Tips to Getting Stared on Genealogy
- Decide who and what you want to find.
- Explore materials and stories you already have.
- Start Researching at your Library.
- Organize and Share What You Find.
- Genealogy Research: An Introduction This link opens in a new window
This is a video tutorial on the basics of genealogy research. If you are just getting started tracing your family history this Niche Academy presentation to a great place to start.
Free Access via the New York State Archives to the New York state portion of Ancestry.com
Visit this website for instructions.
Collections to Search
- Allen County Public Library Genealogy Center This link opens in a new window
Though based in Indiana, this library’s online reach extends much further—reflecting its status as the nation’s second-richest genealogy library. Special collections focus on Native American, African American, military and family Bible records. - Black Past This link opens in a new window
BlackPast.org, an online reference center makes available a wealth of materials on African American history in one central location on the Internet. These materials include an online encyclopedia of over 4,000 entries, the complete transcript of more than 300 speeches by African Americans, other people of African ancestry, and those concerned about race, given between 1789 and 2016, over 140 full text primary documents, bibliographies, timelines and six gateway pages with links to digital archive collections, African and African American museums and research centers, genealogical research websites, and more than 200 other website resources on African American and global African history
- Castle Garden: America's First Immigration Center
Castle Clinton or Fort Clinton, previously known as Castle Garden, is a circular sandstone fort now located in Battery Park, in Manhattan, New York City. It is perhaps best remembered as America's first immigration station (predating Ellis Island), where more than 8 million people arrived in the United States from 1855 to 1890.
- Cyndi's List This link opens in a new window
Cyndi's List has been a trusted genealogy research site for more than 20 years. Cyndi's List is free for everyone to use and it is meant to be your starting point when researching online.
- Ellis Island
Ellis Island, in Upper New York Bay, was the gateway for over 12 million immigrants to the U.S. as the United States' busiest immigrant inspection station for over 60 years[8] from 1892 until 1954. Ellis Island was opened January 1, 1892. The island was greatly expanded with land reclamationbetween 1892 and 1934. Before that, the much smaller original island was the site of Fort Gibson and later a naval magazine. The island was made part of the Statue of Liberty National Monument in 1965 and has hosted a museum of immigration since 1990.
- Fulton History This link opens in a new windowA historic newspaper website which contains archives of over 1000 New York newspapers, and some from other states and Canada.
- Hudson River Valley Historical Newspapers This link opens in a new window
HRVH Historical Newspapers provides access to digitized copies of historical newspapers from the Hudson River Valley region of New York State. Each newspaper in HRVH Historical Newspapers has its own page with information about the publication, including the date range that is available online and information about the history of the newspaper. - U.S. National Archives - Resources for Genealogists This link opens in a new window
For readers who are fascinated by genealogy, the National Archives has a page dedicated to helping people find their roots. The easiest place to start is the section entitled "Start Your Family Research." There readers will find instructions about how to start their research, some helpful research tips, guidance on the use of the site's military records, and reference reports on a range of topics, from census to citizenship to federal employees. Also on the homepage, readers will find links to popular topics like land records and immigration, as well as tools for genealogists and genealogy-related articles. - Rising: 9-11 Memorial Westchester County This link opens in a new window
The Rising is a memorial located in the Kensico Dam Plaza of Valhalla, Westchester County, New York, created by architect Frederic Schwartz. It stands against the backdrop of Kensico Dam, commemorating the September 11 attacks on America and remembering in a special way the men and women from Westchester County who were victims of those attacks. - Scarsdale Inquirer Historical Newspaper This link opens in a new window
A searchable database of the Scarsdale Inquirer between 4 Jul 1901 thru 29 Dec 1977.
Genealogy Research Tutorials
- Family Search - Free Genealogical Records and Family Trees This link opens in a new window
FamilySearch, is dedicated to the discovering and preserving of a record of the family of mankind, introducing individuals to their ancestors through the widespread access of records,and collaborating with others who share this vision. This is is a free website is sponsored by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Watch this video tutorial to get started. - Military Records and Genealogy Research, part 1 This link opens in a new window
This video tutorial review the resources available to conduct genealogy research using military records. - Military Records and Genealogy Research, part 2 This link opens in a new windowThis video tutorial review the resources available to conduct genealogy research using military records.
- NY Public Library - Getting Started with Genealogy
Helpful website with: first steps in genealogical research, strategies, available records, locating records, family histories, and classes at NYPL.