General Research Links
- Access to Archival Databases (AAD) - search the NARA's holdings of electronic documents.
- ADAH - Alabama Department of Archives and History.
- Alabama Family Group Sheet Project - search or submit your own.
- Bureau of Land Management, USA - General Land Office (GLO) records kept since the 1780's.
- Calendar, Perpetual - determine a day of the week for a date from any year in the Gregorian calendar.
- Canebrake Genealogical and Historical Society - researching genealogy and history of Conecuh County, Alabama. Also has a Yahoo group.
- Castle Garden - America's first official immigration center; site has a searchable database.
- Cemetery Junction listing of over 13,000 cemeteries, some with online surveys.
- Cemetery Photos - an unusual hobby, but potentially useful to the genealogist.
- Census Records - tips on using the U.S. Census Records for genealogy research.
- Civil War Records - in the NARA archives.
- Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System (CWSS) - searchable record database, hosted by the U.S. National Park Service.
- Colonial Ancestors - genealogy records and information about ancestors in the 13 original colonies
- Conecuh County, AL site at RootsWeb. Part of the ALGenWeb project.
- Copyrighted Material on the Internet. An easy to understand explanation of what is and isn't protected by law.
- County Locator - just enter the town name and state, and the search engine finds the county for that town.
- Cyndi's List is a great starting point for the beginning genealogist.
- Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) - web site of the national organization.
- Dictionary of Occupational Titles (DOT) - occupational titles and job descriptions, from the U.S. Dept. of Labor.
- East Texas Genealogical Society - meets in Tyler, Smith County, Texas.
- Ellis Island American Family Immigration History Center. Look for your immigrant ancestors here.
- Encyclopedia of Genealogy - a free-content encyclopedia created by its readers, available to everyone, free of charge.
- Family Search, maintained by the LDS church; many useful features, including database search.
- Family Tree Maker - general genealogy information and online help.
- Fate of the 1890 U.S. Population Census - at the U.S. National Archives.
- Find a Grave - find the graves of ancestors, create virtual memorials, add 'virtual flowers' and a note to a loved one's grave.
- German-English Genealogy Symbols and Abbreviations - alphabetical list.
- Heite Consulting - information regarding isolate ethnic communities in and around Kent County, Delaware.
- Hiring a Professional Genealogist - when you think it's time to get professional assistance, start here.
- Historical Marker Society of America - operated by many like-minded folk who appreciate American History and the reflection of that history along our streets and highways.
- Illnesses - terminology and modern translation of the various diseases experienced by our ancestors.
- Immigrant Ships Transcribers Guild - ship information and passenger lists online.
- Inflation Calculator - calculate equivalent values for any year between 1800 and 2005 (in US dollars).
- Land Patents at the U.S. Bureau of Land Management.
- Land Survey Information System at the US Bureau of Land Management.
- Moors & Nanticokes - history and genealogy in Delaware; research by Lynn Jackson.
- Nanticoke Lenni-Lanape Indians of Delaware and New Jersey; official site authorized by the tribal council.
- National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) - new and improved web site launched May 31, 2003.
- National Cemetery Administration - Veterans Administration site with a nationwide gravesite locator that includes some service information.
- OpenGen.net - free sources and tools for genealogy researchers.
- Orphan Train Complex - created to help educate the public about this chapter in American history.
- Ozarks Civil War - life in the Ozarks before, diring, and after the War; searchable online database. Hosted by the Springfield-Greene County Library District.
- PERSI - Periodical Source Index; a comprehensive subject index of local history and genealogy periodicals.
- Postage Rates, U.S. Postal Service - rates for mailing a first-class letter since 1863.
- Potential pitfalls of internet genealogy research -- read this article from the Wall Street Journal archives.
- PRONI: Public Record Office of Northern Ireland - aims to identify, preserve and make available Northern Ireland's unique archival heritage and community memory.
- RootsWeb, the oldest and largest genealogy site on the internet. And my favorite.
- Smith County, TX site at RootsWeb. Great site. Great county.
- Smith County Historical Society - dedicated to discovering, collecting and preserving data, records and other items relating to the history of Smith County, Texas.
- Social Security Death Index (SSDI) search engine at RootsWeb. Now includes over 95 million persons.
- Sons of the American Revolution (SAR) - web site of the national organization.
- Soundex Converter - courtesy of RootsWeb.
- Southern Claims Commission Records - research individuals in the South who were loyal to the Union during the American Civil War.
- Staten Island History - part of the New York Public Library web site.
- Texas State Library and Archives Commission.
- Tiger Map Server online map search.
- Transatlantic Slave Trade - online database offers researchers, students and the general public a chance to rediscover the reality of one of the largest forced movements of peoples in world history.
- Troup Municipal Library - Troup, Smith County, TX. Meeting place of the Troup Genealogical/Historical Society.
- USGenWeb - Project sites, listed by state and county.
- Veterans History Project - a project of the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress.
- Vietnam Casualty Search Page -- search for records of relatives killed in action in Vietnam.
- Virginia Land Office Patents and Grants - download and view images of the original documents in the Library of Virginia.
- Vital Records Information - shows you how and where to obtain birth, death, marriage and divorce records from the U.S. government.
- Wayback Machine - can't locate a website? Try the Wayback Machine to find an archived copy of any website (since 1996).
- WorldConnect Project - online, searchable family trees and downloadable GEDCOM files.
- World Wide Web Library Directory lists over 6,000 libraries in 102 countries.
Surname-specific
- Dean Family information on descendants of Drury Dean, by Cindy Griffin and Sherry Hicks.
- Felton Family Association - descendants of Nathaniel Felton and cousin Richard Felton.
- Hardee Family history and genealogy by Carol Scott.
- Higdon Family Association history and genealogy.
- Mitsawokett - history and genealogy of Native American isolate communities in Kent County, Delaware.
- Mixon extensive family info of Sherry Pierce.
- Mixon Cemetery in Mixon, Cherokee County, Texas. But there are no Mixons buried there!
- Mixon Family website of Mickey Mixon (note: site not working as of May 2009)
- Mixon/Mixson Cousins website of Bushy Hartman.
- Shofner Family brief history.
- Sirmon/Sermon Family history and genealogy by Bill and Marilyn.
- Surname Message Boards at RootsWeb. Thousands of surnames, listed alphabetically.
- SurnameRing hundreds of connected sites for surname research.
- Surname Site surname forums and links.
- Swaim Family Genealogy - Jarvis family web site.
- Swaim Family of Indiana and Oklahoma - the research of Jack Stuart Swaim (document download).
- Anthony Swaim House - in historic Springfield, Union County, New Jersey.
- Woodham Family Association history and genealogy by Robert Earl Woodham.
Onomastics
- Annotated Name Book List - list of books on onomastics, with recommendations.
- Behind the Name - the etymology and history of first names.
- Names Menu - lists of some ancient names and their meanings.
General History
- American Memory - online digital archives at the Library of Congress.
- Animated Atlas of the US - a great learning tool.
- Eastman's Online Genealogy Newsletter - published weekly by noted author Dick Eastman.
- Ellis Island Museum online. Visit the Wall of Honor.
- Everton Publishers - creators of Everton's Genealogical Helper, now called Everton's Family History Magazine.
- GraveNet educational site for learning about cemeteries and history, supported by the Massachusetts Dept. of Education.
- Guide to Tracing Family Trees - RootsWeb online instruction for amateur genealogists.
- Heritage Books - online bookstore specializing in genealogy and history.
- History Channel learning history from television and the internet.
- Kidz Page - good learning tool for children interested in genealogy; hosted by USGenWeb.
- Mayflower History - great site for historical and genealogical research, by Caleb Johnson.
- Handbook of Texas online, searchable encyclopedia with over 23,000 entries. Lots of history.
- Our Timelines - generate a personalized history timeline for yourself or a relative or ancestor. Fun site!
- Photograph Preservation - helpful information from the Library of Congress.
- Save Texas Cemeteries - promoting the preservation of historic cemeteries and burial grounds through public education.
- Tombstone Transcription Project recording and registering cemeteries.
- War of the Rebellion Journal courtesy of Cornell University.