US Sources
Learning how to work with vital records, censuses, military records and other sources is essential for genealogists. Other published sources, such as newspapers, city and business directories, newsletters, journals, local histories and published genealogies, can offer even more insight about our forebears’ everyday lives.
Choose from the courses listed below to discover how to find your family in US sources.
Civil War Research: Find Your Ancestors in the War Between the States
The Civil War generated more casualties, dissention and records than any other conflict in American history. If your ancestors lived in the United States between 1861 and 1865, they undoutedly felt the effects of the war. And if they were males in their prime, they probably served in a military unit. This course will guide you in determining your ancestor’s service, finding the records to document it, and fleshing out your knowledge of their lives.
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Newspaper Research 101: Find Your Ancestors in American News Sources
Newspapers are essentially a time capsule for your ancestors. Papers can provide clues to major and minor events in your ancestor’s life through obituaries, social columns, birth announcements and other news stories. In this class you’ll learn how to find and use newspaper archives—online, on paper and on microfilm—to put together missing pieces of your genealogical research.
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Finding Ancestors in the US Census
Master online and offline strategies for tracking your relatives in the federal census—the cornerstone of family history research. This course teaches you how to use these “household snapshots” to uncover (or confirm) details such as ancestors’ residences, immigration, education level and socioeconomic status.
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Exploring City Directories: How to Trace Your Family in Yesterday’s Yellow Pages
City directories are indispensable tools for genealogists, but they go far beyond just listing your ancestor’s address. They connect an ancestor to a certain place in time and lead to a multitude of sources and present a fuller picture of your ancestors’ lives.
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US Military Records
With so many military conflicts throughout America’s history, it’s more than likely your ancestors were involved. Finding records of their service will help you round out the portraits of their lives and honor their memory.
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Finding Ancestors in the US Census
Master online and offline strategies for tracking your relatives in the federal census—the cornerstone of family history research. This course teaches you how to use these “household snapshots” to uncover (or confirm) details such as ancestors’ residences, immigration, education level and socioeconomic status.
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US Vital Records
Track your ancestors’ vital events—the keys to unlocking hidden branches of your family tree. Learn how to find and use official vital records as well as other primary sources of birth, marriage and death data.
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Land Records 101
In this course, you will master the basics of US land records research, including what documents to look for (online and offline), how to “plat” land and how to make the most of these often-overlooked resources.
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Published Genealogies: How to Use Others’ Research to Grow Your Family Tree
Save time in your research by piggybacking on the work other family historians have already done. You’ll learn how to find and use published genealogies—both in print and online—to add branches to your family tree, while ferreting out errors that commonly creep into compiled lineages.
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