The recently launched ArchiveGrid is a free searchable database of family histories, personal papers and historical records held in archives around the world. Thousands of libraries, museums and archives have contributed nearly a million collection descriptions to Archive Grid, allowing researchers to find items of interest in these collections, contact archives to arrange a visit to examine materials, and order copies.

First searches at ArchiveGrid have proved interesting. A search for Laura Ingalls Wilder, of Little House fame, brings up a number of items, including a batch of letters written between Laura Wilder and Clarence E. Kilburn from 1945-1952 held by the Franklin County Historical and Museum Society in Malone, NY. The database did not, however, give me any more information on the repository, beyond its name and location. Other searches turned up all sorts of interesting things, from family letters to genealogical papers.

ArchiveGrid is a service of RLG, a not-for-profit membership organization of over 150 universities, national libraries, archives, historical societies, and other institutions with remarkable collections for research and learning. In addition to a range of collaborative activities that address members' shared goals for these collections, RLG develops and operates databases and software to serve the information needs of researchers and learners worldwide.

ArchiveGrid.org