Research Resources
Bureau of Land Management Records (GLO)
The Bureau of Land Management General Land Office (GLO) Records website provides free access to federal land records for the Public Land States. Genealogists can search for land patents issued under the Homestead Act, military bounty land warrants, cash entry purchases, and other federal land programs. The site also includes survey plats, field notes, and other historical land records that document the original transfer of public land from the federal government to private ownership.
Cyndi's List
Cyndi's List is a free, categorized, and cross-referenced index of online genealogy resources. Created and maintained by Cyndi Ingle since 1996, the site contains more than 336,000 links organized into hundreds of categories covering countries, states, record types, ethnic groups, occupations, military records, software, DNA, and virtually every aspect of family history research. It is an excellent starting point for locating genealogy resources on the Internet.
DeadFred Genealogy Photo Archive
DeadFred Genealogy Photo Archive is a free online collection of historical family photographs that helps researchers identify ancestors and connect unidentified photos with descendants. Users can search by surname, location, photographer, or keyword, and browse thousands of identified and unidentified photographs from around the world. A free membership allows users to upload photos and manage their submissions.
Facebook for Genealogy
Facebook for Genealogy, maintained by Cyndi Ingle of Cyndi's List, is a directory of Facebook groups and pages for genealogists. Originally created by Katherine R. Willson, the directory is organized by geographic area and genealogy topics, including U.S. states, countries, DNA, military, surnames, Mayflower, photographs, software, writing, and many other research interests. It provides an easy way to discover and connect with genealogy communities on Facebook.
FamilySearch
FamilySearch is a free genealogy website sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It provides access to billions of searchable historical records from around the world, including census, vital, church, military, immigration, probate, land, and court records. FamilySearch also offers a collaborative family tree, a digital library, research guides, historical maps, online classes, and a worldwide network of FamilySearch Centers and affiliate libraries.
Genealogy Terms Glossary
Genealogy Terms Glossary, published by Family Tree Magazine, defines hundreds of terms commonly encountered in family history research. The searchable A–Z glossary explains genealogy, legal, historical, and record-related terminology, helping researchers better understand records, documents, and genealogy publications.
Internet Archive
The Internet Archive is a free digital library providing access to millions of books, periodicals, newspapers, images, audio recordings, videos, and archived websites. Genealogists can search a vast collection of digitized county and local histories, family histories, city directories, government publications, military records, census publications, and other historical materials that are freely available online.
Map of U.S. Immigration
This animated map illustrates lawful permanent immigration to the United States from 1820 through 2013. Created by Metrocosm using data from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, each dot represents 10,000 immigrants, showing how immigration patterns and countries of origin changed over nearly two centuries.
Missouri Digital Heritage
Missouri Digital Heritage, a program of the Missouri State Archives, provides free access to more than 9 million digitized records and images documenting Missouri history. Genealogists can search birth and death records, military records, naturalizations, land records, county and local records, photographs, newspapers, maps, and many other historical collections contributed by the Missouri State Archives, the Missouri State Library, and partner institutions throughout the state.
Old Medical Terminology
Old Medical Terminology is a glossary of medical terms commonly found in historical records. The site defines obsolete and historical medical terms that appear in death records, medical records, and other historical documents, helping genealogists better understand the illnesses, conditions, and causes of death recorded for their ancestors.