Archives
An archive is a collection of historical documents or records providing information about a place, institution, or group of people. Many archives contain records that are useful in genealogy research. Each archive may have some records that are publicly available online, and other records that are not.
National Archives Resources for GenealogistsThe National Archives preserves records of the federal government. Principal records of genealogical interest include: census records, passenger arrival (immigration) records, naturalization records, land records, and military records. Not all records are digitized- scroll to the bottom of the page to see a list of collections that are available online.
NARA- Access to Archival DatabasesBrowse by category Genealogy/Personal History
A Guide to Genealogical Research at the State Archives of FloridaThe State Archives of Florida preserves records of the state of Florida. This page provides a list of collections that may be useful for genealogy research. All of the collections on this page are available online, but significantly more material is available for in-person research at their facility in Tallahassee.
List of State ArchivesMost states have a state archive. Check the site for the state your ancestor is from to see if they have any useful records online.
UK National ArchivesOver 32 million descriptions of records held by The National Archives and more than 2,500 archives across the United Kingdom.
Stetson University ArchivesThe University Archives contains papers, books, publications, press clippings, photographs, yearbooks, the campus newspaper, and other items relating to Stetson University and its history.
Websites
There are many free websites that may be useful for researching your ancestors. Here are some links that may help you get started. Disclaimer: these sites are not provided by the duPont-Ball Library and we cannot guarantee their accuracy or reliability. They are placed here for your convenience only.
Findagrave.comSearch millions of grave records.
Familysearch.orgFamilySearch claims to have "the largest collection of genealogical and historical records in the world." The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the primary benefactor for FamilySearch services. It is free but you must sign up for an account.
JewishGen.orgUseful for both Jewish and East European genealogy. Free but you must register for an account.
AfriGeneasAfriGeneas is a site devoted to African American genealogy, to researching African Ancestry in the Americas in particular and to genealogical research and resources in general.
Reclaiming KinTips on genealogy skills for all including researching slavery and the slaved.
10 Databases for Researching Enslaved AncestorsThoughCo.com offers a listing of 10 websites that facilitate genealogical research of enslaved individuals, offering valuable resources and tools to uncover their histories and connect with ancestral roots.
Helpful International WebsitesList of links to genealogy websites in a variety of countries.
Ellis Island Records (1892-1924)Free but you must register to view complete records.
Genealogia NuestraThis website describes genealogy resources for the Caribbean, Central America, and South America.
Top 5 Irish Genealogy research websiteswww.knowwhowearsthegenesinyourfamily.com lists free websites used to explore Irish family history.
