What Types of Resources are Available?

OK, so you know about Google searches... And you may remember that I also previously mentioned Ancestry.com. Here are some of the lesser known sites that specialize in providing links and/or online databases

FamilySearch
Fold3
Cyndi's List
RootsWeb

Don't forget to check out the links listed at virtualgenealogy.info! I'm going to try to write a lot more about web resources like these. The best thing about them is that some of the information contained on such sites is "original source data" - vital records (including certificates), directory and census information (transcribed and digitized copies). I'm sure that, like me, you will spend hours devouring the information available at those sites. But, as we discussed in an earlier post, be cautious in trusting everything you locate. I've seen examples of immigrants during the Civil War era "lying" about everything from their name (no kidding) to date/location of birth. Then there is the drunk census enumerator (he had to be!) who called your Grandma "Augustus" (and male!) when her real name was Josephine... The copies of digitized records online have improved over time, but they are still only as good as handwriting, microfilming and your eyesight. Take your time. These days (with the widespread availability of records), it is unlikely that we could ever "lose" something as monumentally important (and, believe me, IT WAS) as the 1890 Federal (US) Census. You can come back to the online records tomorrow... Happy hunting!