Free Ancestry Archives

Fee and Free Genealogy during COVID-19

COVID-19 got you down? Me too! We're quarantined at home but with internet access there is plenty to do in the Genealogy World. Here are some fee and free ideas & offerings:

Have a Library Card? Your library building may be closed, but it's open online. Check your local library online and see what digital resources they offer. During Covid-19, Ancestry has made its Library edition available remotely in some locations (this is usually only available onsite at the library). This means you may be able to login to your library's portal, with your library card, and have FREE Ancestry.com at home for the next few weeks. Also, see what other databases your Library pays for. Here are some that might be of interest.Watch a free Family History webinar online. Here's a list of free classes offered by FamilySearch this month. Also register for a free webinar at Legacy Family Tree Webinars. Some of their past webinars are free to view, and others require membership …

How to Use Ancestry ThruLines™

Ancestry released a beta version of a new tool - ThruLines™ - at RootsTech SLC 2019. ThruLines™ is a great visual representation of people you may be related to, taken from your tree and other searchable trees at Ancestry (including DNA matches). For a limited time, anyone who has DNA tested with Ancestry has access to ThruLines™ without an Ancestry subscription (see the fine print).

ThruLines™ may become a great tool but it's also like leaving a kid in a candy store because they just took the simplest, most potentially unresearched material and put it all within easy grasp in a tempting display. I'm loving it! If you haven't felt the addictive pull of genealogy before, buckle up.

Who Can See ThruLines?

To see ThruLines at Ancestry you need to have:

Taken an AncestryDNA testChosen to see and be seen by your DNA MatchesMake sure your DNA test is correctly linked to a tree at AncestryMake sure your tree is sea…

How to Use Your Public Library for Genealogy Research

Public libraries subscribe to online research databases in behalf of their patrons. Some of these databases permit you to access them from a home computer with a current library card and password while others can only be used onsite. Online and Onsite Genealogy Databases Some popular library databases for genealogy and family history include: Accessible Archives African American Newspapers - Historic newspapers published by African Americans African American Heritage - primary source material specifically for African American family history and genealogy African American Historical Newspapers - Historic newspapers published by or primarily concerned with communities of African Americans American Ancestors - US Census data & other genealogy record sets America's GeneaologyBank - a library version of this historic newspaper site Ancestry - US Census data & other genealogy record sets Biography Resource Cente…