The Internet in Genealogy
There are hundreds if not thousands of web sites devoted to genealogy. These sites range from the commercial to individual family histories. You can find many companies catering to your genealogical needs including software, research services, and data bases. You can also find people's family genealogies with many making available copies free of charge. Some are well documented, but the vast majority are not.
To learn more about how to use the internet, click on How to Use the Internet.
Some of the most common internet sites are found by clicking Internet Resources. Just to list a few subjects which these sites focus include:
- There are many "How to" sites that tell people how to do genealogy, how to use the Internet, or how to order documents or write a letter to a foreign repository.
- Some sites are dedicated to software which tell you about software, review software, or link you to sites where you can download or order genealogy software.
- Many other sites can be found which are devoted to catalogs of what is available for genealogy in a specific area, on a certain surname, or for a given topic.
- Data bases including indexes are usually commercial and charge for access to their data bases.
- Some times you will find web sites devoted to specific projects ranging from one-name societies to making the Web a more useful tool for genealogy.
- A few sites are devoted to presenting family records where people post their own genealogies and/or family history.
- Some sites which are general in nature and concentrate on a variety of subjects.
- A growing number of sites have available indexes and abstracts of records as well as electronic copies of actual records in databases.
- Genealogical Societies or organizations often have their own web site with means to contact or get information about or from them.