Switchboard Home Page
        Thousands of people have found long-lost friends and relatives using Swicthboard. Click on "Find People" and fill in the blanks they give you. Sometimes it works better to leave the space for the city blank. If you get too few or too many hits on the first try, modify your search and try again.

AltaVista®
      Searches more sites than any single search engine on the Internet. Try typing the name you are searching using this format +"john smith". If you get too many hits try +"John SMITH" because genealogists often capitalize all the letters of the last name. You may be surprised what you will find.

Google
      Uncluttered page. Intuitive and easy seaching. Try typing in the name of an ancestor. Add a birth date or deathdate to narrow the search.

RootsWeb Surname List -- Interactive Search
        One of the first and still one of my favorite sites. The RootsWeb Surname List (RSL) is a list or registry of 810,000 surnames submitted 75,000+ genealogists. Associated with each surname are dates and locations, and information about how to contact the person who submitted the surname. Researchers working on the same family, in the same area and similar time frame can contact each other and share information via e-mail or regular mail. I have found several distant cousins using the RSL.

FamilySearch Internet Genealogy Service
     Sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, this site has a powerful search engine that searches for data in the 300-million- name International Genealogical Index® and the 41-million-name Ancestral File®. It also looks at Web sites and other genealogical indexes. Users still need to check sources to verify accuracy of data, especially information from the Ancestral File. Using CUSTOM SEARCH users can access the Family History Library Catalog®, find the nearest Family History Center®, use the Family History SourceGuide®, and access collaboration mailing lists created by registered users of FamilySearch Internet Service.

Cyndi's List of Genealogy Sites on the Internet
        Has the most links to genealogical resources. Constantly updated and the links are categorized and cross-referenced. Cyndi has put a lot of work into making this site user friendly. Perfect for the beginning genealogist and anyone else who uses the Internet to do research.

The U.S. GenWeb Project
        A volunteer effort providing a single entry point for all states and counties in the United States, where collected databases are stored and made available online. Volunteer specialists in each county may be queried via e-mail. Coverage by county varies, but still a "must check" place for anyone doing genealogy on the Internet.

Family History Information: How Do I Begin?
        Answers the questions: Why family history? Why do members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints do family history research? What can I do first? What is a Family History Center(TM)?Where is the nearest Family History Center (TM)? The answers, which are just a click away, give beginners a good start on their research.

Seven Steps to a Family Tree: A Beginners Guide to Genealogy
        This online guide presents the seven basic steps in tracing an American family tree. Following the steps is the beginning of a pilgrimage into the past. This guide shows how to do it. A great first place to look for the beginner.

FuneralNet Directory
        More than 20,000 U.S. funeral homes listed and over 1,100 Canadian funeral homes listed. Search by: funeral home name, address, city, county, or state. Results will give you name, address, telephone number, and fax if available. In a town with only a few funeral homes, one or two telephone calls could yield the information you need.

Repositories of Primary Sources
       If you want to know which archives and libraries have major collections of primary source documents, checkout this website. They list over 3,200 other websites which describe the holdings of manuscripts, archives, rare books, historical photographs, and other primary sources. All links have been tested for correctness and appropriateness.

Roots-L Home Page
     Roots-L started in 1987 as a mailing list. Today it has over 7,000 subscribers. If you want a lot of e-mail and have a large mail box, or if you have several lines you are actively researching at the same time, subscribe to Root-L, but don't lose the opening message that tells you how to unsbscribe. This site can also lead you to regional and surname mailing lists.

User Mailing Lists Hosted by RootsWeb
    User Mailing Lists Hosted by RootsWeb is what it says it is. It has links to mailing lists which in turn have instructions for subscribers. Mailing lists are a good way to find other researchers who may have information to share.

Genealogy Resources on the Internet--Mailing Lists
        Maintained by John Fuller, this is another way to gain access to a mailing list. It gives instructions and hints for subscribing.

Ancestry.com
     One the of the largest online commercial databases. For $130 a year you get online access to 705 million names and census images. If you are serious about online searching this Ancestry.com could be worth the investment.

GenServ - Family History
        More than19 million individuals in over 15,000 GEDCOM databases this site is maintained by Cliff Manis. The first requirement for subscription is a GEDCOM of the subscriber's personal family history. The system is based on sharing the information each has about his family. The regular annual subscription fee is $12/year with a discount to $6/year for senior citizens (over sixty) and students. Other levels of access are available for more money. Subscribers query the system and receive reports. The GEDCOMs will never be sold on CD or given away.

Heritage Quest Online
        Heritage Quest Online--A commercial site with access to census images from 1790 to 1930 and over 25,000 family and local history books. The Great Bend Public Library subscribes to this service for its local patrons. Come to the library or call the reference desk to gain access this database.

Family Tree Maker Online
        A commercial site for genealogists. Read interviews with noted genealogists, find out about local and national genealogical organizations and societies. search the FamilyFinder Index online, free! This directory lists 115 million names from centuries of census and marriage indexes, birth records, actual family trees, and other resources.

National Genealogical Society
        National Genealogical Society is a national membership organization with 14,000+ members. Charts, forms, aids, special reference materials. Members can search their online catalog and borrow materials from it. They have a 30,000 volume collection and circulate most of them to their members via UPS and USPS.

New England Historic and Genealogical Society
        They have a national membership and sell two-volume catalog to their circulating collection for $10 per volume. The Circulating Library materials are available only to members of the Society. Memberships must be of annual or higher status to borrow from the collection. Annual membership is $50.00.

Genealogy Software Springboard
       This site was created in 1996 in order to help our fellow rooters and genealogists review genealogy programs. Since 1996, thousands of online genealogists have visited this site and gained the information they need to help them determine which genealogy program is best for them.

The Mid-Continent Public Library Genealogy Circulating Collection
        Genealogy and Local History Department of the Mid-Continent Public Library is one of the few public libraries in the United States to loan genealogical materials on interlibrary loan. This site lists the materials available. Individuals may borrow books listed in this catalog through their local public library. There is no charge to borrow books from the Mid-Continent Public Library. However, some libraries charge their patrons postal or handling fees for interlibrary loan services. Send requests via a standard ALA approved Interlibrary Loan Request Form.

Allen County Public Library--Genealogy Department
        The genealogy department has more than 220,000 printed volumes and 251,000 items of microfilm and microfiche. This is a good source for items found in The Periodical Source Index, or PERSI. If what you want is found in a magazine that is indexed in PERSI, fill out this form follow the instructions and send it to the Allen County Library.      PERSI Request Form     Search PERSI Online

Directory of Genealogy Libraries in the U.S.
The libraries in this list have large and small collections of genealogical material. We recommend that you contact the library to make sure they have what you want before you make a trip to use their resources.

Christine's Genealogy Website
        Christine Cheryl Charity's comprehensive collection of African American genealogical resources. Features lots of links to other sites. Excellent on African-American research.

Native American Genealogy
        This site has many links to other native American genealogy sites. It is a good springboard to more specific types of information.

Hispanic Genealogical Society
        This is a good place to start a search for Hispanic ancestors. They offer databases on families of Northern Mexico, South Texas, California, and New Mexico. It has hundreds of links to other Hispanic genealogy sites.

JewishGen: The Home of Jewish Genealogy
        This site features a discussion group,information files, searchable databases, special interest groups, and much more. This is a great beginning point for genealogists with Jewish ancestry.