Historical and Genealogical Resources

A wealth of historical and genealogical resources is available online, offering an excellent starting point for your research—but it is only the tip of the iceberg. Many valuable records can be obtained through mail-in requests, online ordering or telephone ordering versus in-person visits to courthouses, town clerk offices, or archives.

While the most comprehensive online resources such as Ancestry.com and AmericanAncestors.org require a subscription, many local libraries provide free access to these databases.

Genealogical Websites

• Ancestry.com
  The world’s largest genealogy platform to research family history, build family trees, and analyze DNA. It hosts over 30 billion historical records (such as censuses, vital records, and military documents) and maintains a DNA network of over 25 million people. (Free trial, $)
• FamilySearch.org
  A worldwide genealogical service that provides access to billions of historical records, a massive shared family tree, and genealogical resources. An extension of the Family History Library in Salt Lake City (Free).
• AmericanAncestors.org
  America’s oldest and largest genealogical society founded 1845 as the New England Historic and Genealogical Society (NEHGS). One of the world’s largest online collections of free family history resources, scholarship, educational programming and events (Free, $)
• FindMyPast.com
  The largest online collection of UK and Irish genealogy records and newspaper archives. ($)
• MyHeritage.com
  A global platform that helps you discover your heritage through DNA testing and genealogy research; mostly American and Nordic (Free trial, $)
• Fold3.com
  Digitized US military records from the Revolutionary War through recent conflicts. Access to millions of original documents from the National Archives. (Free trial, $)
• Newspapers.com
  Online archive of digitized historical newspapers dating from the 1700s to the present, focusing heavily on American records. (Free trial, $)
• GenealogyBank.com
  Subscription-based service specializing in U.S. family history research, featuring digital archives of American newspapers dating back to 1690 ($)
• FindAGrave.com
  A free online database for locating, recording, and sharing burial information worldwide. (Free)
• National Archives, UK
  The official archive and publisher for the UK government, as well as for England and Wales. Provides public access to over 1,000 years of historical documents. (Free)

Focus on Mayflower

• MayflowerHistory.com
  The Internet’s most complete and accurate website dealing with the Mayflower passengers and the history of the Pilgrims and early Plymouth Colony from author and historian, Caleb Johnson.
• Pilgrim Hall Museum
  America’s Museum of Pilgrim Possessions
• Plimoth Patuxet
  A living History Museum recreating 17th century Plimoth Colony and Wampanoag homesite.
• General Society of Mayflower Descendants
  A hereditary organization of individuals who have documented their descent from at least one of the 102 passengers who arrived on the Mayflower in 1620 at Plymouth, Massachusetts
• Plymouth Colony Archive Project
  A collection of fully searchable texts, including: court records, colony laws, seventeenth century journals and memoirs, probate inventories, wills, town plans, maps, and fort plans; research and seminar analyses of numerous topics; biographical profiles of selected colonists; and architectural, archaeological and material culture studies.
• “Pilgrim’s Progress 2014”
  A video of the General Society’s reenactment of the Pilgrims’ Sabbath procession to worship after the first hard winter.
• Photos of Plymouth, MA
  Shared album of photos.

Genealogy How-Tos

• Genealogy.com Classes
  Genealogy 101 level classes;  self-paced, six-lesson course.
• RootsTech by Family Search
  The world’s largest family history conference and year-long virtual learning platform offers over 1,500 free sessions, including on-demand videos from previous conferences covering various topics, skill levels, and locations.
• National Genealogical Society
  Free genealogy charts, templates, and tutorials.
• Evidence Explained
  Lessons in Historical Analysis, Citation & Source Usage.
• Charts and Forms
  Ancestral charts, research calendars, correspondence, source and other tracking documents free from Ancestry.com.

Genealogical Societies

• National Genealogical Society (NGS)
  The first national genealogical organization. Founded in 1903, it serves as a premier American, national society for family historians of all skill levels. It fosters genealogical education, high standards, best practices, and preservation, offering courses, publications, and an annual conference.
• Association of Professional Genealogists (APG)
  Founded in 1979, APG is the world’s largest association for professional genealogists, representing more than 2,000 members in forty countries.
• Association of Professional Genealogists, New England Chapter (NEAPG)
  The New England Chapter of APG supports those engaged in the business of genealogy in the New England area.
• Cape Cod Genealogical Society (CCGS)
  Founded on August 25, 1971, CCGS is dedicated to researching family histories, specifically in New England. It offers a library, education programs, a published journal, and digitized resources for tracing ancestry, primarily serving members across the U.S. and Canada.
• Board for Certification of Genealogists (BCG)
  An internationally recognized certifying body that validates skills and competency in genealogical research and awards credentials—Certified Genealogist (CG), Certified Genetic Genealogist (CGG), and Certified Genealogical Lecturer (CGL).
• International Commission for the Accreditation of Professional Genealogists ICAPGen)
  A premier professional credentialing body that tests competence in genealogical research and awards the Accredited Genealogist® (AG®) credential.