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My Ten Favorite Genealogy Web Sites

There are a lot of Web resources for tracking your roots, here are my favorites:

Record and Index Sites

1. Ancestry.com–This web site has a large collection of indexes and record images. There is some free information available, but a paid subscription is needed to access most of the data. The library edition can be accessed at the Mamie Doud Eisenhower Public Library in Broomfield. An individual subscription can be purchased which is used from your home computer. The records are divided into collections such as U.S. Census, Immigration, and Historical Newspapers. The collections are purchased separately.
2. HeritageQuest.com–This web site is only available through libraries. Free access is obtained using your library card number and can be accessed either at the library or at home. There are four major collections of indexes and images: U.S. Federal Census, Genealogy and Local History, The Periodical Source Index (PERSI), and Revolutionary War Pension Application Files.
3. EllisIsland.org–This free web site has the index and images of ship’s passenger lists into the port of New York from 1892 to 1924. Catalog Sites
4. CyndisList.com–This is a comprehensive index to genealogical web sites on the Internet. CyndisList is divided by genealogical topics and includes links to the web sites.
5. Denver Public Library–The DPL site features the catalog to their genealogical collection of books, maps and manuscripts. It also has a portal to the WorldCat Catalog and numerous online databases such as The New York Times Historical Newspapers. Reference Site
6. Library of Congress–This is my favorite site for social history. The American Memory section is an outstanding collection about American history and culture. Collaborative Sites
7. FamilySearch.org–This free site is a combination collaborative and catalog site. The collaborative databases include Ancestral File, International Genealogical Index (IGI), and the Pedigree Resource File. The Family History Library Catalog, which has millions of books and films, is also on the site.
8. RootsWeb.com–This is one of the oldest free genealogy sites on the Internet. It is a combination collaborative and index site. RootsWeb has the WorldConnect Project, which is a giant collection of family trees. It also includes mailing lists, message boards and indexes.
9. USGenWeb–This is a collection of free sites for every state and county in the United States. Each site has been created by a volunteer and is unique. Because of this, content will vary. Search Engines
10. Google.com–Although a search engine is not normally considered a genealogical site, I routinely use this search engine to find information about ancestors and ancestral places.

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