The document provides a comprehensive list of free genealogy resources available through the Arlington Heights Memorial Library, including databases, websites, and research tips. It highlights various tools for accessing historical records, such as FamilySearch, FindAGrave, and chronicling America, among others. Additionally, it mentions podcasts and blogs dedicated to genealogy that can further assist researchers.

1. Susan Mayer, Specialty Services Advisor
Arlington Heights Memorial Library
4 Dec 2015
smayer@ahml.info

2.  Free Genealogy Websites
 Databases at AHML
 Podcasts & Blogs
 Practice Searches
 Answers to questions/comments

4. • Free
• World wide
searches
available
• 4+ Billion
records
• Access to Family
History Library
films that are
only indexed
FamilySearch

5. • Wiki created by
volunteers
• Search by State
• Find useful
research tips
• Access to Special
Projects
U.S. GenWeb

6. • locating birth
and death dates
for ancestors
• Finding others
with same
surname in the
cemetery
• Might have obits,
photos or other
biographical info
FindAGrave.com

7. • US Newspaper
directory, 1690 –
Present
• Digitized
newspapers,
1836-1922
• Search by state
or newspaper
title
• Email your
results
Chronicling
America

8. • Search by
passenger, ship,
famous
passengers
• If your ancestor
arrived between
1892-1954
• Oral histories
Ellis Island

9. • Immigrants
arriving
1820-1913
• Search by ship,
port of
departure,
residence,
occupation,
ancestor name
Castle Garden

10. • Search by
category; cross-
referenced index
• Genealogical
research portal
when you aren’t
sure where to
look
• Find genealogy
forms
Cyndi’sList

11.  FamilySearch.org
 FindAGrave.com
 U.S. GenWeb
 ChroniclingAmerica.loc.gov
 Ellis Island
 Castle Garden
 Cyndi’s List
 Free websites for England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland
(link to blog post)

13. • US Census records
• Census map guide
• Useful Tip of the
Day
• Books covering
28,000 family and
local histories
• Revolutionary War
Era Pension &
Bounty-land
Warrant
Application Files
• Search Freedman's
Bank records, 1865-
1874
HeritageQuest
Online

14. • Records for US
military conflicts
• Photos from the
Civil War to
present
• FBI records
• UFO records
• Orphan home
records
• Holocaust archives
• Naturalization
records
Fold3

15. • Free in-library
access to
worldwide
records
• Access to
Ancestry
Learning Center
courses
• Access to books,
research guides
and translation
help
• Blank forms
Ancestry Library
Edition

16. • America’s
Newspapers –
Chicago Sun-
Times, Daily
Herald, Arlington
Heights Post
• Americas
Obituaries &
Death Notices
• Proquest Digital –
full page scans of
Chicago Tribune,
New York Times &
Wall Street
Journal, 2008 -
present
Newspapers

18. BLOGS
 The Ancestry Insider: “…
unofficial, unauthorized
view of Ancestry.com and
FamilySearch.org.”
 Eastman’s Online
Genealogy Newsletter
 Geneabloggers: “The
ultimate site for your
genealogy blog – an online
community created by
Thomas MacEntee.”
 The Genealogy Gems
with Lisa Louise Cooke
 Genealogy Gold from
AncestralFindings.com
 The Genealogy Guys
PODCASTS

19.  Finding military ancestors on Fold3
http://blogs.ancestry.com/ancestry/2014/04/23/wha
t-war-did-my-ancestor-serve-in/

20. Please fill out the evaluation by clicking the yellow star on the opening computer screen
Susan Mayer, MLIS, Specialty Services Advisor
Arlington Heights Memorial Library