Best of the Web: History & Social Sciences » Genealogy

A site with specialized resources, links, and message boards dedicated to the particular challenges of researching African-American ancestors.

Fred J. Reynolds Historical Genealogy Department, one of the largest genealogical collections in the county.

Available online at the branch libraries of NYPL (NOT available through NYPL for home use). Large collection of family history data online. Includes records about census, vital statistics, church, military, court, land, probate, immigration, and naturalization for Staten Island and elsewhere.

Includes directory of professional genealogists for hire.

Includes links to books, cemeteries, churches, family history centers, microfilm records, newspapers, vital records, and more.

This website reflects the integration of genealogical content from the National Archives of Canada, the National Library of Canada, and the Canadian Genealogy Centre.

Database of more than 10 million immigrants who arrived at the Port of New York from 1830 through 1892.

Directory of cemeteries within the United States (over 20.000) family cemeteries (over 16,000) and those of Australia (over 300). Search by cemetery or family name.

NOTE: The Genealogy Institute administers a microfilm loan agreement with the Salt Lake City Family History Library, so family researchers can order microfilmed international vital records through the Institute and study the films at the Center.

Online collection of databases comprised of the Morton Allan Directory of European Passenger Steamship Arrivals, National Archives microfilm publications, and other sources. This is not adatabase of passenger names but of ships.

Statewide historic newspaper database

This collection offers access to primary materials documenting nearly a century of investigation, arrest, judgment and incarceration of many famous and unknown criminals in New York City. Materials have been gathered from the Lloyd Sealy Library's Special Collections at John Jay College and includes photographs and trial transcripts.

An extensive list of links that point you to genealogical research sites on the Internet.

Digital Gallery provides access to over 337,000 images digitized from primary sources and printed rarities in the collections of The New York Public Library, including illuminated manuscripts, historical maps, vintage posters, rare prints and photographs,

Contains facsimile copies of the enumeration forms used in the decennial census of the United States from 1850 through 2000.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints runs the Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah. The FHL has the largest collection of genealogical records in the world. The library is open to the public and access to most of the microfilm resources are available through their network of Family History Centers located around the world.

Search all British Overseas Births, Deaths & Marriages, from 1761 to the present.

Produced by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS), this site provides access to family history information including transcriptions of 1880 U.S. and British Censuses and the 1881 Canadian Census.

One of the most popular genealogy websites in the U.K., this commercial service provides indexes of births, marriages and deaths for England and Wales from 1837 to 2005.

Searchable images of millions of historical documents many from the National Archives. Searching the index is free but to view you can either pay by member subscription or a per download basis. Includes Naturalization Records, Southern Claims Commission, Investigative Case Files of the Bureau of Investigation, 1908-22, etc.

The "first African-American owned and operated newspaper published in the United States. The Journal was published weekly in New York City from 1827 to 1829. All 103 issues have been digitized and placed into Adobe Acrobat format."

This company designs, develops and markets genealogy software applications and online resources.

A searchable collection of genealogical material such as obituaries, military records, newspapers and social security records. Searching is free but to view most results requires a subscription.

Searchable issues of 3 important historic Georgia newspapers, the Cherokee Phoenix, the Dublin Post, and the Colored Tribune.

Search through the archives of newspapers, magazines and other publications and uncover material that in some cases dates back more than 200 years.

First full-scale valuation of property in Ireland published between 1847 and 1864. It allows researchers to locate 'occupants' to see who lived where.

Links to genealogical and historical online research resources.

Statewide historic newspaper database

Do it yourself - How-to Guide

The 88 volumes of this work, [available at the New York Public Library Milstein Division of U.S. History, Local History & Genealogy Call Number (S) APY (Garcia Caraffa)], lists of over 15,000 names with their respective genealogical histories (with color illustrations of representative crests) of Spanish and Spanish-American families.

An updated guide on searching for obituaries.