Genealogy

 Genealogy Gateway Sites

• Ancestry Library Edition - a wealth of valuable searchable databases. The library has a subscription to this site, so all databases are accessible when searching at the library. Many new databases are added each week. Digital images of the U.S. Census 1790-1930 are available, some with indexing. Also includes passenger lists and military records. Full access is available only at the Wichita Falls Public Library. Home users need to access www.ancestry.com and pay a subscription fee.
• Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers - Search and view newspaper pages from 1860-1922 and find information about American newspapers published between 1690-present. Chronicling America is sponsored jointly by the National Endowment for the Humanities and the Library of Congress as part of the National Digital Newspaper Program (NDNP).
• FamilySearch.org - from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, renowned for their genealogical research, comes this genealogical search engine that combs the files of millions of names in three immense databases, as well as thousands of additional Web sites. Includes lots of digital images.
• FamilyTreeMakerOnline.com - a large, all-purpose genealogy resource from the publisher of the popular CD-ROM title by the same name. See how-to articles, links to useful genealogy resource sites, and search services.
• Fold3.com (formerly footnote.com) - the web's premier collection of original military records. There is a membership fee, but you can sign up for a free membership to view some of the records.
  
• Genealogy.net - "The number one source in German genealogy."
• GeneaNet - This site is free, but you will need to register to use its features. Contains helpful international links.
• GENUKI - the springboard for genealogy research on Great Britain and Ireland.
• HeritageQuest Online - includes searchable US Federal Census images as well as family histories, genealogical serials, local histories, and primary sources in full image. Provided by the Texas State Library's Texshare Program. To access this site from home, request the Texshare URL and password from the Information Desk at the Library - 767-0868, ext 234. WFPL Library card required.
• NewspaperArchive.com - provides access to historical newspapers, including the Wichita Daily Times 1911-1923. Available at the Library only.
• RootsWeb - great free site that enables you to search many databases at one time.
• USGenWeb Project -This ambitious site grows daily, with more and more information added by its volunteer staff. Each volunteer adopts a county and creates a Web page for that county with all the information that you would possibly need to begin your search. Since there are many contributors, each site is different in content, but not in format. Keep looking for "your" counties and you'll be pleasantly surprised.
  

Genealogy Directories

• About.com's Genealogy Site - quick and manageable collection of categorized genealogy links.
• Cyndi's List of Genealogy Sites on the Internet -This is an enormous list of useful sites that have been categorized into 100 different categories.
• Genealogylinks.net - This collection has an international focus, with sections on Europe, Canada, the United States, Australia, New Zealand, and more.

Research Help

• Soundex Conversion Program - The Soundex system is the means established by the National Archives to index the U.S. censuses (beginning with 1880). It codes together surnames of the same and similar sounds but of variant spellings. Soundexes are arranged by state, Soundex code of the surname, and given name.
• Town Search 1.0 - Rootsweb developed this program that allows you to find the appropriate county for any known city, village, or hamlet.

Libraries and Archives

• ARIAS for Pennsylvania - "The Archives Records Information Access System (ARIAS) is designed to facilitate citizen access to archival records created by all branches and levels of Pennsylvania state government."
• Clayton Library Center for Genealogical Research - at the Houston Public Library
• Dallas Public Library
• Fort Worth Public Library
• Lawton Public Library
• Moffett Library - at Midwestern State University.
• Allen County Public Library Genealogy Department
• Daughters of the Republic of Texas Library - research library connected to the Alamo historical complex in San Antonio. Contains more than 12,000 titles on Texas, 800 linear feet of manuscripts, documents, and files, and 37,000 photographs, among others. Website contains selected bibliographies, but no holdings are online.
• Family History Library - information on the library's hours, collections, rental programs, and the network of LDS libraries in communities around the world.
• Library of Congress Local History and Genealogy Reading Room - place to start for research in the local history and genealogy collections at the Library of Congress. Also find hours, policies, and locations.
• National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) - is both a storage facility for federal documents and a resource for genealogists. Although there are no genealogical records online, there is a good online introduction to genealogical research. There are also links to each of the regional archives that are part of NARA, with descriptions of each facility, its hours, services, and features.
• National Archives of Ireland - responsible for the preservation and maintenance of the records of the Republic of Eire, as well as historical and cultural materials. The Site includes departmental databases, genealogical research guides, and information on holdings.
• Newberry Library - located in Chicago, Illinois, this library contains extensive collections on genealogy and local history, especially for the Midwest. There are also materials on cartography, western Americana, and Native Americans.
• Public Record Office - The PRO is the national archives for England, Wales, and the United Kingdom. Be sure to visit the Virtual Museum and other online resources.
• Texas State Library and Archives Commission - See what resources are available at the Texas State Library in Austin.
  

Genealogical and Historical Societies

• Federation of East European Family History Societies - the pioneer web portal for central and east European genealogy since May 1995.
• Federation of Genealogical Societies - exists to serve the needs of its member societies, provide products and services needed by member societies, and marshal the resources of its member organizations. Only genealogical societies may join.
• National Genealogical Society (NGS) - contains a calendar of events, program information, membership information, and a wide variety of materials for sale (by mail) from NGS.
• North Texas Genealogical Association - includes valuable Wichita County resources, including the Wichita County 1880 and 1900 Federal Census, a reconstructed 1890 Wichita County census, and Wichita County wills.
• Oklahoma Historical Society - Browse the OHS web site to find general information on the extensive holdings of the Oklahoma Historical Society, as well as information on events and web resources.
• Texas State Genealogical Society - resources for Texas genealogy enthusiasts.
• Texas State Historical Association - Check out their links to some Texas history primary source documents on the Internet.
  

Census Resources

• 1930 Federal Population Census - Information from NARA on the release of the 1930 census.
• Census Finder - a directory of free census records.
• Census Online - directories and information on census data online.
• Censuslinks.com - Find some digital images, indexes, and research guides on this new site.
  

Vital Records Resources

• Online Searchable Death Indexes & Records: A Genealogy Guide - this site organizes death records and notices on the Internet by state and county.
• Texas Death Records (1964-1998) - Information in this database comes from the Texas Dept. of Heath. (Also available through Ancestry Library Edition)
• Vital Records Information for the U.S. - This page contains information about where to obtain vital records (such as birth, death, marriage certificates and divorce decrees) from each state, territory and county of the United States. 

Land Records

•  General Land Office Records - Search for public-to-private land patents from the official site of the Bureau of Land Management. Digital images are available for many of the patents.
• Texas General Land Office Archives and Records - preserves and provides access to records detailing the transfer of public lands into private ownership.

Passenger Lists

• CastleGarden.org - offers free access to an extraordinary database of information on 10 million immigrants from 1830 through 1892, the year Ellis Island opened.
• Ellis Island Passenger Arrival Records - Free registration required. Between 1892 and 1924 over 22 million passengers and members of ships' crews came through Ellis Island and the Port of New York.
• Immigrant Ships Transcriber's Guild - over 500 volunteers work diligently to decipher and transcribe passenger lists which are then uploaded to the website on a regular basis.
• The ShipsList - Includes ships' passenger lists, immigration reports, newspaper records, shipwreck information, ship pictures, ship descriptions, shipping-line fleet lists and more; as well as hundreds of passenger lists to Canada, USA, Australia and even some for South Africa.

Geographical Resources

• Geographic Names Information System from the U.S. Geological Survey - "The Geographic Names Information System contains information about almost 2 million physical and cultural geographic features in the United States. The federally recognized name of each feature described in the database is identified, and references are made to a feature's location by state, county, and geographic coordinates."
• The TopoZone - "is the Web's center for recreational and professional topographic map users. [They've] worked with the USGS to create the Web's first interactive topo map of the entire United States."

Civil War Resources

• Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System - Excellent database of Union and Confederate servicemen, regiments, battles, and historic sites. Match soldiers and sailors to regiments and regiments to battles. Created by the National Parks Service.
• Official Records of the Union and Confederate Navies in the War of the Rebellion (1894 - 1922) from Cornell University Library.
• The War of the Rebellion: a Compilation of the Official Records of the Union and Confederate Armies (1880 - 1901) from Cornell University Library.

Resources in Military Genealogy, 1898- 

• No Quarter (Vietnam Conflict Casualty Search) - Search through this database of Vietnam War fatalities.
  
• Vietnam Project - from Texas Tech University

Cemeteries & Obituaries

• Cemetery Records Online from Interment.net - Interment.net is a publisher of cemetery records and materials relating to cemeteries. Use their resources to locate burials, trace family history, and learn something about cemeteries in general.
• Funeralnet.com - "America's most trusted online obituary, funeral, cremation, and cemetery resource."
• Obituary Daily Times - A database of obituary entries from U.S. and Canadian newspapers.
• Wichita Falls Cemetery Index - Includes records for Riverside, Hillcrest, Rosemont, and Lakeview Cemeteries in Wichita Falls. This is a very large file in Adobe Acrobat (PDF) format.

Texas Resources

• Portal to Texas History - a digital gateway to the rich collections held in Texas libraries, museums, archives, historical societies, and private collections. Brought to you by the University of North Texas
• Texas General Land Office Archives and Records - preserves and provides access to records detailing the transfer of public lands into private ownership.
• Texas GenWeb Project - the Texas section of the USGenWeb Project.
• Texas Department of Health - includes the Bureau of Vital Statistics, responsible for birth, death, and marriage certificates in Texas.
• Texas State Genealogical Society - resources for Texas genealogy enthusiasts.
• Texas State Historical Association - Check out their links to some Texas history primary source documents on the Internet.
• Texas State Library and Archives Commission - See what resources are available at the Texas State Library in Austin.
• Wichita County GenWeb Project - Wichita County section of the USGenWeb project.

Native American Resources

• Cherokee Nation - the official site of the Cherokee Nation.
• Cherokee.net - home of the Cherokee Archival Project.
• Federally Recognized American Indian Tribes - from the American Indian Heritage Foundation.
• Index of Native American Genealogy Resources on the Internet
• Indian Nation Census Records - free resources from Census Finder.
• Native American Links - from Cyndi's List.

African-American Resources

• AfriGeneas Homepage - for descendants of African people who were brought to North America.
• Guide to African-American Documentary Resources in North Carolina - another online publication from the University Press of Virginia.

Other Ethnic Resources

• JewishGen - the home of Jewish genealogy.

 Adoption Resources

•  Adoption.org - a volunteer-operated information resource for the adoption community.
• All You Need to Know About Adoption from usa-people-search.com.
• Texas Dept. of Health Central Adoption Registry - enables persons who are 18 years or older to list their name on the registry to locate other family members who are also listed

Miscellaneous

• OurTimeLines.com - Create your own timeline with moments from you own life and significant events and conditions from the past.
• Sorenson Molecular Genealogy Foundation - This project aims to use genetics to trace biological ancestry.