Finding Genealogy Records in Digital Archives
Archives portals are like magic keys that unlock new (and free!) resources for your genealogy research. You needn’t have famous ancestors to find records in digital archives that can help your research.
Discover family records in digital archives around the world in this Sassy Jane Genealogy eBook. All genealogists, whether stymied by brick walls or just beginning, will find links to digital archives in the United States, Europe, and around the world.
Archives come in several different types: college and university archives, organization or business archives, religious archives, government archives, and others.
Here are some of the records you might find in an archival repository, in person or online:
- Letters and Correspondence
- Unpublished family histories
- Diaries and daybooks
- Ephemera (tickets, programs, souvenirs)
- Oral histories
- Photographs and visual media
- Maps
- Tax Records
- Vital records
- Personal and professional papers
- Business records
- Organization records
Finding Genealogy Records in Digital Archives
Calisphere, one of several digital archives for California primary sources (courtesy Regent University of California)
The Web has opened archival collections to the world. What once required an expensive trip in person, today can be found online if you know where to look and how to use specific search terms. The key is finding archives portals, then searching finding aids and searching using archival terminology improves search results.
Archives still have huge backlogs of materials to digitize, but an amazing number of archival finding aids are now available for free to search archival collections large and small.
In this Sassy Jane eBook, you’ll discover links to archives in all fifty states, plus archives in Europe, Scandinavia, Australia, and around the world.
Links to Archives Around the World
Great Map of the Duchy of Pomerania. Eilhardus Lubinus (Eilert Lübben) worked on this map from 1611-1618. “Nova illustrissimi principatur Pomeraniae descriptio cum adiuncta principum genealogia et pnncipum veris et potiorum urbiumininibus et nobilium insignibus” or
The first chapter of this Sassy Jane Genealogy eBook offers a broad understanding of the differences between archives, library, and museum collections. Discover what kinds of archives exist and the unique records they contain. Unpublished family histories, maps, newspapers, photos, and vital records await.
The second chapter takes you behind the scenes, showing how archival collections are prepared for use. Online finding aids are the key to any collection. Learn about the genealogical research contained in finding aids. Discover time-saving ways to determine if an archival collection has the material you need.
The third chapter provides direct links to digital archives in the United States, Europe, and Australasia. Locating and using archival portals online unlocks a world of primary resources. Then discover specific archives terminology that improves search results.
The fourth and final chapter offers step-by-step advice for requesting archival materials remotely or planning an in-person trip. These steps make the most of your research time, whether online or in person.
Inside Finding Genealogy Records in Digital Archives:
1. Understanding Archives
A. Archives, Library, and Museum Collections and Their Differences
B. The Work of Archivists
C. Types of Archives
D. Types of Archival Records
2. Preparing Archival Collections for Researchers
A. Arrangement and Description
B. Using Finding Aids
C. Key Finding Aid Elements for Genealogists
3. Locating Archives Portals
A. Archives and Manuscript Portals
B. Major Archival Repositories
C. Search Terms for Archival Portals
D. Dictionary of Archives Terminology
4. Requesting Archival Materials
A. Planning Your Archives Research Trip
B. Requesting Archival Materials Remotely
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