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Getting Started in Genealogy

Are you just getting started with researching your family history?  Not sure where to start?

Click here or on the image below to view a helpful video with some great ideas about some first steps you can take to begin your journey:

Intro to Genealogy Slide

Click here for a printable handout.

Click here for our Vimeo Channel with more video tutorials, including how to access paid sites for free using Power Library! 

Here are links to the sites mentioned in the video, as well as some others that may help you get started (those followed by "$$" are sites accesible only by paid subscription; others are free):

General information

Ancestry (www.ancestry.com) - A huge collection of searchable databases and family trees. This paid site is available to research for free at many libraries including Bucks County. It is only available to search in their e-library in person at a library computer. Watch our video tutorial by clicking here. ($$)

FamilySearch (www.familysearch.org) - an enormous collection of searchable databases and public trees, both American and world-wide (free) from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Mormon Church). 

FamilySearch Wiki (www.familysearch.org/wiki) - an online genealogical guide with links to genealogy databases and online resources, and research strategies. A tutorial is available at https://www.familysearch.org/ask/learningViewer/734. (Free)

FindMyPast (www.findmypast.com) - a variety of collections, but featuring records from the British Isles ($$)

        MyHeritage (www.myheritage.com) - global collection of almost 20 billion records and millions of
        family trees. It is now available to search in Power Library through many e-libraries including Bucks
        County. Watch our video tutorial by clicking here. ($$)

        For a list of the best genealogy sites for beginners, see this article published by Family Tree
        Magazine.

Visit our Bucksgen Facebook Forum where BCGS members and friends can post your general genealogy-related questions, seek advice or join a convertation to help others.

Newspapers

  • Newspapers.com (www.newspapers.com) - historical newspapers from the 1700's to the 2000's, allowing you to search for a name or other keyword. Note: You can access obituaries on Newspapers.com free at the Bucks County Free Libraries as part of Ancestry.com's Library Edition. Watch this video to learn how! ($$) 
  • GenealogyBank (www.genealogybank.com) - thousands of searchable American newspapers from the 1690's to present ($$)
  •         Chronicling America, Library of Congress (https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/) with over 3
            million newspaper pages from nearly every state and territory in the United States published
            through 1963. (Free)
  •         Newspaper Archive (http://newspaperarchive.com) - publications from over 3500 cities from 
            across the world. ($$)
  •         MyHeritage Old News (http://oldnews.com) - with historical newspapers from across the 
            world. ($$)

Military records

Fold3 (www.fold3.com) - A variety of historical databases, but featuring military records from the Revolutionary War to World War I ($$)

Cemetery records

  • Find A Grave (www.findagrave.com) - A collection of burials from over 400,000 cemeteries in over 200 countries, all contributed by volunteers (Free)
  • Billion Graves (www.billiongraves.com) - Another gravestone collection, where all the posted graves have GPS coordinates attached (free)

DNA Testing and Education

Bucks County-specific information

BCGS Bucks County Database (www.bucksgen.org/index.php/search-database) - Contains records of Bucks County names from the 1700's to present, from records donated by local organizations and volunteers (Free)

For a detailed list of other Bucks County resources, visit our Bucks County Resources page (www.bucksgen.org/index.php/resources-for-bucks-county-research)

Pennsylvania-specific information

         The Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania (https://genpa.org) is one of the oldest genealogical
         societies in the U.S., with many collections of records, programs, and resources.

The Pennsylvania State Archives in Harrisburg (https://www.phmc.pa.gov/Archives/Research-Online/Pages/default.aspx) offers finding aids as well as online searchable databases for birth and death indices, land and military records, photographs, and much more. Visit the Archives to access the wealth of information there: https://www.phmc.pa.gov/Archives/Visit/Pages/default.aspx.

New Jersey-specific information

The New Jersey State Archives in Trenton (https://nj.gov/state/archives/search.html) has online searchable databases, including indexes to birth, marriage, and death records; land, probate, and court records; military and wartime records; and photograph collections.  If you would like to make an in-person visit to the New Jersey Archives, you must make an appointment. Check out this informative video: https://www.facebook.com/NJStateArchives/videos/1654043188489410 

Puerto Rican genealogy

If you are researching Puerto Rican ancestors, download this document on "Discovering your Puerto Rican Roots."

        Also visit: FamilySearch's digital collection

 

 

 

Downloadable Forms

To help you to begin collecting and organizing your family history information, you can download any of the forms listed below.  Some of them are PDF forms that you can download to your own computer, and then fill out and save and print the completed form.  Others offer suggestions for your research:

Or visit Family Tree Magazine's site for more forms: Genealogy Forms  as well as National Archives: https://www.archives.gov/research/genealogy/charts-forms

* Other Spanish-language forms are available at https://www.familysearch.org/en/wiki/Spanish_Genealogical_Forms 

Another great comprehensive handout with pedigree charts, family group sheets, interview questions, forms and more, is from the Afro American Historical and Genealogical Society: Jump Start Your Genealogy Research