The Best Free Resources For Genealogy Research

I want to find my ancestors for free, don't YOU? Not surprisingly, the Internet is an excellent free resource for locating reference documents for your genealogy research. The Web has always been a virtual data gold mine. You can save quite a bit of time and money by conducting much of your research on the Internet.

Up to a point, you can conduct a free ancestor search online. Did you know that there could be other researchers working on YOUR genealogy? Find out by searching for published works on the surnames in your family tree. (Some researchers publish their works on the Internet.) Also look for searchable indexes that may contain references useful in your research.

Another great free resource is a local genealogical or historical society. (Contact the ones in the towns where your ancestors once lived.) A genealogical or historical society keeps the records of local directories, maintains burial records (even in inactive burial spots), and newspaper archives. Remember that these organizations are usually run by volunteers, so BE NICE when you request help from them!

During the nineteenth century, the U.S. and Europe held the tradition of sharing printed funeral (or mourning) cards. These are great resources for genealogists! Check online for websites that contain indexes of these cards, and search for the surnames that you need. You might be surprised at the amount of useful information on these little paper gems! Funeral cards often provide just enough information to point you in the right direction in your research.

Newspapers usually contain valuable information about people who lived long ago. An online newspaper archive is a searchable website that replaces microfilm reels full of old newspapers. When you search online newspaper archives, it's best if you have SOME information about your ancestors, such as a date or a particular event. (You may still be able to find newspaper archives on microfilm at a local library branch. Call your local library to inquire, or check its website. There is usually a nominal fee to print out the results of your research.)

Indexed census records are another useful research tool. Many of these records are available for free on the Internet. Some birth, marriage and death records are also available online. (Note that only OLD records are free. Recent records often require a fee.)

Make use of the various free genealogy research tools that can help you put leaves on your family tree.

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