Genealogical Queries

The following are some of the powerful tools for finding records, family trees, and historical documents and photographs:

• Ancestry.com – Largest genealogy site with census data, military records, immigration documents, and more (paid, but has free trials).  They also have an extensive DNA testing service.
• FamilySearch.org – Free and run by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, with an extensive global database of historical records and a global family tree.
• MyHeritage.com – Great for building family trees and DNA testing.
• FindMyPast.com – The largest collection of British and Irish records.
• Geni.com – Collaborative world family tree platform.
• WikiTree.com – Free community-driven world family tree.

See also the National Genealogical Society's "NGS Recommends... Eighteen Important Free Websites for Genealogical Research" page for more resources.

Formal archives are a treasure-trove of information:

• U.S. National Archives (NARA) – Maintained by the U.S. Federal government, NARA houses millions of microfilmed, printed, and manuscript records. Excellent for census records; governmental and military history records; military pension files; product patents; also passenger lists, early naturalization records, and much more. (NGS)
• Library of Congress – One of the largest collections in the world of printed and recorded materials; outstanding source for free images; resource for all copyrighted materials in America and beyond. LOC maintains collections of nearly all city directories and county histories in the U.S.; houses a comprehensive directory of all known copyrighted newspapers by timeframe and where they can be located today, in the important U.S. Newspaper Directory and Chronicling America; and offers comprehensive historical materials of all kinds. (NGS)
• State and County Archives – Vital records (birth, death, marriage), land deeds, and probate records.
• National Archives of Other Countries (e.g., UK National Archives, Canada’s Library and Archives).

(NGS = Descriptions from the National Genealogical Society website.)

When tracing family history, local resources often provide some of the richest and most authentic records. Unlike national or online collections, these resources are rooted in the community where ancestors lived, worked, and left their legacies. Local repositories often hold unique primary documents that may not be digitized or widely accessible. Examples include:

• County and Municipal Archives – Vital records such as birth, marriage, and death certificates, as well as property deeds, court cases, wills, and probate files.
• Local Libraries and Historical Societies – Family history collections, newspaper archives, city directories, local histories, and genealogical vertical files compiled by community members.
• Churches and Religious Institutions – Baptismal, marriage, and burial registers, along with membership rolls and cemetery maps.
• Cemeteries and Funeral Homes – Headstone inscriptions, burial registers, and funeral service records that often note relationships and causes of death.
• Schools and Local Government Offices – School registers, yearbooks, tax records, and voter registrations that help place families in time and context.
• Community Oral Histories – Interviews, family papers, and memoirs preserved by historical societies or local museums that capture personal narratives.

By exploring these resources, researchers can connect broader genealogical data with the lived experiences of their ancestors, uncovering details that bring family history to life.

Vital records—birth, marriage, and death records—are among the most valuable resources in genealogy. They provide key details about individuals and families, often serving as the backbone for building accurate family trees.

Why Vital Records Matter:

• Birth records usually include names of parents, dates and places of birth, and sometimes additional details like occupations or addresses.

• Marriage records can identify spouses, parents of the couple, witnesses, and locations, offering insight into family networks and migrations.

• Death records may list age, cause of death, burial location, and relatives, which helps confirm family connections and uncover new leads.

Where to Find Vital Records:

• Government Offices – Most modern records are held by local, county, or state civil registration offices.

• Archives and Libraries – Historical vital records may be housed in state archives, church archives, or genealogical libraries.

• Online Databases – Major genealogy websites (like FamilySearch, Ancestry, or Findmypast) have digitized collections, though coverage varies by region and time period.

• Cemeteries and Grave Registries – Such as FindAGrave.com and BillionGraves.com.

• Church Records – Before civil registration became mandatory (dates vary by country), churches often recorded baptisms, marriages, and burials.

• Local Courthouses and Town Halls – In many areas, county clerks or town registrars maintain original or microfilmed records.

Challenges and Considerations:

• Privacy restrictions:  Many jurisdictions restrict access to records less than 50–100 years old.

• Record loss:  Fires, wars, and natural disasters have destroyed records in some areas.

• Accuracy:  Early records may have misspellings, incomplete data, or discrepancies.

By learning where vital records are kept and how to access them, researchers can uncover crucial details about their ancestors’ lives, confirm family relationships, and place their family history into a broader historical context.

Immigration records are among the most informative resources for tracing family history. They document the movements of individuals and families as they left one home and built new lives elsewhere, offering invaluable clues about origins, identities, and family connections.

Why Immigration Records Matter:

• They often provide the first link to an ancestor’s country of origin.
• They can confirm arrival dates, places of departure, and settlement locations.
• Many records list family members traveling together, or relatives waiting at the destination.

Types of Immigration Records:

• Passenger Lists & Ship Manifests – Names, ages, occupations, last residence, and nearest relative.
• Border Crossing Records – Details of land entries, often between neighboring countries.
• Naturalization Papers – Applications and certificates that may include birthplace, immigration date, and family details.
• Alien Registration & Immigration Files – Especially in the 20th century, governments kept more detailed records of immigrants’ lives.

Where to Find Immigration Records:

• National Archives – Such as the U.S. National Archives, Library and Archives Canada, or The National Archives (UK).
• Local Courthouses – Many naturalization records were filed at county or municipal levels.
• Online Databases – Ellis Island (ship passenger search) (family history center), Ancestry, FamilySearch, and other genealogy websites.
• Regional and Ethnic Archives – Some immigrant communities preserved their own membership and migration records.

Considerations When Using Immigration Records:

• Spelling variations – Names were often recorded phonetically or mis-transcribed.
• Changing borders – Ancestors’ countries of origin may be listed under different historical names.
• Incomplete records – Not every arrival was documented, and some records have been lost.

By exploring immigration records, researchers can connect their ancestors’ journeys to broader migration patterns, discover family ties across borders, and trace the roots of their family stories back to their home of origin.

Military records are some of the most informative resources available to genealogists, as they often preserve details not found in other sources. These documents provide insight into an ancestor’s service, but also into their personal lives, families, and communities. They can help confirm identities, trace movements, and connect individuals to the broader historical events of their time.

What You Can Learn from Military Records:

• Service Records – Dates of enlistment and discharge, units served, rank, promotions, and battles or campaigns.
• Draft Registrations – Even if an ancestor never served, draft cards often record full name, date and place of birth, residence, occupation, and physical description.
• Pension Applications – Rich with detail, these may include an ancestor’s birth and marriage information, names of dependents, affidavits from relatives or neighbors, and even medical reports.
• Bounty Land Warrants and Veterans’ Benefits – In some countries, veterans received land or other compensation, leaving additional trails of documentation.
• Grave Registrations and Memorials – Burial records, headstones, and casualty lists can provide service details and confirm family connections.

Where to Find Military Records:

• National Archives
  • United States: The U.S. National Archives (NARA) holds service and pension records from the Revolutionary War through the 20th century. Many are indexed and available through subscription sites.
  • Canada: Library and Archives Canada provides digitized service files from the First and Second World Wars, along with earlier militia records.
  • United Kingdom: The National Archives (UK) houses British Army, Royal Navy, and Royal Air Force records, as well as Commonwealth war service files.
• State and Local Archives – State archives may hold militia, guard, or veterans’ records, especially for 19th-century conflicts. County courthouses sometimes preserved local draft and enlistment lists.
• Specialized Organizations
  • Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) maintains records of war dead from the two World Wars.
  • American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) oversees overseas U.S. military cemeteries and memorials.
  • Historical and regimental societies often preserve records for specific units.
• Online Databases
  • Fold3.com (specializes in U.S. and international military records)
  • Ancestry.com and MyHeritage.com (broad collections, including draft cards, muster rolls, and pension files)
  • FamilySearch.org (free, with extensive digitized records from many countries)
  • FindMyPast.com (particularly strong for British and Irish military records)

Challenges and Considerations:

• Record survival varies—some files were lost to fire, war, or poor preservation (e.g., U.S. Army personnel files destroyed in the 1973 St. Louis fire).
• Spelling variations and inconsistent record-keeping can complicate searches.
• Some records, especially 20th-century service files, may be restricted for privacy reasons.

By using military records alongside vital and immigration records, genealogists can construct a fuller picture of an ancestor’s life. Service files and pension applications often connect generations, while draft and enlistment records provide snapshots of individuals at specific points in time. These sources not only help identify who our ancestors were but also bring their experiences—and the history they lived through—into sharper focus.

Genealogical societies play an important role in preserving family histories, supporting research, and fostering connections among people with shared ancestral roots. These organizations often provide access to archives, specialized publications, educational programs, and expert guidance that can help both beginners and experienced researchers uncover their lineage. By joining or engaging with a genealogical society, individuals gain valuable resources to explore their heritage while contributing to the broader effort of preserving historical records for future generations.

Major National & International Genealogical Societies

• National Genealogical Society (NGS) – One of the oldest genealogical organizations in the U.S., offering publications, educational programs, and conferences.
• New England Historic Genealogical Society (NEHGS) – The oldest and largest genealogical society in the United States, founded in 1845.  Based in Boston, it maintains the American Ancestors database and extensive colonial-era resources.
• Association of Professional Genealogists (APG) – A global organization for genealogists, providing professional standards and a directory of researchers.
• International Society of Genetic Genealogy (ISOGG) – Focused on DNA research and its application to family history.

Regional and Ethnic Societies

• Afro-American Historical and Genealogical Society (AAHGS) – Supports research into African American family history.
• Polish Genealogical Society of America (PGSA) – Provides resources for Polish ancestry research.
• Jewish Genealogical Society (I.J.G.S. and local chapters worldwide) – Dedicated to Jewish family history and records.
• German Genealogical Society (various chapters) – Focused on German immigrant and ancestral records.

Local & State Examples (U.S.)

• California Genealogical Society
• Ohio Genealogical Society
• New York Genealogical and Biographical Society (NYG&B)
• Texas State Genealogical Society

These are just a handful—there are thousands of societies worldwide, often organized by region, ethnicity, religion, or even specific surnames (like the Seeley Genealogical Society).

A larger variety of resources can be found for genealogical research.  Some are pretty random - so those finds go here.

Somewhat Random Genealogy Sites

• One-Step Webpages by Stephen P. Morse – A Potpourri of Genealogical Search Tools:  This site contains tools for finding immigration records, census records, vital records, and for dealing with calendars, maps, foreign alphabets, and numerous other applications. Some of these tools fetch data from other websites but do so in more versatile ways than the search tools provided on those websites.