This is a little old but still helpful. Genealogy on the Internet.
My California sister sent me a copy of the article “Digging For Roots — Is the Internet a genealogy genie?” from the Fall 2001 issue of Earthlink’s magazine. I was very impressed with the obviously extensive research done for the article which has no author named, and that Earthlink (an Internet Service Provider) would provide such good info for their subscribers. The phantom author begins in the beginning……suggesting that tracing your genealogy is like piecing together a puzzle, and advising genealogists to set goals for their research, keep things organized, and start with what you know and work backward. Experienced researchers will agree with him/her to pick the brains of your family (eldest first), use census records and the Social Security Death Index, and check for others’ completed work on your lineage (books, libraries local to your origins, LDS’s Ancestral File, and FamilyTreeMaker’s website) so as not to re-invent the wheel. In the order that makes sense for a beginner to search on the internet, these URLs were suggested:
www.genuki.org.uk/gs for getting started.
www.kbyu.org/ancestors the companion site to the PBS series Ancestors.
www.rootsweb.com/~genclass free online class taught by professional genealogist.
www.rootsweb.com for other features.
the search engine Surname Helper for surnames.
www.ancestry.com several data bases can be accessed.
www.familysearch.org LDS (Mormon) site.
www.genealogy.com big, & links to:
genforum.genealogy.com a good message board.
www.ellisislandrecords.org emigrants thru Ellis Isl. 1892-1922.
istg.rootsweb.com another passenger registry search site.
www.cyndislist.com Topical Index is a good place to start on Cyndi’s huge site.
www.amazon.com (a store) for books and historical maps, etc.
type “white pages” and click Go or Find to reach telephone book listings.
type “maps & directions” and click Go or Find to get aids for visiting your origin places.
people.yahoo.com for (living) people finding.
www.anywho.com “ “ “ “
www.switchboard.com “ “ “ “
www.whowhere.lycos.com “ “ “
gogettem.com/people-phone-email.htm for list of search engines.
www.freeality.com/international_search_engines.htm for international people-finding.
findmeplease.com message board.
www.yourfamily.com for family websites and The Long Lost Family Bulletin Board.
www.google.com & type in “professional people finders” if you want to hire someone.
www.peoplefind.com for a hired gun.
www.earthlink.net/blink/feb00/software.html comparisons of genealogy programs.
www.mumford.ab.ca/reportcard “ “ “ “
www.familychronicle.com/software.html “ “ “ “
genealogy.about.com/hobbies/genealogy/cs/softwarereviews “ “
www.zdnet.com/pcmag/stories/reviews/0,6755,2582696,00.html “ “
www.classmates.com has over 19 million names. If you join you will get lots of junk e-mail.
www.militaryconnections.com for finding military and ex-military people.
www.howtoinvestigate.com/investigations.htm for a perspective on how to search.