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 is a source-discovery tool, similar in spirit to:

• Google Books
• HathiTrust
• JSTOR

—but with its own unique mix of content.

For genealogists, Google Scholar is most valuable for:

• discovering local and regional studies
• finding school, church, and institutional publications
• locating theses and dissertations with original research
• identifying sources you didn’t know existed

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Genealogy QuickSheets – Frequently Asked Questions