Online Resources
The following online resources are some of our favorites--simply click on the name to be taken directly to their site. Note that website requiring subscriptions or payments are noted with ($).
The Wright County Historical Society subscribes to several expensive research sites. A $25 annual WCHS membership includes onsite access to over $1200 in genealogical research resources! Our reference library is staffed full-time by expert researchers eager to help you get started on your own journey.
PAY SITES AVAILABLE AT WCHS
American Ancestors ($)
451-plus databases including an index of Revolutionary War pensioners, NY wills and back issues of the society's magazine. New England.
Ancestry.com ($)
More than 32,000 collection of genealogical records; build your family tree. DNA testing
ArchivDigital ($)
ArkivDigital is the largest private provider of Swedish Church Records and other Historical Records online.
FamilySearch (*)
This huge website has more than 2,300 free online collections; some digitized records are only available at FamilySearch Centers (including WCHS).
Findmypast ($)
The go-to destination for British Isles research.
fold3 ($)
523 million records related to military history.
Newspapers.com ($)
The largest online newspaper archive, including publications from 1700-2000.
OTHER PAY SITES
FamilyRelatives ($)
Includes trade directories; especially strong on UK and Commonwealth countries.
MyHeritage ($)
Build your tree here and this site will search other trees for possible relatives.
GOVERNMENT SITES
Civil War Soldiers & Sailors Database
More than 6 million soldiers, plus 18,000 African-American sailors, from across America.
Library of Congress
The nation's library--maps, land ownership, Civil War battlefield maps & more.
National Archives & Records Administration
Start with Research Our Records for help. So much here; indexes and digitized collections as well as the ability to order records.
US Dept of the Interior Bureau of Land Mgmt
More than 5 million land patents dating from 1788.
US Geological Survey
Maps! It doesn't get better than this.
FREE SITES FOR ALL
Access Genealogy
One of the leading websites in providing free genealogy and Native American History.
Archive.org
Diverse site includes radio show, digitized books, and states' vital records.
BillionGraves
The world's largest resource for searchable GPS cemetery data; can contribute to data.
Brigham University Research
BYU’s research center with many resources available
Castle Garden
US arrivals through the port of NY, 1820-1892, more than 11 million entries.
California Digital Newspaper Collection
The online collection of the University of California, Riverside.
Chronicling America
This Library of Congress project includes 13,000,000 digitized pages 1789-1963.
Daughters of the American Revolution
The Genealogical Research System allows you to research Rev War patriot, descendants, and DAR members.
FamilySearch Digitized Books
If a genealogy-related book has been digitized, it's probably here.
Find A Grave
More than 170 million searchable grave records from 240 different countries.
GEDMatch
Completed your DNA testing? Upload your results here to connect with others around the world.
Geni
A world family tree with deep roots--it's free!
MN Historical Society
The best of the best for Minnesota, including the People Records Search.
Seeking Michigan
Got Michigan relatives? Start here.
Statue of Liberty & Ellis Isl.
51 million passengers records of arrivals from Ellis Island from 1892-1957.
WI Historical Society
More than 3 million records.
LIBRAIRIES & MAP SITES
Allen County Public Library
The nation's second-richest genealogy library. Start with the Surname File to find others also researching.
Atlas of the Historical Genealogy of the United States
The title says it all.
David Ramsey Map Collection
View 85,000 historical maps for comparison purposes.
HathiTrust Digital Library
5 billion page archive fully accessible from participating institutions such as a library or university; some free access for all available.
Midwest Genealogy Center
Recently redesigned website from the Mid-Continent Public Library in Missouri.
The Newberry
Best known for its interactive Atlas of Historical County Boundaries.
WorldCat
Search 2 billion items and 10,000 world's libraries.
INTERNATIONAL SITES
British National Archives
Helps users find records at other online sources in addition to outstanding resources.
Danish Demographic Database
Danish censuses from 1787 plus some probate records.
Digitalarkivet
Features the National Archives of Norway, many searchable.
Digital Danish Emigration Archives
Danish records, including Copenhagen police records, and many digitized letters.
Library & Archives Canada
Oh Canada! Lots to research your Canadian ancestors.
Meyers Gazetteer
This gazetteer lists every place name in the German Empire (1871-1918).
National Archives of Ireland
Irish censuses plus many other databases to view.
National Library of Ireland
More than 373,000 images of Catholic parish records.
ScotlandsPeople ($)
A pay-per-view site but wills are free; a great resource for Scottish records and worth the cost.
Wie Was Wie
From the Center for Family History (The Hague, Netherlands) now totals 160 million individuals.