By Christina Laun
Researching family history used to mean spending hours pouring through archives in libraries and public records. With the growing power of the Internet, however, now you may not even have to leave your home to find the information you need about your family. There are loads of sites dedicated to helping people build their family histories, find records and even learn the origins of their family names. Here are a few sites where you can start your search to build a bigger, better family tree.
Websites
These major sites can be a great starting points for your genealogical research.
- Ancestry.com: Ancestry.com is one of the largest genealogy sites on the Web, with billions of names that you can search through to find your relatives as well as gain access to historical records, genealogy communities, family tree makers and much more.
- RootsWeb: Unlike many of the online genealogy sites, RootsWeb is free to use, and you do not need to pay a monthly or yearly fee for access. Users can browse through searchable databases of historical and genealogical information as well as create online family trees to display their findings.
- Geneaology.com: This membership-based site will allow you to search through information, build online family trees, subscribe to certain types of information, and even look at celebrity family trees.
- SurnameWeb: This online genealogy project is based solely on the history of your surname. Simply enter in your last name and you’ll get access to loads of resources that can help you trace your name’s history and find others with the same name.
- Family Tree Maker Online: Get access to more features online with the website for this popular software choice. Owners of Family Tree Maker can meet and talk to others with the program, read a blog about new features and learn more about genealogy.
- US GenWeb Project: This project is dedicated to keeping genealogy research free of charge. It compiles loads of free resources and archives by state as well as providing access to special projects the group works on.
- Cyndi’s List: Don’t waste your time scouring the Web looking for genealogy resources. This site organizes just about anything you could need into one large comprehensive guide to the best of genealogy on the Web.
- Lost Cousins: Find your long lost cousins with this site. Enter in your family history and the program will put you in touch with anyone else out there who shares the same ancestors.
- WeRelate: This wiki project is sponsored by the Foundation for On-Line Genealogy and has grown to become the largest genealogy wiki out there. You can add your own family history to the site and look at the information provided by millions of others.
- FamilySearch: This site is home to one of the largest collections of genealogical research tools available. Even better, it’s free, so you don’t have to pay to look through their records.
- GeneaNet: Go international with this multi-lingual genealogy site. You’ll be able to search through information, chat with others and build your own family tree online.
- Genealogy Today: Here, researchers will find both pay and free databases for their use as well as access to loads of informative articles, guides and helpful information.
Archives and Records
Get access to all kinds of historical records through these online archives.
- Library of Congress Local History and Genealogy Reading Room: Take advantage of one of the largest libraries in the United States through this website. You’ll gain access to any genealogical resources the library has and learn a little more about researching family histories.
- National Archives and Records Administration: While not always the easiest information to peruse, the National Archives are full of records that can be a big help in your quest for information about relatives.
- Social Security Death Index: If you’re looking for more recent relatives, the Social Security Death Index can be a great way to find them. Records go back to 1937 and cover any relatives who were given a Social Security number.
- Internment.net: Search through thousands of cemeteries nationwide for the graves of your relatives. You can find out birth and death information as well as additional information about family connections through this site.
- Access Genealogy: This free online resource is full of archives you can use. It covers everything from Census records to genealogical records for African Americans.
- Footnote: Footnote is an original and innovative site that lets users from all over the world upload original documents and photographs. You may even be able to find some that belonged to your relatives. It’s a great way to learn about your own history as well as that of others.
- Genealogy Bank: You’ll be able to search through the archives on this site to find information on your family history. Perhaps one of the best features, however, is the timeline creator which lets you build a timeline of important events in a family member’s life.
- Find a Grave: Learn where even your most distant relatives were laid to rest with this tool. If you have photographs you can upload them to the site as well as obituaries and other death information.
- DocumentsOnline: Those doing research on relatives from the UK can take advantage of this large archive of records that has been digitized and is available through the website for researchers.
- JewishGen: If you are of Jewish heritage you may be able to find information about your ancestors through this site. You can search through records from a number of countries and get in touch with others keeping records of their family history.
- Global Gazetteer: Find the homes and resting places of your family members using this site. It has satellite images of locations all over the world to give you an idea of where you’re from.
- Census Links: Census records can be tedious to go through, but this site combines many links to sites all over the world to make it just a little less painful to research.
- The Records Room: This site combines links to records like birth certificates, census reports, marriage and divorce papers, and much more to make finding the information you need easier.
- Vital Rec: Here you’ll find vital records on births, deaths and marriages across the US as well as information on how you can request copies of this information.
Crests and Coats of Arms
Find out what coat of arms represents your family name with these helpful resources.
- House of Names: Memorialize your family crest with merchandise from this site. You can get high quality print outs or even mouse pads with your family logo.
- All Family Crests: Here you’ll find a simple search tool to help you find a crest, if there is one, that matches up with your family name and you can print it out for free.
- Coats of Arms and Family Crests: Find simple renditions of your coat of arms with this easy-to-use site.
Charts and Forms
Keep your family tree information organized and accessible with these tools for charting relationships online and off.
- OurTimeLines.com: Here you’ll be able to generate interesting webpages that can give you some insight to the lives of your ancestors. It shows how your life or the lives of anyone in your family fits into major events in history.
- Online Family Tree Maker: This free software allows you to connect with others who may already have parts of your family tree online or to start your own. People can then search through your tree for information and you can do the same with theirs.
- Geni.com: This sleek and easy-to-use site gives you access to an online family tree maker. It’s private, so only people in your family will have access to the information.
- Genealogy Forms and Charts: Get all the charts and forms that professional genealogists use through this site. They’re free to download, print and use at your discretion.
- My Family Health Portrait: Chart your family’s medical history with this site. You’ll be able to see where certain risks for illnesses may have come from and create a more comprehensive family health history.
- SharedTree: This open source site allows users to create free online family trees and to share their information with other researchers.
Networking
Meet others looking to find out more about their family histories on these sites. Who knows, you might even find a distant relative!
- CousinConnect: On this site you’ll be able to submit questions about family members you’re looking for or search through other peoples’ queries to see if you can answer any of their questions.
- GenCircles: Here you’ll be able to upload your family tree and share it over the Web. You’ll also be able to talk with others using the program and exchange information and ask questions.
- Past Connect: Looking for long lost family heirlooms, photos and documents? You may be able to find them on this site, which collects and lists loads of information floating around out there and can put you in touch with the current owners.
- National Genealogical Society: Meet and greet thousands of people nationwide who are into researching family histories with this site.
- GenSwap: This feature of Family Reunion.com allows users to exchange their information for help or information from other users out there.
- Random Acts of Genealogical Kindness: This organization is dedicated to helping members get the information they need through exchange. One member will do work in their neck of the woods in exchange for help doing research for another member.
Web Tools
These tools can help inform you and make your research a little easier.
- Diigo: This Web highlighter and sticky notes app can help you keep track of all the information you’re finding on different websites all over and keep it organized and easier to reference.
- Roots Television: This site is entirely dedicated to genealogy and features a number of informative videos that can help educate you on how to improve your search techniques.
- One Step Webpages: Steve Morse has taken the work out of accessing loads of online records. Here you’ll find records like those from Ellis Island broken down and ordered so that they’re much easier to look through.
- WorldCat: This resource will make it easy to find books, movies, articles and more at a library near you, or let you know where the nearest location of these items is. There is a Firefox plug-in for this site as well.
- Family Tree DNA: Take genealogy to the next level by tracking not only records but the actual DNA of your family as well. This site provides the largest resource of DNA records to date.
- PAF 5.2: The Church of Latter Day Saints has put together this great research tool. It’s free to download and use, and can help you organize and find loads of information.
- Pedigree Soft: Organize your family history with this free software. You can also share it with the world by uploading it to the web.
- Clooz: This database program makes it much easier to keep track of all your genealogical information with loads of templates for storing records as well as convenient reports you can print out.
- Bygones: Take advantage of this freeware program which is designed to help researchers take and keep together their notes from genealogical research.
译文:
50种极棒的方法帮你研究你的家庭的历史
摘自Christina Laun
研究家庭历史常常意味着要花好几个小时查阅图书馆里的档案和公共记载。然而，随着因特网技术的快速发展，你甚至可以不必踏出家门半步去查询关于你家庭的信息。许多网站专门帮助人开创他们家庭的历史、找寻记载、甚至学习他们家庭姓氏的起源。以下是你可以开始创建更大更好的家庭系谱图的一些网站。
网站
这些主要网站可以作为你研究家谱的极好出发点。
- Ancestry.com: Ancestry.com是其中一个最大的家谱网站的网站之一，网站上有上亿个名字提供你搜寻你的亲戚，还给予你一个平台去探索历史记载、系谱团体、宗谱图制造者等还有很多。
- RootsWeb: 与其他的网上系谱网站不同，你可以免费使用RootsWeb，并且无需向网站支付月费或年费。用户可以通过浏览历史家谱资料的可检索数据库和创建网上家谱图来显示他们的搜索结果
- Geneaology.com: 这个网站家谱项目是完全基于您姓氏的历史。只需输入您的名字，你会获得大量可以帮助你追踪你的名字的历史的资源，并找到其他和你相同的名字。
- SurnameWeb: 此网站很受欢迎，通过这个网站了解网上更多特色，家谱图创立者可以通过这个程序和他人见面并交流；看博客了解新的特色和学习更多关于家谱知识。
- Family Tree Maker Online: 此网站很受欢迎，通过这个网站了解网上更多特色，家谱图创立者可以通过这个程序和他人见面并交流；看博客了解新的特色和学习更多关于家谱知识。
- US GenWeb Project: 这个项目主要是确保人们可以免费搜索系谱信息。它收集了大量本国人民的家谱信息和档案，同时还提供团体着手专门项目的机会。
- Cyndi’s List: 不要在这个网站浪费时间去查阅有关系谱的资料。这个网站只是提供你所需要的综合指导，以便让你了解网上最好系谱资料。
- Lost Cousins: 通过这网站寻找你失散多年的亲戚。进入你家庭历史后，你将可以联系那里和你拥有共同亲戚的人。
- WeRelate: 这个维基项目是有网上家谱基金会主办的，并发展成为最大家谱维基。你可以在网上增添你的家庭历史，还可以看到好几百万人所提供的信息。
- FamilySearch: 这个网站收集最多的可利用的系谱研究工具。更棒的是，它是免费的，所以你可以免费翻阅网网上的记载。
- GeneaNet: 通过这个拥有多国语言的网站走上国际化。你可以查阅资料，和他人聊天，还可以在网上创立你的家谱图。
- Genealogy Today: 在这里，研究者可以发现他们所需的资料库有免费也有付费，同时查阅大量的信息文章、指导和有益的资料也是如此。
档案和记载
通过这些网上档案来获取各种各样历史记载的途径。
- Library of Congress Local History and Genealogy Reading Room: 美国国会图书馆历史和家谱阅览室：通过这个网站你可以充分利用美国其中最大的图书馆里的资料。
- National Archives and Records Administration: 在你感觉查阅资料困难时，国家档案局拥有的丰富资料会帮助你搜索关于你亲戚的信息。
- Social Security Death Index: 如果你在寻找近来的亲戚，社会保障死亡指数将是一种很棒的途径。这些记载追溯到1937年，并涉及到社会保障人数范围内的任何亲戚。
- Internment.net: 通过全国范围内坟墓搜寻你亲戚的坟墓。你可以在这个网站上查找出生和死亡信息，也可以查阅到关于家庭联系的其他信息。
- Access Genealogy:这个网站拥有你可利用的免费档案。它包含美国非洲人从统计记录到家系记载的一切信息。
- Footnote: Footnote是个新颖和创新的网站，可以让全世界范围内的人上传原始单据和照片。你可以从上传的资料中找到一些属于你亲戚的。这是你学习你家历史及别人家历史的很好方法。
- Genealogy Bank: 你可以通过这个网站去搜索关于你家历史的档案信息。然而，此网站最大的特色是，它有大事年表创建者——你可以建立你家庭成员人生重要事件的年表。
- Find a Grave: 通过这个网站获悉你的远房亲戚的安葬之处。如果你有照片，你可以上传到网上，你还可上传讣告和其他死亡信息。
- DocumentsOnline: 那些要搜索来自大不列颠的亲戚的人可以充分利用这个网站上的大量资料。这些资料已经数字化，所以可以方便研究员查阅。
- JewishGen: 如果你犹太后人，你可以通过这个网站搜索有关你祖先的信息。你可以搜索到来自许多国家的记载，还可以联系那些拥有他们家庭历史记载的人。
- Global Gazetteer: 想找你家庭成员的栖息和安葬之地的就使用这个网站。他拥有全世界的卫星图像，让你知道你来自哪里。
- Census Links: 查阅人口数据表可能会让人感到单调乏味，但是这个网站有世界许多网站的超链接，这会让人使用起来感到不会那么费力了。
- The Records Room: 这个网站有许多关于出生证明、人口统计报告、结婚和离婚文件等等，这会让你查阅起来简单方便。
- Vital Rec: 在这里你可以找到美国重要的出生、死亡、和婚姻的记载，还可以了解如何去复制你所需的资料。
家徽和家族标志
通过这些宝贵资源找出能代表你家庭姓氏的家徽。
- House of Names: 通过这个网站上的商品来记下你家的家徽。你可以获得高质量的打印产品，甚至获得你家庭标志的鼠标垫
- 。All Family Crests: 在此你可以找到一个简单的搜索工具，它会帮你找到一个家徽，如果确实找到一个适合你家的家徽，你可以免费打印出来。
- Coats of Arms and Family Crests:通过使用便捷的网站找出你家徽的简单解释。
图标和表格
通过这些工具保持你的家庭信息有组织型和可搜索性，以便于在线或线下图表关系来展示。
- OurTimeLines.com: 这里你可以找到有趣的网页，它们将让你了解到你祖先的生活。它将展示你或你家人参与到重大的历史事件。
- Online Family Tree Maker: 这个免费的软件让你联系网上那些拥有部分的家谱的人或者你开始建立你自己的家谱。别人可以通过你的家谱来搜索信息，同时你也可以搜索他们的家谱。
- Geni.com: 这个井然有序和便于使用的网站可以让你联系到网上建立家谱的人。它是隐私的，所以只有你家人才能看到你的信息。
- Genealogy Forms and Charts: Get all the charts and forms that professional genealogists use through this site. They’re free to download, print and use at your discretion.那些通过这个网站获得那些专业系谱专家所使用的图表和表格。你可以免费下载、打印和使用。
- My Family Health Portrait:在这网上你可以看到你的家族病史。你可以分析你家庭有那些疾病的可能性，同时你可以建立更完善的家族病史系统。
- SharedTree: 这个公开网页可以让使用者免费网上建立家谱，并和他人共同分享他们的信息。
网络
这些网络资源满足他人查询他们的家族历史。谁能预知，也许你在此可以找到远方的亲戚。
- CousinConnect: 在这个网页上，你可以提出关于你要寻找的家庭成员的问题，你也可以查询别人的问题，看看你能不能回答他们的问题。
- GenCircles: 在此你可以上传你的家谱，并和人一起分享。你还可以通过这个网站和他人交换意见或提出问题。
- Past Connect: 寻找家族丢失很久的传家宝、照片和文件？你可以通过这个网站上找，它收集并列出许多流动的信息，让你联系当前物主。
- National Genealogical Society: 你可以通过这个网站见识许多广大来搜索你家谱的人。
- GenSwap: 这个Family Reunion.com的特色是让使用者相互交换意见，寻求其他使用者的帮助。
- Random Acts of Genealogical Kindness: This organization is dedicated to helping members get the information they need through exchange. One member will do work in their neck of the woods in exchange for help doing research for another member. 这个组织专门帮助成员通过交流意见获取信息。一个成员可以帮助别的成员来搜索资源。
网上工具
这些工具可以告知你并让你的研究更简单。
- Diigo: 此网页荧光笔和便签软件可以帮助您掌握的所有信息您找到的所有不同的网站，并保持有组织和更方便的参考
- Roots Television: 这个网站是完全致力于家谱和特点的一些录像资料，可以帮助你的教育就如何改进您的搜索技术
- One Step Webpages: 史蒂夫莫尔斯已经采取了的工作访问负载的在线记录。您可以在这里找到像这些记录从艾利斯岛细分，并下令让他们更容易透过。
- WorldCat: 这资源让你容易在你附近的图书馆找到书、电影、文章还有许多别的资源，或者让你知道这些条目所处的最近地点。同时可以通过火狐浏览器来上个网。
- Family Tree DNA: 将家谱研究推至另一个层次不仅要追踪历史记载还要了解你家人真正的DNA。这个网站提供最多的有关DNA记载日期信息。
- PAF 5.2: 耶稣基督后期圣徒教会组建这个伟大的研究工具。它提供免费下载和使用，并帮你组织和发现大量信息。
- Pedigree Soft: 通过此免费软件来组织你的家族历史。你还可以通过上传到网上来和他人共享。
- Clooz: 这个数据库程序使你更容易通过加载的模板储存记录追踪所有家谱信息，同时你还可以打印出合宜的报告。
- Bygones: 充分利用这个免费程序，它专门设计来帮助研究人员记下从家谱研究获得的笔记。