Genealogy
Using Online and Local Genealogy Resources to
Build a Family History
Hiring an Independent Genealogy Researcher
The number of independent genealogy researchers has grown with the overall interest in genealogy. If you do not have the time or expertise to conduct your own research and/or your research needs are not being met in commonly used databases, independent research may make economic sense. If the research is to be conducted locally, a good place to obtain researcher recommendations is by asking around at a local historical or genealogical society.
As the nature of requests, availability of the information, expertise of independent researchers, and charges will vary, it is important to be very clear about expectations and charges before an independent research project is started.
If your independent research needs are in a different state or region, it may make more sense to hire someone who is local to that region. A list of independent genealogy researchers is provided at the National Archives.
Conducting Your Own Genealogy Research
If you are ambitious, there is no reason that you cannot conduct your own genealogy research on the internet.
A good place to start is by talking with members of a local historical or genealogical society to learn from the local experience of others and perhaps pick up some valuable tips and hints as to how to approach a broader national or international project.
The Mormon Church is very well known for its commitment to genealogy research and its large and free databases. If you plan to conduct your own genealogy research project, a good place to start is by visiting the Church's genealogy website at FamilySearch.org. The site is user friendly and offers many good guides to the genealogy research process. Research Guidance at the FamilySearch.org site is very useful.
A comprehensive list of both free and paid online genealogy research resources is CyndisList. The list is extensive, but somewhat overwhelming, and not as well organized as resources at FamilySearch.org.
Another site of interest for your own research is USGenWeb.org. This is a volunteer effort with plenty of useful guidance and links to local member volunteers who can be helpful locally.
