American Biographical Library

Containing over 75,000 full-text biographies, the American Biographical Library is comprised of the following works: Biographical Directory of the American Congress, 1774-1949; Biographical Cyclopedia of American Women. 2 vols; Daughters of America (Women of the Century); Historical Register of Officers of the Continental Army During the War of the Revolution; Herringshaw's Encyclopedia of American Biography of the Nineteenth Century; American Biographical Notes: Being Short Notices of Deceased Persons, Chiefly Those Not Included in Allen's or Drake's Biographical Dictionary; Plymouth Colony; The Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans.

Why Genealogy is Important for Children

There are plenty of reasons why adults should be curious about family history, but what about children? Why should adults teach children about genealogy? I'm sure you have a few answers of your own.

My interest in genealogy and history began when I was about nine. At that point, there were no books written on the subject for kids. Instead I worked my way through Gilbert Doane's, In Search of Your Ancestors and followed his advice for about a year. It was a college history assignment that rekindled my interest in the topic and led to my working in the field. That's when I discovered that family history is a great way to teach children history-local, national and international. Over the years, as I worked with school groups, it became apparent there was still a lack of resources for children interested in genealogy.

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The Encyclopedia of Quaker Genealogy, 1740-1930

This data collection contains page images of all six volumes of the Encyclopedia of American Quaker Genealogy originally published by the Genealogical Publishing Company. This is an especially valuable resource -- almost half of all persons who can trace their American ancestry prior to 1850 have Quaker ancestors. Approximately 455,000 Quakers who resided in New Jersey, New York, the Carolinas, Tennessee, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Virginia during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries are referenced within these pages.

These six volumes were compiled by William Wade Hinshaw from monthly meeting records and are among the most important works on Quaker genealogy ever published. According to the National Genealogical Society Quarterly, these volumes represent "One of the indisputably great moments of genealogical research in the twentieth century." (Volume XXXVIII, Number 2, June 1950).

The information contained in these volumes is of great importance because Quakers did not have their vital statistics recorded in civil offices prior to 1850. The records kept by Friends Monthly Meetings during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries usually consisted of births, deaths, marriages, and, of great importance, certificates of removal for Society of Friends members who relocated from one meeting to another.

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They Changed Our Name at Ellis Island (Donna Przecha)

We have all heard someone say that their family name was "changed by the inspectors at Ellis Island." Nowadays our names are recorded when we are born and are virtually never changed. You can still use any name you want as long as you do not intend to defraud but, in fact, with drivers' licenses, social security numbers, credit cards, etc., it is just too complicated to try to alter your name except through a court proceeding.

People seem to feel that it was the same way at the turn of the century. They think that immigrants had one correct way to spell their name in the old country, when they encountered the clerk at Ellis Island it was changed to something else and then it was spelled that way ever after in America. The explanation usually is that the immigrant spoke little or no English, so either the immigrant inadvertently gave an incorrect reply to the question of "What is your name?" or the clerk misunderstood the name or decided it was too complicated.

In reality, it is highly unlikely that this happened. The Immigration and Naturalization Service has a good article on immigrant name changes that explains why this wonderful story is a myth: the clerks at Ellis Island didn't write down names. They worked from lists that were created by the shipping companies. What usually happened was the emigrant bought a ticket from an office near his home. So, the seller probably spoke the same language and transcribed the name correctly. In cases where the name was recorded incorrectly, it likely occurred in the old country, not at Ellis Island...

Early Settlers of New York State, 1760-1942

This database contains is from the following two volume set: Early Settlers of New York State -- Their Ancestors and Descendants, Volumes I and II. These books are comprised of articles that originally appeared in the periodical Early Settlers of New York State -- Their Ancestors and Descendants. Edited by New York genealogist Janet Foley, its purpose was to collect, publish, and preserve church records, tombstone inscriptions, and family records, first from western New York, then from all of New York State. Referencing over 97,000 people who lived between 1760 and 1942, this collection provides little-known but first-rate source material that is essential to any researcher whose family research involves early New York State.

What you can learn about each listed individual varies, depending on the original article. However, in this collection you will find family genealogies, obituaries, Bible records, cemetery records, marriage records, church records, and death records. These records may provide you with information such as the dates and locations of important family events, as well as the names of the participants, witnesses, or other family members.

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Coat of Arms for a Surname

Q: I am interest in the Robinson Coat of Arms. My side of the family came form Scotland to England. How do I find out what the coat of arms looks like? -- Nick

A: Coats of arms, sometimes better known as heraldry, are a misunderstood offshoot of genealogical research. In reality it is its own specialty and really has nothing to do with genealogy, though some of the records generated in heraldry may be useful to genealogists. Over the years, the two fields of study have become blurred....

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Family History Made Easy: Step by Step

The basics of family history research couldn't be made simpler than with this continuing series of beginning genealogy steps from Ancestry Magazine. Learn everything from starting with home sources to choosing the best federal and state sources to accomplish your research.
Authors Terry and Jim Willard, hosts of the first ten-part PBS "Ancestors" series, bring years of genealogical research experience to play throughout the series. Follow along as they explain the methods of family history research so that you can learn new skills or improve your established research methods.

Step 1: Getting Started
Step 2: Treasures in the Attic
Step 3: Living Sources
Step 4: Beginning Your Library Research
Step 5: At the Library
Step 6: Secondary Source Research
Step 7: Primary Sources and Vital Records
Step 8: Census Records
Step 9: Immigration Records
Step 10: Naturalization Records
Step 11: Military Records
Step 12: Land Records
Step 13: Will and Probate Records
Step 14: Court Records
Step 15: Unusual Record Sources
Step 16: Computers and Family History
Step 17: Online Research
Step 18: Adding Life to Your Family History