Genealogy Jumpstart

Digitized Books

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Family History Books

Google Books

Hathi Trust

Internet Archive

Archives & Manuscripts

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National Union Catalog of Manuscript Collections

The Library of Congress provides a gateway for searching OCLC WorldCat (Manuscript materials) -- nearly 1.5 million catalog records describing archival and manuscript collections and individual manuscripts in public, college and university, and special libraries located throughout North America and around the world. Access to this gateway is made available courtesy of OCLC, Inc.

Repositories of Primary Sources

A listing of over 5000 websites describing holdings of manuscripts, archives, rare books, historical photographs, and other primary sources for the research scholar.

Military

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DAR Genealogical Research System

The DAR Genealogical Research System (GRS) is a free resource provided by the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) to aid general genealogical research and to assist with the DAR membership process. The GRS is a collection of databases that provide access to the many materials amassed by the DAR since its founding in 1890. Searches can begin with ancestors, descendants, members, and other access points.

Fold3

Fold3 provides convenient access to US military records, including the stories, photos, and personal documents of the men and women who served.

Kansas Research

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Kansas State Archives/Ancestry.com Partnership

Access to certain records at the Ancestry.com subscription site are available FREE to Kansans, thanks to a partnership with the Kansas State Historical Society. For more information, click the title above. Records available include

Kansas State Census Records (1865-1925—taken every 10 years for each year ending in "5")

Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway Prior Service Records, 1859-1935

Civil War Enlistment Papers of Kansas Volunteer Regiments, 1862, 1863, 1868

Grand Army of the Republic, Bound Post Records, 1866-1931

Naturalization Abstracts, 1864-1972

Russell County Vital and Probate Records (J. C. Ruppenthal Collection)

Vital Records Abstracts

World War I, Kansas Veterans, Manuscript Collection no. 49

United Spanish-American War Veterans, Reports of Deaths, 1945-1970 (TAPS)

Kansas Memory

Primary sources online from the Kansas Historical Society. The home page is a great place to begin your search: a clickable map of the counties, access by a number of topics, or a search box, are just part of the paths to discovering some wonder of research jewels!

Recollections Kansas

Recollections: Kansas is the platform for Kansas libraries to share unique historical materials and heighten awareness of the richness and diversity found in local collections.

Newspapers

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Newspapers in Kansas

Kansas newspapers are one of the Kansas State Historical Society's largest and earliest collections, as the Society was originally founded by Kansas newspaper editors. The KSHS has an almost comprehensive collection for the entire state, most of which is on microfilm. Newspaper microfilm is searchable at the top of this page. The microfilm is available in the research room and also through interlibrary loan.

Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers

Search America's historic newspapers pages from 1836-1922 or use the U.S. Newspaper Directory at this site to find information about American newspapers published between 1690-present.Twenty-six states are represented in the digital images as of October 2012.

Church Records

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SEE ALSO: Vital Records

United States Church Records.
This is a great introduction to searching for church records published as part of the FamilySearch Research Wiki. Other related articles about research church records in other locales or by denomination can also be accessed here.

FamilySearch Historical Record Collections.

Records from the U.S. and around the world have been indexed by volunteers and are available here. Many listings also include digital images! Most church records seem to be found in the Birth, Marriage, & Death OR the Other collections. Some found in the first collection include: Kansas, Births and Christenings, 1818-1936, Kansas, Deaths and Burials, 1885-1930, and Kansas, Marriages, 1840-1935.

FamilySearch Catalog.
The searchable catalog of the Family History Library in Salt Lake City contains millions of items, including books and original records. Many are available not only in print at the FHL, but are available for loan on microfilm from a nearby FamilySearch center or online. Many church records, church histories, etc. are listed from around the world.

Online Birth & Marriage Records Indexes for the USA.

States are listed first in this resource, followed by a general section. Also includes some links to divorce listings.

Online Searchable Death Indexes & Records.

A directory of links to websites with online death indexes, listed by state and county. Included are death records, death certificate indexes, death notices & registers, obituaries, probate indexes, and cemetery & burial records. You can also find information here about searching the Social Security Death Index online.

Cyndi's List: Religion & Churches
Links to information, both "how to" and actual records (digital and/or transcriptions).

Vital Records

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SEE ALSO: Church Records

FamilySearch Historical Record Collections.

Records from the U.S. and around the world have been indexed by volunteers and are available here. Many listings also include digital images!

FreeBMD.

Transcribing of the Civil Registration index of births, marriages and deaths for England and Wales records is carried out by teams of dedicated volunteers and contains index information for the period 1837-1983.

Missouri Birth & Death Records Database, Pre-1910.

An abstract of the birth, stillbirth, and death records recorded before 1909 and that are available on microfilm at the Missouri State Archives.

Missouri Death Certificates, 1910-1961.

Death records created after 1910 and over 50 years old, available online through a searchable index that links to a digitized image of the original death certificate.

Online Birth & Marriage Records Indexes for the USA.

States are listed first in this resource, followed by a general section. Also includes some links to divorce listings.

Online Searchable Death Indexes & Records.

U.S. Social Security Death Index .

Name index to deaths recorded by the Social Security Administration beginning in 1962. Ancestry.com provides another version of the SSDI.

Where to Write for Vital Records.

Links provided for users who want direct access to individual state and territory information.

Cemeteries/Obituaries

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See also: Newspapers

FindAGrave.

Many of the listings include pictures of tombstones. If you don't find a picture with the listing you find, you can request that a volunteer take one! Search by name or cemetery.

Interment.net.

Many of the listings include pictures of tombstones. If you don't find a picture with the listing you find, you can request that a volunteer take one! Search by name or cemetery.

Obituary Daily Times.

Volunteers index papers around the world daily. Date of newspaper is included (not death date); obits can be then be requested on interlibrary loan. Ask your librarian.

General Sites

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Cyndi'sList of Genealogy Sites on the Internet.

A classified list of thousands of sites that may be of interest to genealogists.

FamilySearch.

This site from the LDS church (Mormons) provides many searchable databases, including the Family History Library's catalog. Online primary sources from around the world are included. Anyone can also build a free family tree and share photos and stories with others.

HeritageQuest. [Resource provided to Kansans by the State Library of Kansas]

Search federal census records (1790-1930), family and local histories, Revolutionary War pension & bounty-land warrant applications, and more.

HeritageQuestis available with free access in Kansas via this link; if traveling outside the state, use your Kansas Library Card. For more information about obtaining a Kansas Library Card, ask your local librarian.

National Archives (U.S.).

While you can't use the search box to find information on a specific person, you can browse the thousands of genealogy-related holdings -- many of which are available online.This site also contains links to other government-created information about thousands of individuals.

RootsWeb.

One of the first and largest, this is still a completely FREE resource.

Welcome to the Genealogy Jumpstart page, brought to you by Central Kansas Library System.

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We have designed this page as a one-stop resource when beginning (or continuing) family history research. This list is intended to lead users to those sites used most often when beginning genealogical research, as well as pointing to more definitive sites.

Enjoy!