Google Record Collections

How to Google libraries and government record collections for ancestry research.

Over many generations, the history of a family lies buried in different sources and places. Like a good detective, the historian, storyteller, and genealogist must search for the pieces of a family’s past in those many sources such as books, documents, and manuscripts. The genealogist must also be patient and imaginative because the search can take years and involve a string of clues that lead to new sources. The facts—names, dates, events—that a genealogist gathers through the years are like pieces of a puzzle. Gradually those pieces can be fitted together to make a picture of a family, its many members, and its unique history.

Google Record Collections in Ancestry Research
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If I learned one thing, it was simply that every record repository had information and resources that would help me learn about and tell the story of my ancestors. I found that each organization had information shared by more than one organization; I also found that each had unique and precious elements of my past. Finally, and probably most important, I found a deep appreciation for the resources of individuals who freely gave their time, expertise, and donations to acquire collections and make them available. I was also grateful to institutions and organizations for their dreams and vision to coordinate, collect, preserve, and manage history.

For many, historical societies and university and state libraries are a vast reservoir of information, tools, and experts that will enhance and magnify your research leaps and bounds.

As a researcher, I found it necessary to learn as much as I could about the various record repositories and how I could be more productive in accessing available records and resources. I began by asking and answering the following questions:

  • What is the role and mission of the societies and libraries?
  • What resources do they provide genealogists?
  • How can I, as a genealogist, give back to societies and libraries?

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Historical and Genealogical Societies

The mission of historical societies is to nurture and promote awareness and appreciation of state, regional, and local history and culture. This is done by identifying, collecting, studying, and preserving materials (common, rare, and unique) that include printed, manuscript, map, and photographic collections made available to the public, researchers, and genealogists. Societies receive over 75 percent of inquiries from genealogists.

Societies can be private or operated as a government agency. If the government manages them, they will be required to follow all state government rules, regulations, and statutes.

Many historical societies make these collections available on-site, online, and inter-library loan resources. Every society is different, but the types of services you will typically see historical societies provide include the following:

  • Public lectures
  • Seminars
  • Conferences
  • Consulting services
  • Arranging school and general group tours
  • Supporting scholarly research
  • Maintaining museums of changing, permanent, and traveling exhibitions
  • Operating a research library
  • Publishing books, magazines, and newsletters

In addition to historical societies, other categories of “societies” can provide a wealth of knowledge and information to the genealogist. Below, I’ve listed and described some of the most common types of societies useful for genealogy research.

Lineage or hereditary societies

A lineage society is an organization whose membership is limited to persons who can prove lineal, documented descent from a qualifying ancestor. Hundreds of such organizations exist in America, such as for descendants of those who fought in the American Revolutionary War (Daughters of the American Revolution, DAR), who came across the plains as Mormon Pioneers (Daughters of the Utah Pioneers, DUP), or who arrived on the Mayflower.

Many lineage societies publish books of interest to their members and other researchers. These books are found in most major genealogical libraries and can help you determine if society might have information about a possible ancestor.

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Immigrant and early settler societies

Dozens of societies have been established focusing on specific immigrant groups or early settlers of a particular locality. While these societies are interested in immigrants, they do not always know where any particular immigrant came from in the old country. Their objectives do not include establishing the immigrant or settler’s ancestry, only their descent to current persons. Examples of these societies include the following:

  • Society of the Descendants of the Founders of Hartford (Connecticut)—requires the ancestor to be living in Hartford by early 1640.
  • Order of Descendants of Ancient Planters—those who arrived in Virginia before 1616.
  • General Society of Mayflower Descendants—descendants of the Mayflower passengers.
  • The Order of the Founders and Patriots of America—pre- 1657 founders who established families in America, among whose descendants, of the same surname line, were persons who fought for American independence in the Revolutionary War.

Some examples of immigration collections include the following two organizations:

  • The Balch Institute for Ethnic Studies at Temple University in Philadelphia transcribes many of the passenger arrival lists of ethnic immigrants.
  • The Immigration History Society at the University of Minnesota has collected thousands of ethnic newspapers and other sources dealing with eastern European ethnic groups. Their “Immigration History Research Center” is one of the most significant repositories of research materials for those groups in North America.

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European ancestry societies

Some lineage societies focus on ancestors who were notable long before the American colonies were established. Therefore, descendants who wish to join need to trace their ancestry back to the immigrant (called the “gateway” ancestor) and trace that immigrant’s ancestry back to the qualifying ancestor in the old country. Usually, the qualifying ancestor was part of British royalty or nobility. Examples include the Order of the Crown of Charlemagne in the United States of America (which requires documented descent from that early emperor; this means tracing your ancestry back more than 1,000 years) and the Descendants of the Illegitimate Sons and Daughters of the Kings of Britain.

Nationality or ethnic lineage societies

These are societies that focus on an entire ethnic group. They gather information, teach their members, and publish stories, findings, and sources about that group. A small number of such societies, and the oldest such societies in America, are actual lineage societies. Membership is limited to those persons who can prove descent from an early settler of a specific ethnic group. Examples include the Dutch in New York, Germans in Pennsylvania, and the Scots-Irish in the Carolinas.

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Special interest societies

These societies focus on research and archives focusing on specific areas of interest where large groups of individuals generally have an interest. For example, the B-26 Marauder Historical Society is the nation’s largest organization dedicated to preserving the memory of the accomplishments and importance of the B-26 Martin Marauder and the nearly 300,000 service personnel during World War II.

Genealogical societies

Genealogical societies exist throughout the United States and Canada in every state or province, most counties, and many major cities. The people in these societies share the same interest you do: individually discovering a heritage. They meet together, usually monthly, to learn how to trace their ancestry from each other. They recognize that they have much more knowledge about family history research together than they do individually.

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Search queries for societies

The following are sample search queries you can use to find online databases for societies:

Searching for free state databases

  • “historical society” “Colorado”
  • “genealogical society” “New York”
  • “historical OR genealogical society” “Kentucky”
  • “historical OR genealogical society” “Albemarle County” “Virginia”

Searching free online databases

  • “Tennessee” “historical or genealogical society” site:familysearch.org (FamilySearch)
  • “Indiana” “historical or genealogical society” site:rootsweb.ancestry.com (RootsWeb)

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University and State Library Archives

The mission of library archives and special collections is to grow, organize, care for, and manage collections of records that are of local, regional, state, and national interest—many of which date back to the early colonial period. They are responsible for those items that are especially rare and unique in the library’s collections, including rare books, broadsides, sheet music, photographic images, and fine art. These collections are made available to researchers from across the country and the world on-site, online, and through inter-library loans. In addition to managing and preserving its collections, the libraries provide the following services:

  • Research and reference assistance
  • Consulting services
  • Administration of numerous federal, state, and local grant programs
  • Publication of books, magazines, and newsletters
  •  Public exhibitions, lectures, and other educational programs

Search queries for libraries and archives

The following are sample search queries you can use to find online databases for libraries and archives:

Searching for free state databases

  • “archives” “Illinois”
  • “library” “Colorado”
  • “library OR archives” “New York”
  • “library OR archives” “Albemarle County” “Virginia”

Searching free online databases

  •  “Maine” “library OR archives” site:familysearch.org (FamilySearch)
  • “Delaware” “library OR archives” site:rootsweb.ancestry.com (RootsWeb)

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County, State, Province Online Resources

As a historian and genealogist, some of the most important online resources you focus on are the county, state or province, regional, and local levels. For many genealogists, historical societies and university and state libraries are a vast reservoir of information, tools, and experts that will enhance and magnify your research leaps and bounds.

The online sources provide resources of varying degrees of value, which can include the following:

  • Databases and lists. Whether it’s a list of persons buried in a local cemetery, transcribed census records and family trees, or searchable databases of vital civil records, many state-level resources hold vast collections of data genealogists can easily search. Many organizations actively research, transcribe, and publish genealogical information on the web.
  • Links to other databases and resources. Each organization usually has an extensive understanding of the information available online specific to their charter and will provide links to databases and resources that will help further your research. Links will range from commercial sites like Ancestry.com to hard-to-find resources such as an individual who provides a list of cemetery transcriptions of the small-town cemetery. By reviewing these links, you will find much of the Internet search already done for you.

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  • Resource catalogs. When the information you seek is not online, it is probably available via microfilm, book, or another hard-copy source. Many libraries and archives have online catalogs that provide you with an instant review of what is available at that library or archive. In many cases, these materials are available via inter-library loan. When they are not available, it becomes a matter of deciding whether the organization or library has what you need, ask the librarian to review the desired resource for information you seek, or even planning a field trip.
  • Email addresses of experts. Consider the librarians, officers, and volunteers to be experts in their collections and focus areas. If you focus on a particular county, there will be people who know details about the part of the county you seek to review, what materials are located on the bookshelves and vertical files, or who are researching a particular family surname. The librarian knows their collections and where best to find what you seek or where to find what you need in other collections in their region or state. A phone call, email, or personal visit will often yield helpful insight into finding valuable genealogical data.
  • Lists of available resources. Many websites, particularly those of libraries, will outline and list details of the available information in their collection and how to access it.
  • Research guides. Many websites will also include outlines of how to conduct research for their collections or local or particular types of records. These research guides provide valuable insights and often list available resources.

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Search Thousands of Societies, Libraries and Archives

Have you ever wondered which libraries, archives and historical/genealogical society could help your genealogical research? I have created an extensive list of where you can find genealogy resources, most of which have online searchable catalogs. Do a Google search on the following title, “United States Libraries and Societies Genealogists Use in Genealogy Research.” The article is located on the Genealogy by Barry blog and lists 1,000 resources.

Notable genealogy libraries

Do a Google search on some of the more notable genealogy library collections with catalogs follow:

  • Allen County Public Library Card Catalog
  • DAR Card Catalog
  • Family Search Card Catalog
  • Houston Public Library Card Catalog
  • Library of Congress Card Catalog
  • Mid-Continent Public Library Card Catalog
  • NEHGS Card Catalog
  • New York Public Library Card Catalog

Use WorldCat to search library collections

WorldCat is an online catalog that itemizes the collections of more than 10,000 libraries throughout the world. WorldCat lets you

  •  Search many libraries at one time for specific items and then locate where you can find one close by.
  • Find books, music, and videos to checkout.
  • Find articles and digital resources (e.g., audiobooks) that can be instantly viewed and downloaded.
  •  Link to “Ask a Librarian” and services at your local library
  • Post a review or contribute factual information about an artifact

Note: You will need to have an active membership with a WorldCat library to view, download and checkout materials through the website. For a more detailed overview, do a Google search on “What is WorldCat?” to find their information page.

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Other Google Articles for Ancestry Research

The following are other articles you may enjoy to help you Google your ancestry.

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