Helpful Links

Listed below is a series of useful links plus comments, organized by category. The list is intentionally short, since others have done and will do a much better job than I trying to build a detailed and comprehensive list. Admittedly these links are probably already familiar to more experienced web users, but hopefully they may be useful to all.

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Search Engines & Other

Good, reliable, fast, accurate search engines are mandatory for finding data on the web. The three I most commonly use, ranked by preference are:

Google Fast, reliable, my favorite ... see below (note: add their tool bar to your browser for convenience)

MetaCrawler Uses multiple search engines. Composite results organized by search engine.
Ancillary list for extended results provided through 'Dog Pile'

Vivisimo This is a New One (to me). Also uses multiple search engines. Results are organized
by common topics in a 'folder-type' display which is 'clickable' to expand to hits found.
Descriptive list for summarizes each 'folder' entry

AltaVista A good reliable search engine. Results are accurate and abundant

Genealogy (General & Surnames)

These are 'generalized web sites' which are useful places to look for data and family specific information.

	General
Cyndi's List	Thousands of links to other useful web sites, all categorized.
FamilySearch	The LDS website. A tremendous amount of their records are being placed online.
RootsWeb	Who can overlook RootsWeb? Their 'Projects' area is an excellent path to explore. You won't find a friendlier and more helpful community.
Ancestry.com	Subscription service, but considerable free information available.
	Surnames & Families
WorldConnect	Subdivision of RootsWeb. Individual databases maintained in GED format. Contents varies, many GED files downloadable. Searchable by Surname
Carmichael	Got a CARMICHAEL ancestor ? try this one.

Genealogy (OnLine Records)

OnLine is an area of very rapid growth which is divided into FREE service and SUBSCRIPTION services. This list is very brief so use 'Cyndi's List' (above) or use a search engine to find more.

Free services- predominantly volunteer, individually driven, or government sites. Transcribed records are most common.

RootsWeb Projects	Ranks as one of, if not, THE best. Of note: Check the state level records. One example under Texas is that one can find Birth, Death, Marriage, Divorce records searchable by county.
Eliis Island	Immigrants & foreign travlers passing through immigration (late 19th - early 20th centuries)
SSDI	Social Security Death Index (free). Updated to include June, 2003

Subscription services- Fees are usually very reasonable. Many scanned images (eg census records are available.

Ancestry.com	Many categories of assorted records, including census. A lot of free data.
Genealogy.com	Many categories of assorted records.

Genealogy (Forums)

Forums are an excellent source of information since the volume of "unpublished" genealogy data still remains large. Queries are posted free of charge. Respondents are very helpful. Excellent place to 'touch base' and meet ancestral line members. It is recommended you periodically repeat your posting since 'older' postings are 'rolled' off the bottom into archives. Provide as much help in your query as possible.

Google	Fast, reliable, my favorite ... see below (note: add their tool bar to your browser for convenience)
MetaCrawler	Uses multiple search engines. Composite results organized by search engine. Ancillary list for extended results provided through 'Dog Pile'
Vivisimo	This is a New One (to me). Also uses multiple search engines. Results are organized by common topics in a 'folder-type' display which is 'clickable' to expand to hits found. Descriptive list for summarizes each 'folder' entry
AltaVista	A good reliable search engine. Results are accurate and abundant