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Genealogy

A brief guide to genealogical resources in the University of Virginia Library.

Introduction

Please note this guide is a much abridged version of Jean Cooper's Virginia Genealogy: a Guide to Resources in the University of Virginia Library. It includes how to begin genealogical research. Also, refer to Jean Cooper's slide show Beginning Genealogy and ThoughtCo.com's How To Begin Tracing Your Family Tree.

Basic Resources 
 
Ancestry Library Edition is available from UVA Locations and many public libraries.  While institutional access does not include as many record collections as an individual subscription, this database offers searchable access to the complete 1790-1950 U.S. Census name rolls, many military and immigration records, local directories, and many other collections. Remember that Ancestry Library Edition (which offers access to 11,000+ data collections) and the commercial edition of Ancestry (which offers access to 33,000+ data collections) are separate entities.
 
Ancestry.com is a commercial subscription service that offers many useful resources for the budding genealogist. Personal subscriptions are available for a month, for six months, and for a year. The University Library does not have a subscription to Ancestry.com, but some of the pages in Ancestry.com are free. In particular, there are free copies of charts and forms used in doing genealogical research which may be found here: https://www.ancestry.com/cs/charts-and-forms
 

The three recordings librarians Jean Cooper and Katrina Spencer have made to introduce users to the Ancestry Library Edition (ALE) database are available via Avalon. When you click on the images below, you will navigate to a new page to access the content and be required to use your credentials to log in. Anyone from the InCommon federation institutions will be able to access this content. The three videos cover the following topics from ALE:

 librarian presenting Ancestry interface tutorial     librarian presenting Ancestry census tutorial.    librarian presenting Ancestry vital records tutorial

Cyndi's List (http://www.cyndislist.com) is a free database created by Cyndi Howells, Cyndi's List of Genealogical Sites on the Internet is the original and most comprehensive index to websites pertaining to genealogy. It is updated daily. 
 
HeritageQuest is a subset of research materials from Ancestry.com available by subscription for tracing family history and American culture that contains over 25,000 family records and local histories. This collection assembles every extant U.S. federal census, banking and military records (including the Freedman's Bank and Revolutionary War Pensions), genealogies, primary source materials, and genealogical and local history serials.  UVA does not subscribe to this database, but local residents and students can access it through the Jefferson Madison Regional Library.  More information about database access and signing up for a library card can be found on their website: jmrl.org.
 

  • Tips
    Plan your research ahead of time. What are the questions you wish to answer in this research session? What resources have you identified in the University Library that are important to your research on this visit? Have a plan to make the most of your time in the library.

    Create a "research log" whenever you are in a library doing research. In that log, write down what you are looking for, what sources you have used, and what you have found in them. Include a map of the U.S., and a picture of each state your ancestors lived in, with each county designated. Carry other necessary materials in your research notebook, such as what information was recorded in each census year, how to apply Soundex codes, ahnentafel charts, lists of alternate spellings of your ancestor's names, and copies of forms.

     

Getting Started

There are many ways to research individuals and families who have lived, or may still live, in central Virginia. This page describes general starting points, archival and general collections at the University of Virginia Library, and specific regional resources outside of UVA. 

If you're researching your family history for the first time, start with one of these resources: 

  • Genealogy websites: These can be used for your family research or to learn more about any individual. Use these sites to research individuals who lived in other parts of the country or world. 
    • Ancestry.com is the world's largest genealogy website, and is a for-profit company. A limited number of records are available for free, however there are many ways to access the full site outside of purchasing a full membership: 
      • Through the Library of Virginia, all Virginians have free access to select Virginia resources in Ancestry.com, available from anywhere in the state
      • Most public libraries offer on-site access to Ancestry Library Edition, which offers full access to genealogical content but not full site features
      • Access to Ancestry.com is available via UVA Library; from anywhere for UVA affiliates and on-site for community patrons
    • FamilySearch.com is another popular genealogy website, and is a not-for-profit organization which is part of the LDS Church. FamilySearch is free to use. 
    • Ancestry vs FamilySearch: outside of the paid versus free accounts, there are major differences in each site: 
      • Each site offers access to different records
      • In Ancestry, your family tree is private; in FamilySearch your family tree can be edited by any other user
      • Most researchers use both 
      • You can use Ancestry and FamilySearch together
  • Consult a professional: when researching special groups or specific states or cities, localized resources can be helpful. 
  • Use a research guide: 
    • UVA Library's Genealogy research guide
    • Genealogy guides from the Library of Virginia
    • Genealogy guides from the Library of Congress
    • List of Virginia Historic Societies and Genealogical Societies