Sources

Family History

Hand-picked, independent sites worth your time on family history. ← sheyroth.com home

📊 Source Intelligence

Useful for: Records access and how families actually preserve memory.

What we learn from them: The record giants win on database size, but the engaging sites win on storytelling — turning documents into narrative.

How we compete: We compete on intimacy: one family, told well, with primary documents and living memory.

17 sources · click a row for study notes · click a header to sort
SourceGroupWhat it is
FamilySearch
familysearch.org
Trace & RememberFree global records.

Why it’s on the study list: filed under Trace & Remember — Free global records.

Study angle: The record giants win on database size, but the engaging sites win on storytelling — turning documents into narrative.

Our edge: We compete on intimacy: one family, told well, with primary documents and living memory.

Visit familysearch.org →
Ancestry
ancestry.com
Trace & RememberRecords & DNA.

Why it’s on the study list: filed under Trace & Remember — Records & DNA.

Study angle: The record giants win on database size, but the engaging sites win on storytelling — turning documents into narrative.

Our edge: We compete on intimacy: one family, told well, with primary documents and living memory.

Visit ancestry.com →
FindAGrave
findagrave.com
Trace & RememberCemetery records.

Why it’s on the study list: filed under Trace & Remember — Cemetery records.

Study angle: The record giants win on database size, but the engaging sites win on storytelling — turning documents into narrative.

Our edge: We compete on intimacy: one family, told well, with primary documents and living memory.

Visit findagrave.com →
National Archives
archives.gov
Trace & RememberUS federal records.

Why it’s on the study list: filed under Trace & Remember — US federal records.

Study angle: The record giants win on database size, but the engaging sites win on storytelling — turning documents into narrative.

Our edge: We compete on intimacy: one family, told well, with primary documents and living memory.

Visit archives.gov →
Library of Congress
loc.gov
Trace & RememberHistorical collections.

Why it’s on the study list: filed under Trace & Remember — Historical collections.

Study angle: The record giants win on database size, but the engaging sites win on storytelling — turning documents into narrative.

Our edge: We compete on intimacy: one family, told well, with primary documents and living memory.

Visit loc.gov →
Newspapers.com
newspapers.com
Trace & RememberArchived newspapers.

Why it’s on the study list: filed under Trace & Remember — Archived newspapers.

Study angle: The record giants win on database size, but the engaging sites win on storytelling — turning documents into narrative.

Our edge: We compete on intimacy: one family, told well, with primary documents and living memory.

Visit newspapers.com →
Cyndi's List
cyndislist.com
Trace & RememberGenealogy link index.

Why it’s on the study list: filed under Trace & Remember — Genealogy link index.

Study angle: The record giants win on database size, but the engaging sites win on storytelling — turning documents into narrative.

Our edge: We compete on intimacy: one family, told well, with primary documents and living memory.

Visit cyndislist.com →
Geni
geni.com
Trace & RememberCollaborative family tree.

Why it’s on the study list: filed under Trace & Remember — Collaborative family tree.

Study angle: The record giants win on database size, but the engaging sites win on storytelling — turning documents into narrative.

Our edge: We compete on intimacy: one family, told well, with primary documents and living memory.

Visit geni.com →
USGenWeb
usgenweb.org
Trace & RememberFree state/county records.

Why it’s on the study list: filed under Trace & Remember — Free state/county records.

Study angle: The record giants win on database size, but the engaging sites win on storytelling — turning documents into narrative.

Our edge: We compete on intimacy: one family, told well, with primary documents and living memory.

Visit usgenweb.org →
Chronicling America
chroniclingamerica.loc.gov
Trace & RememberHistoric US newspapers.

Why it’s on the study list: filed under Trace & Remember — Historic US newspapers.

Study angle: The record giants win on database size, but the engaging sites win on storytelling — turning documents into narrative.

Our edge: We compete on intimacy: one family, told well, with primary documents and living memory.

Visit chroniclingamerica.loc.gov →
Fold3
fold3.com
Records & ArchivesMilitary records.

Why it’s on the study list: filed under Records & Archives — Military records.

Study angle: The record giants win on database size, but the engaging sites win on storytelling — turning documents into narrative.

Our edge: We compete on intimacy: one family, told well, with primary documents and living memory.

Visit fold3.com →
WikiTree
wikitree.com
Records & ArchivesSingle shared family tree.

Why it’s on the study list: filed under Records & Archives — Single shared family tree.

Study angle: The record giants win on database size, but the engaging sites win on storytelling — turning documents into narrative.

Our edge: We compete on intimacy: one family, told well, with primary documents and living memory.

Visit wikitree.com →
MyHeritage
myheritage.com
Records & ArchivesRecords & DNA.

Why it’s on the study list: filed under Records & Archives — Records & DNA.

Study angle: The record giants win on database size, but the engaging sites win on storytelling — turning documents into narrative.

Our edge: We compete on intimacy: one family, told well, with primary documents and living memory.

Visit myheritage.com →
BillionGraves
billiongraves.com
Records & ArchivesGPS cemetery records.

Why it’s on the study list: filed under Records & Archives — GPS cemetery records.

Study angle: The record giants win on database size, but the engaging sites win on storytelling — turning documents into narrative.

Our edge: We compete on intimacy: one family, told well, with primary documents and living memory.

Visit billiongraves.com →
AccessGenealogy
accessgenealogy.com
Records & ArchivesFree records incl. Native American.

Why it’s on the study list: filed under Records & Archives — Free records incl. Native American.

Study angle: The record giants win on database size, but the engaging sites win on storytelling — turning documents into narrative.

Our edge: We compete on intimacy: one family, told well, with primary documents and living memory.

Visit accessgenealogy.com →
David Rumsey Maps
davidrumsey.com
Records & ArchivesHistorical map archive.

Why it’s on the study list: filed under Records & Archives — Historical map archive.

Study angle: The record giants win on database size, but the engaging sites win on storytelling — turning documents into narrative.

Our edge: We compete on intimacy: one family, told well, with primary documents and living memory.

Visit davidrumsey.com →
DAR
dar.org
Records & ArchivesRevolutionary-era lineage.

Why it’s on the study list: filed under Records & Archives — Revolutionary-era lineage.

Study angle: The record giants win on database size, but the engaging sites win on storytelling — turning documents into narrative.

Our edge: We compete on intimacy: one family, told well, with primary documents and living memory.

Visit dar.org →