NAVIGATING GENEALOGY WEBSITES
The types of websites you want to find:
Genealogical Societies
Vital statistics
Census
Public library / University Online Newspapers Cemetery
Genweb sites
Archives and Museums
What are you looking for? ….. Dates of events, Proof of immigration….Proof of residence….
Try to find:
~Indexes of: births, marriages, cemeteries, obituaries, census, homesteads, passenger lists
~Directories: Henderson/Polk
~Local Area History Books
Indexes will help lead to finding copies of vital statistic certificates, obituaries in
newspapers and other helpful information.
Things to remember:
Family trees found online are not always accurate or correct. A well done family tree has
sources. Be sure to source the information you gather!
Spelling: Errors can occur, whether it’s in an original document or a transcription of
documents, keep your eyes open for all possibilities.
Tips:
Using Google Search names forwards as backwards, in quotes or without quotes “John
Smith” “Smith, John” Narrow results by adding a location, spouse’s first name, date
To find a word on a page “Control” “F”
Print Screen – to capture an image on the screen
First, find what you can online for free. Sites offering subscriptions may have what you
want, but what you want may be found for free at another website.
Be wary of the true completeness of databases. If your ancestor isn’t found in a particular
database or list of records, perhaps the database isn’t as complete as you thought it to be.
For a complete list of my favorite websites, and ones you will probably find useful, visit:
http://genealogysitesalberta.weebly.com/
Alberta Genealogical Society
Homestead index, local area history book surnames
Alberta Genweb
An awesome Alberta Place Name list and more
Automated Genealogy
1851, 1852, 1901, 1906, 1911 Census
Library and Archives Canada
Archivianet, Naturalization, Census films online
Family Search
Worldwide information
Edmonton Public Library
Edmonton Journal obituary index 1950-1982
Canada.com newspapers
Canadian Newsstand
Use your public library card from home
Pin is last four digits of your phone number
The Recents
Edmonton Bulletin/Journal Calgary Herald, etc.
Military info
University of Alberta
Peel Collection Newspapers and Hendersons
Wainwright Star
100 years of perfectly digitized newspaper
Google Newspapers
search by keyword not always accurate
Our Future Our Past
local area history books, newspapers, Alberta Gazette
Our Roots
local area history books
Nova Scotia Archives
vital statistics with images
Internet Archive
directories
Nanaimo Family History
index of arrivals Quebec Ports Oct, 1906 to Oct 1910
Rootsweb Genealogy.com
numerous databases, message boards
United Kingdom
Free BMD Free Cen
Subscription sites:
Find My Past, Newspaper Archive, Paper of Record
Ancestry.com at local library or genealogical society
http://genealogysitesalberta.weebly.com/