Searching the Family Tree on the Internet

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The Kim Komando Show Free

Searching the Family Tree on the Internet

Legg inn av The Kim Komando Show Free » 09 mar 2007 04:58:38

Kim's Column: Searching the Family Tree on the Internet

With each passing generation, history is made but not often
recorded. I recently found names and birthdates scribbled in
an old family bible. Today, there's no good reason to not
document a family's legacy.

A good place to start the search is at Cyndi's List of Genealogy
Sites (http://www.cyndislist.com). This is a simply massive site
with more than 143,000 links to all things genealogical.

For instance, if you're just starting, Cyndi's List has 46 links
to beginners' sites. You won't need to look at all 46, because
much of the information is redundant. After going through a
dozen, you'll have a good idea of how to start.

Cyndi's List also includes 178 databases. Some are free; others
require payment. They include a wide range of subjects. For
instance, there are seven immigration/emigration databases, seven
containing land records, 10 for marriages, and many for
military personnel. You could spend all of your time here.

But don't. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints offers
its records online at FamilySearch (http://www.familysearch.org).
The Mormons have done a vast amount of genealogical work.
This site includes many databases. Its step-by-step search
process and online tutorials are terrific.

Another good search site is Ancestry (http://www.ancestry.com).
This site also includes huge databases. It charges for access
to most of its information. Subscriptions run from $29.95 to
$189.95, depending on the level of access desired.

More specialized databases also are available online. The
JewishGen Family Finder (http://www.jewishgen.org/jgff) is a
database of Jewish names currently being researched. The United
States Internet Genealogical Society's Military Collection
(http://www.usigs.org/library/military/index.htm) contains
name, rank and hometown for soldiers in specific outfits. For
immigration records, one of the best resources is the online
records of Ellis Island (http://www.ellisislandrecords.org).

Once you start collecting information on individuals, you'll need
software. There are a number of software packages that include
huge databases. These are often culled from military and court
records. Other sources also provide records.

But you don't have to buy software. There is free software on
the Web. It might well satisfy your needs, at least initially.
For instance, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
offers freeware on its site.

Cyndi's List includes a long list of genealogical programs.
Most of them are shareware. These programs are downloaded over
the Internet. You can try them before buying them.

Perhaps the most popular packaged program is Family Tree Maker,
from Genealogy.com (http://www.genealogy.com). The program costs
$29.99. Prices range up to $99.99 with subscriptions to various
publications. A free demonstration version is available.

Another possibility is The Master Genealogist by Wholly Genes
(http://www.whollygenes.com). This $79 program was issued in
May. The previous version received mixed reviews. People who
are deeply into genealogy loved it for its features. Others
complained that its Windows 3.1 features were badly out of date.

Cumberland Family Software (http://www.cf-software.com) is $45
and includes a 45-day free trial. Users can create a family book
with this program. Events are entered for individuals and the
program automatically puts them in story form.

A word of caution: Many people post their family trees online.
Be sure that your family members agree to have it posted on the
Internet. Many people have deep concerns about identity and other
types of theft. And they are not being paranoid.

Mothers' maiden names, for instance, often are used to access
passwords and bank or credit card account information. Some
people may not want this information disclosed. Even if it's on
a hidden page within a Web site, it's not safe from disclosure.

Search sites like Google.com that comb the Web sometimes find
hidden pages. Once in the search site's database, a hidden page
may subsequently be listed in a user's search results page.

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