
The Ancestor Hunt has been cataloging and listing links to free online genealogy collections in over 20 different record categories since 2014. These are available for you to view and use via the Resources tab above.
It occurred to me, however, that there is a massive amount of genealogy and historical material that can help us researchers as we discover who belongs in our family tree, and more importantly, what is their life story. But this genealogical and historical material doesn’t fit nicely into a specific genealogy record category.
As researchers, we should avail ourselves of the types of materials listed below. They definitely will help us in our genealogy and family history research These online resources are available generally at state libraries and archives, larger public libraries, and college and university digital collections. Hence the creation of these lists of free online digital archives. I hope they prove useful to you in your pursuit
Types of Information Available in Digital Archives
- Scrapbooks
- Diaries
- Family Papers, Biographies, and Other Collections
- Letters
- Oral Histories
- Maps
- Bulletins and Newsletters
- Corporate Collections
- Local Community and County Histories
- Photographs and Postcards
- Rare Books and Manuscripts
- Government Publications and Documents
- and Yes, Genealogy Record Collections and Indexes
The Free Online Digital Archives for the region are listed below, preceded by Archives that are available for the region or the country:
Multistate Archives
- A Digital Collection Celebrating the Founding of the Historically Black College and University (HBCU)
- Digital Commons Collections
- Digital Library of Appalachia
- Digital Public Library of America
- Documenting the American South
- Library of Congress Digital Collections
- National Archives Online Exhibits
- PastPerfectOnline Collections
- Smithsonian Digital Library
Mid West States
- Free Online Illinois Digital Archives
- Free Online Indiana Digital Archives
- Free Online Iowa Digital Archives
- Free Online Kansas Digital Archives
- Free Online Michigan Digital Archives
- Free Online Minnesota Digital Archives
- Free Online Missouri Digital Archives
- Free Online Nebraska Digital Archives
- Free Online North Dakota Digital Archives
- Free Online Ohio Digital Archives
- Free Online Oklahoma Digital Archives
- Free Online South Dakota Digital Archives
- Free Online Wisconsin Digital Archives
Good Luck and Happy Hunting!