California Digital Newspaper Project

Those with relatives who lived in California may wish to take advantage of the free materials online at the California Digital Newspaper Project at the University of California-Riverside.

Iowa Maps Digital Collection

If you have Iowa family or ancestors, consider taking a look at the digital maps on this site from the University of Iowa Libraries.

Colonial Williamsburg Foundation Images on Google Art Project

It's not quite a genealogy database, but this Google sponsored site contains 160 high quality images from the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation collection--including several 18th century maps.

Early Virginia Religious Petitions

While not searchable by name of individual signers, these early Virginia religious petitions from 1774-1802 are from eighty Virginia counties and towns. High quality scans of these documents are on the website at no charge and items can be browsed by geographic location.

Alberta Canada--Homestead Records

This database contains an index to individuals who completed homestead claims in Alberta, Canada.

Not Quite Soundex on FamilySearch

Remember when using the search boxes at FamilySearch that the "unexact search" (with the box unchecked) is not quite the same as a "soundex" search.

A search for Edward Lawson (exact box unchecked) (wife Mary) born 1800-1815 does not give the same research results as a search for Edward Layson (exact box unchecked) (wife Mary) born 1800-1815.

Lawson and Layson are Soundex equivalents.

There are numerous other examples, but do not assume that since you left the "exact box" unchecked, you'll get all the Soundex equivalents at FamilySearch. You won't.

You'll still get many variants...but just keep this in mind.