Genealogy On the Web

Set up the printer properties to put the web address on the bottom of the page. The site may be gone when you want to look at it again, but you at least know where you found it last time.

Set the resolution on the monitor for the smallest you can read comfortably. There will be much less moving of the scroll bar.

Use the search engines. This keeps you from wandering around lost. I prefer to start with www.google.com [Google lets you download a toolbar that sits right under the normal toolbar. That way it is always handy.] If you have an unusual last name just put in the name. For more common names, try the 'name' and 'genealogy' or the 'name' and 'family'. This will narrow the search down from a million to a more manageable number.

Search for all possible spellings of the name. The search engine will only pick up the way something is spelled on the web page. Once you are on a page again search for different spellings. [Control F]

When the page is gone. Sometimes the search engine points you to a page that is no longer where it was. There is usually a cache button at the bottom of the entry. Try that link. It should take you to the copy of the page the search engine was working from.

Finding your way around a government site. When you locate the site you are usually at the front door. What you want is the page that has the search engine. Try searching the 'name of the site' and 'search engine'. You might even throw in 'genealogy'.

Some Helpful Sites
Free access

www.familysearch.org The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. The church has preserved a vast number of records. They provide a wealth of information to the public. They have the 1880 census on line. They also have the library catalogue for all of the records in the vaults under the mountain. These records are available on microfilm or microfiche at any local Family History Center. The books are available only at the library in Salt Lake City Utah.

Oregon Genealogy Links at http://gesswhoto.com/genealogy.html Quite a number of links for people working in Oregon. The front door for the same site. http://gesswhoto.com/

Deschutes County Library On Line Resources. http://www.dpls.lib.or.us/Services.asp?ServiceID=54 This one is free if you have a library card from one of the Deschutes County Oregon branch libraries. To access the data bases you will need to enter your 14 digit library card number. The library pays the fees for their patrons to access the sites. [If you don't live in Deschutes County, ask your local public library what on-line services they subscribe to..]

California birth, death and marriage records at http://www.vitalsearch-ca.com/ This one is aggravating but worth the time to dig out what you are searching for.

Washington Search Engine at http://find-it.wa.gov/search.asp?nb=0&as=0&tid=12 This one you can search by category or the entire site.

Salem Oregon History Project at http://www.salemhistory.org/home.htm. This one has a lot of fun stuff. Check out the historic picture collection.

The Bureau of Land Management at http://www.glorecords.blm.gov/ The BLM has and makes available the records of early land settlement throughout the country. The search engine is at http://www.glorecords.blm.gov/PatentSearch/

Rootsweb at http://www.rootsweb.com/ . This site has lots of great free information, but it is linked to Ancestry.com http://www.ancestry.com/ which is a membership site. Watch out for the pop up adds.

Social Security Death Index. http://ssdi.genealogy.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/ssdi.cgi This is one of Rootsweb's pages. I have found it the best of the SSDI search engines.

Ellis Island at http://www.ellisisland.org/default.asp. Ellis Island was the busiest of the entry ports into the United States at the turn of the last century. These records are well indexed and a great find.

Some More Helpful Sites
Subscription access

Ancestry.com at www.ancestry.com Ancestry has imaged the United States Federal Census. The index is good and the images have been enhanced to the point that most of them are readable. They also have corralled a great number of records.

Family Tree Maker at http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/?Welcome=1046829264 . Make use of the free things at the site and decide if you want to spend the money.

Computer Home Genealogy Home Where to Start Doing Research Finding Records Budget Genealogy Genealogy On The Web Getting Help Finding A Class Software Scanning Pictures Label All Pictures Handwriting Translating Records Storage


		General Rule of Thumb When you find something Bookmark it. You can always go back and delete the bookmark but finding the site again is pure luck. Set up the printer properties to put the web address on the bottom of the page. The site may be gone when you want to look at it again, but you at least know where you found it last time. Set the resolution on the monitor for the smallest you can read comfortably. There will be much less moving of the scroll bar. Use the search engines. This keeps you from wandering around lost. I prefer to start with www.google.com [Google lets you download a toolbar that sits right under the normal toolbar. That way it is always handy.] If you have an unusual last name just put in the name. For more common names, try the 'name' and 'genealogy' or the 'name' and 'family'. This will narrow the search down from a million to a more manageable number. Search for all possible spellings of the name. The search engine will only pick up the way something is spelled on the web page. Once you are on a page again search for different spellings. [Control F] When the page is gone. Sometimes the search engine points you to a page that is no longer where it was. There is usually a cache button at the bottom of the entry. Try that link. It should take you to the copy of the page the search engine was working from. Finding your way around a government site. When you locate the site you are usually at the front door. What you want is the page that has the search engine. Try searching the 'name of the site' and 'search engine'. You might even throw in 'genealogy'. Some Helpful Sites Free access www.familysearch.org The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. The church has preserved a vast number of records. They provide a wealth of information to the public. They have the 1880 census on line. They also have the library catalogue for all of the records in the vaults under the mountain. These records are available on microfilm or microfiche at any local Family History Center. The books are available only at the library in Salt Lake City Utah. Oregon Genealogy Links at http://gesswhoto.com/genealogy.html Quite a number of links for people working in Oregon. The front door for the same site. http://gesswhoto.com/ Deschutes County Library On Line Resources. http://www.dpls.lib.or.us/Services.asp?ServiceID=54 This one is free if you have a library card from one of the Deschutes County Oregon branch libraries. To access the data bases you will need to enter your 14 digit library card number. The library pays the fees for their patrons to access the sites. [If you don't live in Deschutes County, ask your local public library what on-line services they subscribe to..] California birth, death and marriage records at http://www.vitalsearch-ca.com/ This one is aggravating but worth the time to dig out what you are searching for. Washington Search Engine at http://find-it.wa.gov/search.asp?nb=0&as=0&tid=12 This one you can search by category or the entire site. Salem Oregon History Project at http://www.salemhistory.org/home.htm. This one has a lot of fun stuff. Check out the historic picture collection. The Bureau of Land Management at http://www.glorecords.blm.gov/ The BLM has and makes available the records of early land settlement throughout the country. The search engine is at http://www.glorecords.blm.gov/PatentSearch/ Rootsweb at http://www.rootsweb.com/ . This site has lots of great free information, but it is linked to Ancestry.com http://www.ancestry.com/ which is a membership site. Watch out for the pop up adds. Social Security Death Index. http://ssdi.genealogy.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/ssdi.cgi This is one of Rootsweb's pages. I have found it the best of the SSDI search engines. Ellis Island at http://www.ellisisland.org/default.asp. Ellis Island was the busiest of the entry ports into the United States at the turn of the last century. These records are well indexed and a great find. Some More Helpful Sites Subscription access Ancestry.com at www.ancestry.com Ancestry has imaged the United States Federal Census. The index is good and the images have been enhanced to the point that most of them are readable. They also have corralled a great number of records. Family Tree Maker at http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com/?Welcome=1046829264 . Make use of the free things at the site and decide if you want to spend the money.