Where to Find the German Genealogy Group Online

The German Genealogy Group is one of the most practical and underused genealogy sites available to researchers. While it supports German-American research, many of its largest and most valuable databases are geographic rather than ethnic, making them useful even when German ancestry has not yet been confirmed. For genealogists, GGG is valuable because it provides […]

Finding Your Ancestors Using the New York Public Library Digital Collections

The New York Public Library Digital Collections provide free access to millions of digitized items, many of which contain direct genealogical value. While the NYPL is often associated with books, its digital collections extend far beyond printed material. For genealogists, this site is especially valuable for: Many researchers know the NYPL exists but do not […]

Finding Your Ancestors Using The Newberry Collections

The Newberry Library is widely known among professional historians, but many genealogists are unaware of how much usable family history material is available online. While not a traditional genealogy database, The Newberry’s digital collections contain maps, manuscripts, local histories, family papers, and specialized research materials that often include names, places, and relationships. For genealogists, The […]

Finding Your Ancestors Using the Midwest Genealogy Center

The Midwest Genealogy Center (MGC) is often described as a physical genealogy library—but that description undersells its value. MGC also provides significant online resources, digital collections, databases, and research tools that can be used by genealogists anywhere in the country. While its geographic strength is the Midwest, its collections and databases support research for: For […]

Finding Your Ancestors Using the Italian Genealogy Group

The Italian Genealogy Group (IGG) is one of the most valuable free genealogy destinations for researching Italian-American ancestors—yet it remains unknown to many hobbyists. Unlike general genealogy sites, IGG hosts specialized databases, transcriptions, and indexes created specifically to support Italian-American research. For genealogists, IGG is especially useful for: This site is not a blog or […]

Finding Your Ancestors Using the Allen County Public Library Genealogy Center

The Allen County Public Library (ACPL) Genealogy Center is a major genealogical research destination, even for researchers who never set foot in Indiana. While best known as a physical library, the Genealogy Center also provides extensive online databases, digital collections, indexes, and research tools that are freely accessible. For genealogists, the ACPL Genealogy Center is […]

Finding Enslaved and Slaveholding Ancestors in the Digital Library on American Slavery

The Digital Library on American Slavery (DLAS) provides free access to legal and legislative records related to slavery, primarily from Southern states. Unlike narrative history sites, DLAS focuses on documents that name people—both enslaved individuals and enslavers. For genealogists, this site is valuable for: Download the Quicksheet PDF To obtain a two-page Quicksheet PDF of […]

Finding Your Ancestors in the Dawes Rolls

The Dawes Rolls are one of the most important record groups for researching Native American ancestors connected to the Five Civilized Tribes: Created between 1898 and 1914, these rolls documented individuals eligible for tribal citizenship during the allotment of tribal lands in Indian Territory (present-day Oklahoma). Download the Quicksheet PDF To obtain a two-page Quicksheet […]

Search Hyphenated Words in Historical Newspapers to Get Up To 30% More Results

A “feature” of older newspapers is the use of the hyphen. Hyphenated words were often used heavily to save space and due to the limitations of fixed-width type. This Quicksheet includes a description, with examples, of the benefits of searching for hyphenated words in your online search of old newspapers. It will get you as […]

Finding Hidden Genealogical Sources Using Google Scholar

Most genealogists have heard of Google — far fewer have used Google Scholar. Those who do often assume it is “only for academics.” In reality, Google Scholar functions as a quiet discovery engine for obscure publications that frequently contain names, places, institutions, and community information relevant to genealogy. Google Scholar is not a genealogy database.It […]