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Best of the Web: History & Social Sciences » Genealogy
Genealogy Search
A selection of links to internet resources, primary and secondary materials, useful in genealogy and family history research.
- African American Genealogy Resources
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African American Lives (PBS Program)
Companion website to the PBS African American genealogy television series
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Afrigeneas.com
A site with specialized resources, links, and message boards dedicated to the particular challenges of researching African-American ancestors.
- All States Index to Vital Records Information
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Allen County Public Library (Fort Wayne, Indiana)
Fred J. Reynolds Historical Genealogy Department, one of the largest genealogical collections in the county.
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Ancestors: Beginning Your Research
Companion website to the PBS family history and genealogy television series
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Ancestry Library Edition at NYPL
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.
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Ancestry.com
A searchable collection of family history records such as U.S. Federal Census records. Also includes free family tree software, downloadable charts and forms, message boards and research tips. Searching is free but to view most results requires a subscription. Free access to Ancestry Library Edition is available on-site at all New York Public Library locations.
- Ancestry.com Learning Center
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Applying for a NYC Birth Certificate
Information on requesting birth certificates as well as how to make corrections to these documents.
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Association of Professional Genealogists
Includes directory of professional genealogists for hire.
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Board for Certification of Genealogists
Includes directory of professional genealogists for hire.
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Bronx Borough: U.S. GenWeb Project
Includes links to books, cemeteries, churches, family history centers, microfilm records, newspapers, vital records, and more.
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Brooklyn Daily Eagle Online
Developed by the Brooklyn Public Library, this free database provides access to the full-text of the Eagle from 1841 to 1902.
- Brooklyn Genealogy Information Page
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California Digital Newspaper Collection
The searchable database provides online access to The San Francisco Call (1900-1910), and The Daily Alta California (1846-1891). The Amador Ledger (1900-1910), Imperial Valley News (1900-1910), and 3 years of the Los Angeles Herald coming soon.
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Canadian Genealogy Centre
This website reflects the integration of genealogical content from the National Archives of Canada, the National Library of Canada, and the Canadian Genealogy Centre.
- Canadian Immigrant Experience
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Castle Garden Immigration Center, 1820-1892
Database of more than 10 million immigrants who arrived at the Port of New York from 1830 through 1892.
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Cemeteries of Richmond County
Staten Island cemetery lists and links to other local genealogical resources.
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Cemetery Junction Directory
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.
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Census Online
Links to online Census Records, U.S. and Canadian.
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Center for Jewish History Genealogy Institute
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.
- Christine's Genealogy Website: African American Genealogy
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Cimorelli Immigration Manifests Online
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.
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College of Physicians & Surgeons Obituary Database (Columbia University Medical Center)
At present the database includes obituaries dating from 1911 to 2003 and is updated quarterly. The earliest class is 1850.
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Colorado's Historic Newspaper Collection
Statewide historic newspaper database
- Creative Genealogy
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Crime in New York 1850-1950
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.
- Cyndi's List How-to, Tutorials & Guides
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Cyndi's List of Genealogy Sites on the Internet
An extensive list of links that point you to genealogical research sites on the Internet.
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DAR's Genealogical Records Committee National Index
Indexes genealogical records collected by the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) members. Complete set housed at the DAR Library and is available for purchase. NYPL has the complete set for New York.
- Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) Library
- Daughters of the American Revolution National Society
- DearMYRTLE's Genealogy Blog
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Death Indexes and Records for the USA
Directory of online death indexes listed by state, including death certificate indexes, obituaries, cemetery burials & probate records.
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Digital Gallery (NYPL)
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,
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Digitalarkivet [Digital Archives]: National Archives of Norway
Provides archival resources for tracing your Norwegian heritage. In English and Norwegian.
- Directory of State Archives
- Directory of State Libraries
- Downloadable Genealogy Charts and Forms
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Early Settlers of Spanish and Mexican Land Grants (ESSMLG)
This is the first national lineage society that recognizes and preserves the contributions of the Spanish/Latino culture in the early settlement of the United States.
- Eastman's Online Genealogy Newsletter
- Ellis Island Passenger Arrivals: American Family Immigration History Center
- Emigration & Immigration Records & Links
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Encyclopedia of Genealogy
Provides reference information about everything in genealogy except people.
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Enumeration Forms
Contains facsimile copies of the enumeration forms used in the decennial census of the United States from 1850 through 2000.
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ePodunk
Provides in-depth information about more than 46,000 cities, villages, and towns around the U.S.A. Also includes geocoded information about thousands of parks, museums, historic sites, colleges, schools and other places across America.
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Family History Library
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.
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Family Records.gov (United Kingdom)
Aims to help you find government records and other sources you need for your family history research.
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FamilyRelatives.com (British)
Search all British Overseas Births, Deaths & Marriages, from 1761 to the present.
- FamilySearch Internet Genealogy Service
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FamilySearch.org: Family History & Genealogy Records
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.
- Federation of Genealogical Societies
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FindMyPast.com (England & Wales)
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.
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Findmypast.com (United Kingdom)
One of the most popular genealogy websites in the U.K., this commercial service provides birth, marriage, death, military, census, and migration records including indexes of births, marriages and deaths for England and Wales from 1837 to 2004.
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Footnote.com
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.
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Free Family History Software
Available through the FamilySearch Website. Link at the bottom right.
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Freedom's Journal
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."
- Genea-Musings
- Genealogical Repositories In The New York Metropolitan Region
- Genealogical Research at The New York Public Library
- Genealogical Resources at the National Archives
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Genealogy & Family History Internet Web Directory
Scholarly Family History Mega Site of Internet Resources
- Genealogy Blogs and Newsletters Directory
- Genealogy Classes (Family Tree Maker)
- Genealogy Insider
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Genealogy Resources, by State: USA.gov
Information about genealogical records available at state archives.
- Genealogy Software Reviews, Ratings & Comparisons
- Genealogy Today.com
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Genealogy.com
This company designs, develops and markets genealogy software applications and online resources.
- Genealogy.com: Genealogy Learning Center
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GenealogyBank.com
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.
- GenealogyBlog
- GenealogyBlog: Family History News
- General Register Office for Scotland
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Georgia Historic Newspapers
Searchable issues of 3 important historic Georgia newspapers, the Cherokee Phoenix, the Dublin Post, and the Colored Tribune.
- Getting Started in Genealogy: a guide from Allen County Public Library
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Google News Archive Search
Search through the archives of newspapers, magazines and other publications and uncover material that in some cases dates back more than 200 years.
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Green-Wood Cemetery (Brooklyn)
Green-Wood Cemetery was founded in 1838 as a rural cemetery in Brooklyn, New York. It was the place most famous New Yorkers who died during the second half of the 19th century were buried. Look for the search form under Burial Inquiry.
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Griffiths Valuation
First full-scale valuation of property in Ireland published between 1847 and 1864. It allows researchers to locate 'occupants' to see who lived where.
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Hayes Obituary Index (Ohio)
An index to over 800,000 obituaries, death & marriage notices from Ohio from the 1830s to the present day.
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Helm's Genealogy Toolbox
Links to genealogical and historical online research resources.
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HeritageQuest.com
A searchable collection of family history records such as U.S. Federal Census records. Searching is free but to view most results requires a subscription. Free access to HeritageQuest is available on-site at New York Public Librarys Milstein Division of U.S. History, Local History & Genealogy.
- Hispanic Genealogical Society of New York
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Hispanic Genealogy Center
a Hispanic Genealogical Society of New York Website
- Hispanic Society of America
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Historical Directories (England)
A digital library of local and trade directories from England and Wales from 1750-1919.
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Historical Newspapers in Washington (State)
Statewide historic newspaper database
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Histories Blog
The New York Public Library's blog on U.S. and New York history and genealogy.
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History Detectives - Genealogy (PBS)
Do it yourself - How-to Guide
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Hoffman and Swinburne Island and Seaman's Retreat records
Tracing genealogical records from the public hospitals on Staten Island and Hoffman and Swinburne Islands.
- How do I begin?
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Immigrant Ancestors Project
Sponsored by the Center for Family History & Genealogy at Brigham Young University, this database uses emigration registers to locate information about immigrants in their native countries. Work in progress.
- Immigrant Servants Database
- Index of Online U.S. State and Local Historical & Genealogical Societies
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Index to the Enciclopedia Heraldica Hispano-Americana (Garcia Carraffa)
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.
- Interment.net: Cemetery Transcription Library
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Internet Public Library Finding Obituaries
An updated guide on searching for obituaries.
- Jewish Genealogical Society

