How to Find Free Genealogy Information
Genealogy research has become increasingly popular in the U.S. This popularity has led to the creation of many subscription services on the Internet that provide family tree information for a fee. There are still ways to conduct genealogical research for free. Libraries, newspaper offices, churches and courthouses all archive useful documents that you can access for free. Some Internet services still provide free searches of their name databases. Computer archiving of public records has made doing research faster and easier, but it will still take some time and effort to conduct a thorough search of public records.
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Instructions
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Search Internet sites, such as Genea Search (geneasearch.com) or Roots Web (wc.rootsweb.com), for surname entries. Request Genea Search volunteers to conduct free searches for your ancestors. Select your state, contact the volunteer through email and supply as much information about the relative or relatives you are searching. Conduct your own search of Roots Web databases, or take advantage of an introductory free trial from sites, such as Ancestry. (ancestry.com).
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Research local public records at your county courthouse, such as land transfers, liens, tax records, criminal records, civil actions, marriage and divorce files. Find your surname by searching records in courthouses where public records have been scanned into computer databases.
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Read birth announcements, marriage and engagement announcements, obituaries and local news archives at your local library or newspaper office. Find entries that contain names, addresses and family facts about people in the local region. Request to view archived newspapers on microfiche or microfilm at your local library. Read local history books, which are usually available at your library.
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Search the local church records for baptism, marriage records and membership rolls. Call churches where an ancestor may have been a member and request to view the church records.
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Contact the local history society and historians. Ask for help and request to see their records and books. Offer to share useful information about your family that may help the group. College and amateur historians often have unique collections that could be useful.
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Tips & Warnings
Always have a notebook and pen available to take notes while conducting research.
Keep some change in your pocket to pay for photocopies of records.
Use a portable scanner to scan useful documents you find. Prices range from $100 to $200 at time of publication.
Some states restrict access to birth and death certificates to family members and may require you to show your identification prior to obtaining certified copies of these records.
References
Resources
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