Many people curious about their roots expect to begin and end their search quickly, hoping to find their family tree already done. It doesn't often happen, but both published and unpublished family histories can be found at public libraries, in the collections of local historical and genealogical societies, and on the Internet. Try a search in the Library of Congress and Family History Library catalogs. HeritageQuest Online and Ancestry.com both offer access to digitized copies of thousands of published family histories. Review all published genealogies carefully, however, as most contain at least a few inaccuracies.

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