL at this site. Be sure to
also see their online guide to biographical sources at
http://www.nypl.org/research/chss/grd/resguides/biog.
html
and obituaries at http://www.nypl.org/research/chss/grd/resguides/obit.html.
Access: http://www.nypl.org/research/chss/lhg/genea.
html#contact.

Newberry Library. One of the prominent genealogical collections in the
country, this Web site includes useful guides on ethnic groups and state and
local history not easily found elsewhere. Access: http://www.newberry.org.

Key reference tools online
Adoption Sources. The National Adoption Information Clearinghouse will assist
genealogists seeking modern vital records and gives current information on
state laws and procedures. Access:
http://www.calib.com/naic/adptsear/search/index.htm.

Afro-American Sources in Virginia, A Guide to Manuscripts. This
groundbreak-ing electronic resource opens up these manuscript collections
that would otherwise be difficult to locate and use. Access:
http://rock.village.virginia.edu/plunkett/mfp.html.

Biographical Directory of the United States Congress. There are a growing
number of full-text sources on the Web. This longtime standard reference tool
can be easily searched online. Access: http://bioguide.congress.gov/.

Chinese Immigration and Chinese in the United States. This well-done National
Archives finding aid will be a good starting point for Chinese-American
researchers. Access: http://www.nara.gov/regional/findaids/chirip.html.

Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System. This National Park Service site
includes a database of more than 230,000 African- American troops who served
in the Civil War. Access: http://www.itd.nps.gov/cwss/usct.html.

Genealogical Materials in the New Orleans Public Library. This well-done
guide, now in its fourth edition, is available in print and full-text on
their Web site. A good example of using the Web to clearly teach patrons what
resources a library holds and how to use them. Access:
http://www.gnofn.org/~nopl/guides/genguide/ggcover.
htm.

Guide to African-American Documentary Resources in North Carolina. Everything
you wanted to know about manuscript sources for African Americans in North
Carolina. Access: http://www.upress.virginia.edu/epub/pyatt/index.html.

Louisa’s World. This well-done site brings together an original manuscript
diary with links to the supporting documents. A great example of how the Web
will allow librarians to make their collections more accessible. Louisa
Collins was a Nova Scotia farm girl who wrote the diary in 1815. Access:
http://www3.ns.sympatico.ca/dmcclare/TITLE.HTM.

National Portrait Gallery. The Catalog of American Portraits is an excellent
reference tool. Genealogists are pleasantly surprised to find that there is
an extant painting or other artistic rendering of a relative. An excellent
tool searchable by artist or by sitter. Access: http://portraits.npg.si.edu/.

Social Security Death Index. The Social Security Death File Index is a basic
source for assisting genealogists. Searches can be limited by city, county,
or state and even modified by birth year, month, or day. Useful for beginning
or advanced researchers. Access: http://www.ancestry.com/ssdi/advanced.htm.

World Biographical Index. Sponsored by G. K. Saur, this site indexes more
than 2 million biographical sketches from around the world. A handy source.
Access: http://www.biblio.tu-bs.de/acwww25u/wbi_en/.

Forms
Census, Blank Forms. Family Tree Maker provides blank census forms that can
be downloaded as needed. Handy for showing genealogists what they can expect
to find in census records from 1790 to 1920. Access:
http://www.familytreemaker.com/00000061.html.

PBS Ancestors Series. This excellent site provides straightforward
instruction on beginning genealogical research as well as GIF and PDF files
of the key genealogical charts and forms. Access:
http://www2.kbyu.byu.edu/ancestors/.

Preservation tips
Library of Congress. Local history and genealogy librarians are often asked
for information on preserving family papers and records. The “Frequently
Asked Questions on Preservation of Books and Materials” page at the Library
of Congress has the answers. Access:
http://lcweb.loc.gov/preserv/presfaq.html

Conservation OnLine, Resources for Conservation Professionals. This site at
Stanford University contains everything you need to know about conservation
issues from mold to emergency planning. It is an essential and easy-to-use
site. Access: http://palimpsest.stanford.edu/.

Eastman Kodak House. If you are looking for ways to preserve family
photographs and albums, this site will explain what resources are available
and what your realistic options are. Access:
http://www.eastman.org/4_educ/4_prsrv.html.

International sites
There are excellent genealogical Web sites for information from around the
world. Librarians may now provide practical genealogical reference service
for researchers from all 50 states and around the world regardless of the
size of their in-house genealogical collection.
Australian Family History Compendium. This excellent site is your gateway to
the basic repositories and resources for Australian genealogical research.
Access: http://www.cohsoft.com.au/afhc/.

Canadian Genealogy & History. Organized by province, this handy site will
quickly open up Canadian online reference tools and point the way for further
research. Be sure to see the 1871 census index for Ontario, a model for
others to follow at http://www.archives.ca/db/1871/Introduction.html. Access:
http://www.islandnet.com/~jveinot/cghl/cghl.html.

Federation of East European Family History Societies. This online research
guide and reference tool will let you assist genealogists wanting to search
Eastern Europe, from Armenia to the Ukraine. This authoritative site should
be bookmarked by all genealogical librarians. Access: http://feefhs.org/.

GENUKI, UK & Ireland Genealogical Information Service. This hubsite for
accessing records in the British Isles is a quick tool for getting your
patron to the resources they need for his or her particular city or region.
Access: http://www.genuki.org.uk/.

National Archives of Ireland. The Archives Web site has background material
for learning more about and using Irish genealogical records. Access:
http://www.nationalarchives.ie/.

Northern Ireland, General Register Office. The Register Office site in
Belfast provides similar information for Irish records in that part of
Ireland. Access: http://www.nics.gov.uk/nisra/gro/.

JewishGen. As its subtitle states, it is the home of Jewish genealogy. This
megasite contains databases, thorough guides, links, and tips that provide
your patrons with reliable information. An essential site. Access:
http://www.jewishgen.org/.

PRO, United Kingdom. The Public Records Office in London is one of the key
British repositories for genealogical research. This excellent site contains
many of their Research Leaflets (full-text) and other practical reference
tools. Access: http://www.pro.gov.uk/.

Scotland, General Register Office. The GRO provides pay-per-view access to
their vital records indexes and other databases. This enormous file will be
popular with genealogists. Access: http://www.origins.net/GRO/.

Other useful resources
Maps. This Lycos site is a great way to quickly provide your patron with a
map to a local site. Access: http://www.proximus.com/lycos/index.html.

Newspapers.
The Newspaper Association of America provides an easy-to-follow site for
checking obituaries and articles in local newspapers. Access:
http://www.naa.org/hotlinks/index.asp.

Switchboard.com is a good source for quickly finding specific individuals or
linking to others of a given surname. Access: http://www.switchboard.com/.

About the author
Thomas Jay Kemp, author of Virtual Roots: A Guide to Genealogy and Local
History on the World Wide Web, lives in Norwood Massachusetts.

"Internet Resources" authors needed
If you'd like to submit a topic for the "Internet Resources" column, please
send your topic and a brief description of your expertise in this area to
Mary Ellen Davis, editor-in-chief, at .







Copyright © 1999 by American Library Association.

This thread:

• [PATTERSON-L] genealogy sources by <>