Top 4 Free Resources for Genealogists

There are so many websites and resources out there for genealogists but there are only a few that I use on an almost weekly basis and what makes these sites/resources even better is that they are 100% free!!

FamilySearch Wiki– This is my very first stop when I begin any research project. I go here to get a lay of the land. It is where I can learn what records are available for a location and how to access them. With over 97,000 published articles, you are sure to find something to help you in your research.

My Local Family History Center (FHC) – Now I love my local not just because it is so close but because I can access a lot of the records from the Family History Catalog that are restricted. You might know what I am talking about, you know when you see the key over that camera on that one film you want to see. Well, nine out of ten times you can access it at a FHC. I also love my local FHC because they provide me access to premium websites such as Newspapers.com for FREE. Does it get any better than that? Here’s how to find your nearest FHC https://www.familysearch.org/wiki/en/Introduction_to_Family_History_Centers

US GenWeb Project– This is a massive website that is dedicated to proving FREE genealogical resources to researchers and it’s totally volunteer-based. This is a great place to find records and indexes that are not on the major family history websites. Every state has its own website and nearly every county then has its own website as well. So, it allows researchers access to very specific records and messages boards for the area they are researching in. If you have not visited their website before, plan to do so soon. You might be surprised at what you find.

Internet Archive– My go-to place to find out of copyright books such as those amazing county histories that we are all so fond of. But what I love more is their Way Back Machine! This is what I use when I come across one of those dreaded dead links that used to lead some genealogy gold. Well with the Way Back Machine I can take that URL and go back in time to say 2019 (remember those good old days??) and see just what that website looked like on a specific day in the past. It’s like magic and l love it.

So now that I have shared a few of my favorite websites and resources for genealogists and family historians, I’d love to hear about some of your favorites? Drop a line in the comment section and I will add them to a future post about my reader’s favorites.