Headstones of Deceased Union Veterans, 1879-1903

This database on FamilySearch contains some veterans before the Civil War--including some War of 1812 soldiers.

United States Records of Headstones of Deceased Union Veterans, 1879-1903

Remarried Widows Index to United States Pension Applications, 1887-1942

This FamilySearch digital version of a card index at the US National Archives may help assist researchers during this time period--it has subsequent married names of widows who qualified for a Civil War widow's pension.

University of Alabama Online Map Collection

The University of Alabama has a wonderful online "Historical Map Archive." Their collection includes a large number of maps outside Alabama.

US Enumeration District Maps 1900-1940 Census

For those who were unaware, FamilySearch has published on their site digital images of "United States Enumeration District Maps for the Twelfth through the Sixteenth US Censuses, 1900-1940."

These maps come from a variety of original sources but were used to indicate enumeration district boundaries.

United States Deceased Physician File (AMA), 1864-1968

This database from records of the American Medical Association is online free at FamilySearch. 

County and State Classifications of Records

Some items on FamilySearch may be listed as either statewide or local records using the name of the county.

This cataloging system does not mean that the state created the records in the database that contains only the state's name. Always read the description for more details on where the records were obtained.

My personal preference is to use those with the county name in the title as they are more likely to be digital images of actual records.

Usually--not always.

1790-1930 US Federal census microfilm at Archive.org

The 1790-1930 US Federal census microfilm is online free at Archive.org. Entire rolls can be downloaded as individual PDF files. Nice for those with lots of ancestors in the same county.

• 1930 United States Census.
• 1920 United States Census.
• 1910 United States Census.
• 1900 United States Census.
• 1880 United States Census.
• 1870 United States Census.
• 1860 United States Census.
• 1850 United States Census.
• 1840 United States Census.
• 1830 United States Census.
• 1820 United States Census.
• 1810 United States Census.
• 1800 United States Census.
• 1790 United States Census

Chicago City Directories on Archive.org

There are a variety of digital images of Chicago city directories on Archive.org.

Bureau of Land Management Tract Books

Most of the microfilmed copies of the Bureau of Land Management books are online at FamilySearch. Those who have ancestors who obtained federal land should reference these materials.

Here are a few links:

• "Homestead Claims Lead to Tract Books Lead to Incomplete Claims"
• Links to the digital images of books and the guide.
• "BLM Tract Book Discovery"

US Census Enumerator Instructions

Knowing what the census enumerator was supposed to do can help you to interpret the census enumeration. This site has links to those instructions.

Archive.org, WorldCat, Census Searching and Newspaper Research Webinars

I am excited to offer four new webinars this week (25 and 27 March 2015):

• Archive.org--do you know how much free genealogy material is there?
• Worldcat--search thousands of library card catalogs at once
• Census Searching at Ancestry.com
• Newspaper Research

Check out the details here! Join us.

Indianapolis City Directories

Numerous Indianapolis, Indiana city directories are available online at Archive.org.

84000 Books from Ft. Wayne's Genealogy Library Online

Over 84,000 titles from the Allen County Public Library in Ft. Wayne, Indiana, have been digitized and placed on Archive.org. Search or browse the collection via this portal.

Fold3, BLM, and Process Webinars Released

Is Your Process the Problem?

Is your genealogical research process part of your problem? We will look at ways to organize your search, your problems, and your results in order to make the most effective use of your genealogical and financial resources. Geared towards beginning and intermediate researchers. $7 includes registration and handout.

Using the Bureau of Land Management Site

This presentation discusses search strategies for the Bureau of Land Management website--which hosts a database of federal land patent extracts and images. It will include a brief discussion of legal land descriptions in federal land states before discussing the several ways the site can be searched and queried. The presentation will conclude with several specific examples and how the site was queried for additional information. $7 includes presentation and handout.

Navigating Fold3.com-Wednesday 

Frustrated with finding databases and people on Fold3.com? This presentation discusses search techniques for determining what Fold3.com has, what it doesn't and how to search the entire site and specific databases for individuals of interest. Download complete presentation for $7.

Michigan Death Certificate Images 1897-1939

Part of the 1915 death certificate for
Charlotte Cummings in Huron County, Michigan.

Images of Michigan death records are available from 1897-1939 on the Seeking Michigan website. This blog post provides more detail about these records.

Click on the "advanced search" link on any Seeking Michigan page to get the search menu ro access these records.

But read the blog post first to get some background.

US Federal Agricultural Census Questions

Column headings for US agricultural censuses between 1850 and 1880 can be difficult to read. This PDF file on the www.census.gov site may help you interpret those mysterious numbers for your ancestor.

Maybe Search Problems are Not Just You

Sometimes websites have issues with their search--even after the search has worked for years. Sometimes not getting results is not about the user, occasionally it is the interface as this post about Fold3.com shows.

Rural Life and Agriculture: A Collection of Digitized Books

Need some insight into your ancestor's agricultural experience? These items available digitally at the University of Illinois have a US Midwestern focus, but may contain references to farm equipment and farming practices.

United States Census Microfilm on Archive.org

The 1790-1930 United States census microfilm is available for free digitally on Archive.org. It's not indexed, but you can download entire rolls to your computer for personal viewing--just like you had the microfilm.

And if you've seen an image elsewhere and already located the census entry, the image on Archive.org may be easier to read.

The portal to the images is here:

https://archive.org/details/us_census

BLM Patent Location Versus Warrantee Residence

When searching the BLM site remember that the geographic location coded into the database is the location where the property patented was actually located. That may be a significant distance from where the warrant holder was living. Warrants were usually issued based upon military service and the veteran (or his heirs) may never have lived remotely close to where the property patented was actually located.

Warning Out In New England

Those who have relatives who were "warned out" in New England, may wish to take a look at Josiah Henry Benton's Warning Out in New England (Boston, 1911, W. B. Clarke Company) which is available digitally on GoogleBooks. 

(This was mentioned in a recent Rootdig.com post, but I thought it might be good to share with readers here as well.)

1788 Swedish Dictionary

Need a meaning of an old word" in Swedish? Try this online 1788 Swedish-English dictionary.

Webinars: Brick Walls, BLM, Fold3, and Research Process

The week of 9 March, we're offering webinars on the following topics:

• Using Fold3.com
• Using the Bureau of Land Management website
• Brick Wall Strategies for 2015
• Is Your Strategy the Problem?

Want to join us? More details are here. 

Historical Atlases and Maps of U.S. and States

Historical Atlases and Maps of U.S. and States has online county formation maps for all the United States. Choose you state of interest and scroll down on the individual state page to see it.

First Families of Ohio Database

The database of 17,000 names in the First Families of Ohio database from the Ohio Genealogical Society can be searched here.

Searches Too Specific for the Database?

Just a reminder that database searches need to be no more specific than the database entries. A recent post to Rootdig.com  has an example for those who need one.

The Text and Nothing But the Text

Sometimes you want the text without the formatting.

crtrl+shift+v

will get you the text without bringing the formatting into the document.

Because sometimes you want the text and nothing but the text.