Expositor Book Column

Genealogy @your library

March 13, 2010

Are you researching your family tree?  Looking for additional resources to check?  Don’t have time to travel to other countries to search for your ancestors?  Did you know that Ancestry.com is the largest online family history resource that provides access to thousands of Canadian, American, and international sources that you would never find elsewhere?  There are historical records, photos, stories, and family trees.  But you can only use Ancestry.com in the library on our catalogue computers.

Maybe you’ve looked at this database and felt overwhelmed with so much information and don’t know the best way to search it.  Sign up for our Ancestry.com Library Edition: Advanced Search Techniques workshop on Wednesday, April 7th at 7:00 p.m. and find out how (basic computer skills required).

You can search all of the census records at the same time or search an individual census.  Censuses include the Canadian census from 1851 to 1911, the American census from 1790 to 1930, and the United Kingdom census (England, Scotland, Wales, Channel  Islands, Isle of Man) from 1841 to 1901.  There are many vital statistics databases, including most of the Ontario birth, marriage, and death indexes.  There are also passenger lists, immigration records, and military records. Often, you can even view the original image.  Keep checking because new databases are added all of the time.   Click on Help or Search Tips to get information on how to make better use of this fabulous resource.  

While you’re in the library take a look at our local resources.  You can search our Birth-Marriage-Death Index to the Brantford Expositor to find your Brant County ancestors.  You can check city directories, church histories, and family histories.  We also have many guides and genealogical resources for other places such as Oxford County, Wellington County, Norfolk County, and the city of Toronto.  Don’t forget to check our webpage for links to genealogical websites that you may find useful.

Genealogy is a fascinating hobby. You never know what you might find that will help you complete the branches of your family tree @your library.