User:Luccagenes/Sandbox/TestPage41

=Searching Genealogy Names=

If you came to the Research Wiki wanting to search for your ancestors names the wiki provides this quick guide to point you in the right direction and hopefully enhance your genealogy experience. This wiki has tables available with most of the relevant links to websites and databases specifically designed to search names. The Research Wiki wants to help you search for the names you have collected as well as the names you will collect in the future through your research efforts.

Whether you are just starting to look for your ancestor's names, trying to find those last few names giving you trouble, or you want to dig deeper to find more names, using the wiki can be as easy as One Two Three. This article is a guide to getting you to the right pages quickly and easily so you can complete your online genealogy searches.

You may have come to the Research Wiki hoping to search for your great grandfather’s name but that is not what this wiki was designed for but the Research Wiki can help locate many of the websites where you can search for your ancestor’s names. These websites are compiled in pages called the Online Genealogy Records which may occasionally be referred to as the Online Resources.

This wiki has collected a comprehensive list of the online resource links you should thoroughly check out first to see if your ancestor’s names are already available. Then, if you do not find what you are looking for, you should come back to the Research Wiki for more help in finding the locations of records that are not yet online. The wiki also provides a knowledge base for both beginners learning to get organized and for experienced researchers looking for proven methodologies for uncovering the past. Step One
 * Enter the country (USA) or state name of interest into the search box, click on the map, or click the Countries link at the bottom of the map.


 * Once you are on the page for the location you are investigating you can jump to the list of links for the online resources that are available. For many of the links, you will be taken directly to a search specifically for that state while other linkss will take you to a general database search..


 * When ready - Return to the Main Page

Step Two
 * As a example, go to a state page such as Illinois where you will notice a blue tab that says “online resources” or on older format pages you will see a green colored box that also says (state) online genealogy records.

Watch for similarly colored boxes on state pages. Check out this active link to see a records table.
 * Note that these consolidated lists of links are currently available on all states in the US, with the exception being the US territories. For now the US territories and many other countries have similar links which would have to be found on the various pages associated with each of those other locations.


 * Clicking either of these links will bring you to a page showing a table that gives a comprehensive list of links that you should work through when searching for your ancestors. Eventually you will also be able to find a link associated with each of the resource links that helps explain how to use those resources to maximize your efforts and to help if you encounter difficulties.


 * You should find one of these tables associated with every state and the District of Columbia in the United States of America. Available on other countries?

Step Three
 * If you can pinpoint your state of interest, you can evaluate all the provided online links for each ancestor you are searching for. Many of these links will allow you to broaden you search to multiple states or the entire country.


 * The wiki's Online Genealogy Records cover a wide variety of information such as, Vital records (such as Births, Marriages, Deaths), Biographies, Cemetery records, Census records, various social groups records, History links, Land records, Military records, Naturalization records, Newspapers, Obituaries, Probate and tax records, and websites for other state databases.


 * Note that there is also a link to a United States resources page (shown above) which lists websites with online immigration records.


 * Note: The dollar sign ($) means that a paid subscription is required to access that particular database. In the case of Ancestry.com your local Family History Center (FHC) does have free access to this cite (available to the public) and the volunteers at these centers will gladly assist you. See the FHC introduction article to get some background information.

Step Four, come back for more
 * Once you have totally exhausted all these search avenues you should return to this Research Wiki to help you find the location of records and archives that are not currently available online.
 * New to Genealogy - The wiki can get you or someone you know off to the best start toward building your family history by providing knowledge based on years of experience.
 * New to the Wiki - The wiki has extensive articles and help pages to get you up and running to enhance your searching or even learning to contribute to the wiki.
 * Research Methods - The wiki can help you learn from the experience of others and teaches you how to use time honored and well established methodologies.

That is it in a nutshell, so we wish you the Best of Luck with your online searches and please come back to see if the Research Wiki can help you further. Out goal is to make your genealogy quest as efficient and enjoyable as possible by helping to learn how to locate and search for records that are, as of yet, not currently online. We also want to ensure that you have the best knowledge base available for learning through the experience of others.

See also: Links to next