Some valuable FREE resources for Genealogy Research.

Here are wonderful FREE resources I use all day long.

Tip for the day. Learn how to write up a great post. Always remember the 5 W's. Who-What-Where-When & Why!

Ways to see how people write up good posts can be found in the archives of Rootsweb boards & mailing lists and on Genforum. Study them and get to work posting your own. I began to do this right away as soon as I discovered these great FREE boards and lists and am have become a prolific poster. I cannot tell you how many mysteries have been solved using these resources. (if you GOOGLE search my name you will get an idea of how busy I have been for the last 7 years posting)

Here are some great resources - save them to your FAVORITE PLACES.

All three can be used for both surnames and locations:
http://genforum.genealogy.com/surnames/
http://boards.rootsweb.com/Default.aspx
http://lists.rootsweb.ancestry.com/

Next:

GOOGLE - the greatest thing to come along in years for genealogy researchers.

I GOOGLE search everyone and everything. Always try your names here first.

http://www.google.com/

Next: check GOOGLE BOOKS:

http://books.google.com/

Last but not least - the GOOGLE NEWS ARCHIVE:

http://news.google.com/archivesearch

Save all three to FAVORITE PLACES (this is what I have on AOL) so they are at your fingertips when you need them.

Check out FAMILY SEARCH: many of these records must be really researched because they were sent in by family member with no documentation, but some have been extracted from state records and as a rule are valid.

http://www.familysearch.org/Eng/Search/frameset_search.asp?PAGE=search_all1.asp&clear_form=true

Next check out your name in WORLDCONNECT Rootsweb.

http://wc.rootsweb.ancestry.com/cgi-bin/igm.cgi

Check your local library to see if they have HERITAGE QUEST. If you live in a small town see if the state library has access. HERITAGE quest will allow you to search the 1850-1920 census and untold books online for FREE with a library card number.

You really can do a lot of genealogy research for free. I did this when I first began and finally reached the point where I had to join Ancestry.com which is a fantastic database.

Check the local LDS Family History Center in your area. I have never used the LDS much myself. I live in a rural area. These Family History Centers have great resources as a rule and you can order microfilm through them if they don't have what you are seeking. They are very helpful to new researchers.

Hope these tips will help you on your way. I think genealogy research is a very intuitive pursuit. I think outside the box and this has been helpful too.

I will add more tips as time goes on.