In this virtual lecture we will look at some of the new tools available on the Internet and, through case studies, demonstrate how they have been used successfully in conjunction with traditional research methods to help in identifying and locating “lost” family members.

Three Possible Situations:

1. We Don’t Know What We Don’t Know
   We are unaware of the existence of people who are our close relatives.
    
2. We Know Who; We Don’t Know If
   We know of people who are out there (with our surname, perhaps.) We might even know how to contact them. What we DON’T know is if they are related to us.
    
3. We Know That; We Don’t Know How
   We know that we have close relatives out there. We do not know how to locate or make contact with them.

Internet 'Locating' Tools: A Selection of 'Live Leveraged Links'

1. Some Worthwhile Sites for Genealogists
   Genealogy Links - A collection of useful genealogy links
   Honoring Our Ancestors - Megan Smolenyak's genealogical site
   Passenger Lists Online - passenger lists from around the world
   Public Records - links to 650 sites with public records
   Search Systems - "Over 5,598 free searchable Public Record Databases"
    
2. Sites for Finding Specific Information
   Phone and Address Listings - A large compilation of many (but not ALL) phone directories on The Internet. Some are reverse-searchable. Limited to LISTED phone numbers. (An estimated 35% of US phone numbers are unlisted/unpublished.)
   
   If that doesn't work - consider paid or partially paid services:
   KnowX.com - a large collection of property and other public records on the Internet.
   Ameridex Information Systems - a "database over 260 million names, 225 million with date of birth compiled from public ...sources" Also SSDI and database of 5 million military personnel. Requires $50 deposit and statement of intended use.
    
3. Other Links for Locating Living People
   Locating Living People - Barbara Renick's list of sites for locating living people
   Finding Living People
   Military Networks
   Classmates/Alumni
   DistantCousin.com
   Searching for People
   Skip Trace Portal
    
4. Search Engines and "Meta" Search Engines
   
   Some Favorite Search Engines
   GenPageFinder - “one-search access to millions of genealogical records across the Internet.”
   GenDoor - A new genealogy search engine; seems fast and complete.
   
   Other Interesting Search Engines
   Internet Karnak - The "library of infinite knowledge"
   Obituary Archive Search Engines
   Obituary Daily Times
   
   Meta Search Engines (Provide links, will do searches across many search engines simultaneously)
   Search Engine Guide - Lists almost 4,000 search engines in a searchable subject index.
   FindSpot - Do advanced searches on many popular search engines
    
5. Surname Searches
   RootsWeb Surname List - 40 searchable databases; over 650,000 names.
   Surname "Mailing Lists" - 19,000 surname specific mailing lists.
   Surname Springboard - A “springboard” to surname genealogy sites which have "Indexed" family trees.
    
6. Locality Searches
   USGenWeb Project - To search for county, state and country information.
   Bureau of Land Management - (currently offline temporarily)
    
7. Mailing Lists
   John Fuller's and Chris Gaunt’s site - A large listing of genealogy mailing lists and USENET sites.
   RootsWeb Mailing List Index
   Free, Easy E-mail Groups - Links to thousands of groups. Start your own mailing list (for free!)
    
8. The "Other" Web Sites
   AOL Genealogy Forum - Most AOL Gen forums are accessible to non-AOL members.
   Compuserve - Genealogy Forums open to everyone.
    
9. OnLine Census Data (The “Big 3” are gearing up:)
   Heritage Quest
   Ancestry.com
   GenealogyLibrary.com
    
10. Cemetery Records
    Cemetery Records Online - Over 2,844,217 cemetery records across 5,414 cemeteries.
     
11. Other Internet Resources -- Usenet (Newsgroups)
    Pre-programmed Usenet search facility for the deja.com newsgroup archives - "fast and easy (re)search in the 62 most important genealogy newsgroups – over 300,000 postings.”
     
12. Libraries and Related Sources
    Books we Own - “a list of resources owned/accessed by individuals who are willing to look up genealogical information and mail it to others who request it.”
    Family Tree Maker Lookups - Volunteers who will do lookups on Family Tree Maker’s collection of CD’s
    The Genealogical Library Master Catalog - “will help you locate over 300,000 family histories, local histories and genealogical sources at libraries and archives across the country.” [on 3 CD’s which must be purchased.]
     
13. Reunion Aids
    Tips on how to Organize a Reunion - under "Reunions"
    Family Reunion Handbook - by Tom Ninkovich - A complete guide to Reunion Planning

* * * * * * * * * *

Any problems with these links – or suggestions for new ones? Please email me at john@konvalinka.com.