Genealogy: A Pathfinder

Genealogy (noun) : a record or table of the descent of a person, family, or group from an ancestor or ancestors; a family tree.

Tracing your family history can be a fascinating but daunting dive into the past. We’re here to help! Check the tabs below for books, databases, and websites that can help you track your roots.

You can also visit the Framingham Room in the Main library to find local genealogical information, including gravesite listings for some Framingham cemeteries and vital records from most Massachusetts communities.

Last updated July 2018

Introductory Guides

Books

Genealogy for the first time: Research your family history 929.1 Best
A beginner's guide to online genealogy 929.10285 Dunn
Genealogy 929.1028 Helm 2017
Genealogy online for dummies 929.1028 Helm
The librarian's genealogy notebook - FRAMRM 929.1 Moore
Who do you think you are? : the essential guide to tracing your family history 929.1 Smolenyak
They became Americans: Research in U.S. naturalization records 929.1 1998 Szucs

Methods and Techniques

Books

A genealogist's guide to discovering your female ancestors: Special strategies for uncovering hard-to-find information about your female lineage 929.1082 Carmack
Managing a Genealogical Project FRAMRM 929.1 Dollarhide
The researcher’s guide to American genealogy 929.1 Greenwood 2017
Locating lost family members & friends: Modern genealogical research techniques for locating the people of your past and present 929.1 Hinckley
How to trace your African-American roots: Discovering your unique history 929.1 1999 Howell
The weekend genealogist: Timesaving techniques for effective research 929.1 2000 Melnyk
Evidence! : citation & analysis for the family historian 929.1 Mills
The family tree problem solver : proven methods for scaling the inevitable brick wall 929.1 Rising
The hidden half of the family: A sourcebook for women's genealogy 929.1082 Schaefer

Preserving Your Finds

Books

Sources

Books

The American Census Handbook FRAMRM 016.9291 2001 Kemp
New England court records : a research guide for genealogists and historians FRAMRM 929.1 Rapaport
DAR patriot index FRAMRM 929.3 Daughters v3
U.S. military records : a guide to federal and state sources, Colonial America to the present FRAMRM 929.3 Neagles 1994

Library Databases

Ancestry Library (In Library Use Only) - Thousands of family history databases, including vital records, census records, ship passenger lists, military records and lots more!
Heritage Quest - HeritageQuest Online is a digital resource that combines searchable images of U.S. federal genealogical census records with digitized books containing family and local histories from around the country. It includes 25,000 family and local history books, U.S. census records, and PERSI, an index of over 1.6 million genealogy and local history articles.

Federal Databases (all free to access)

U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Nationwide Gravesite Locator - For burials from 1997 to present day.
National Park Service: Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System - Includes records for sailors and soldiers from the Union and Confederate armies, regimental histories, selected prisoner lists, and other information pertaining to the soldiers and sailors of the Civil War.
US Bureau of Land Management: General Land Office Records - Track your acestors through federal land deeds.

Websites

Association of Professional Genealogists - Hire a professional genealogist to help you in your search.
Ellis Island - Records of passenger ships arriving at Ellis Island, New York.
FamilySearch - A website of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, world leaders in genealogical research.
- FamilySearch Wiki - Helpful hints on getting started with FamilySearch. Much of this advice is also applicable to other sources.
The National Archives Genealogy Page - Records to search and ideas for getting started from the National Archives.
- Listing of State archives offices
RootsWeb - Connecting people and resources for genealogical research.
U.S. Census Bureau - The Census Bureau will provide census records 72 years and older to proven legal descendants.

Resources for Specific Groups

Books

Tracing your Irish family history 929.1 Adolph
In search of your British & Irish roots : a complete guide to tracing your English, Welsh, Scottish, and Irish ancestors 929.1 Baxter 1999
In search of your German roots : a complete guide to tracing your ancestors in the Germanic areas of Europe 929.1 Baxter 2015
In search of your Asian roots : genealogical research on Chinese surnames 929.1 Chao
How to trace your African-American roots: Discovering your unique history 929.1 1999 Howell
From generation to generation : how to trace your Jewish genealogy and family history 929.1 Kurzweil
A genealogist's guide to discovering your English ancestors : how to find and record your unique heritage 929.1 Milner
A genealogist's guide to discovering your Italian ancestors : how to find and record your unique heritage 929.1 Nelson
Twenty families of color in Massachusetts 1742-1998 929.2 Dorman
List of Freemen of Massachusetts, 1630-1691 FRAMRM 929.3 Paige

Articles

A Guide to Tracing American Indian & Alaska Native Ancestry - created by the U.S. Department of the Interior

We Can Help!

For professional assistance locating the information you need:

Telephone the Main Library Reference Department at 508-532-5570, extension 4361.
Email your questions through our "Ask A Librarian" page.
Visit the Main Library or the McAuliffe Branch for free access to the Internet and databases, and for assistance with research.