Your Social Security Number is how you are tracked by the Federal government from the time you are born until the time of your death. This number is used everywhere from your health insurance, employment, and taxes to your utility bills and driver’s license. It is a unique number that will forever and always belong to your identity. Fortunately, this number can also help you locate ancestors who died in the 20th century and beyond, as almost all United States citizens obtained Social Security numbers after the Social Security Act was passed in 1935. Read more »

Castle Garden in New York City was one of the processing centers where immigrants from all over the world passed through when they immigrated to the United States. Castle Garden immigration records are available for the 10 millions plus immigrants to the United States passing through this port even before Ellis Island was opened. Castle Garden was in operation from 1830 to 1892, which was when Ellis Island was opened.

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Family Tree Magazine recently recognized Virginia as one of the top 10 states for genealogy research. Once you visit the Library of Virginia online (or in person) you will agree that it is one of the best free Virginia genealogy resources available to you. Virginia can be called the ancestral home of millions of Americans so chances are, you might have a Virginian in your family tree! Several of my lines originated in Virginia and I now call the state home (by coincidence!) and have personally been to this wonderful library in Richmond.

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Those with Canadian ancestry can get all the information they need when undertaking a genealogy research project through the internet.  Canada genealogy information is available in a collection of databases developed by the Canadian Genealogy Centre in the Library and Archives Canada.  The Library and Archives Canada has a significant collection of cultural and historical information captured in documents and made accessible to genealogists and the general public.  Not only is this Canada genealogy institution responsible for collecting and preserving these records, audio-visual materials, photographs, and other pertinent documents, it is also responsible for acquiring and sharing the materials to as many people as possible. Read more »

For most of our ancestors, who were hard working people and didn’t achieve high status during their lives, the only biography that was ever written about them was their obituary. Obituaries are often chock full of information about your ancestor’s family, including names and dates, locations where they lived previously, clubs or churches they belonged to, and what their occupation was. Check out the following resources for free obituaries that you can access online instead of heading to the library to dust off the microfilm!

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