Since the disaster at the World Trade Center on 9-11, there has been an unparalleled rebirth of interest in family. Whether it is just getting together more often, a special family reunion or digging into the archives to trace the roots of your ancestors, disasters of such magnitude tend to bring us all closer together.
The Internet has opened more doors than imaginable in the field of genealogy.
New software and database technologies are now available that would confound many of the seasoned root-tracers who in the past have dedicated hundreds of hours to visiting cemeteries and dusty library archives.
I recently started using the Internet in my own family tree endeavor and I am happy to share with you some of the best sources to trace your own roots on a day that could not be better to get started.
Family Tree Maker 2005
Family Tree Maker is the top-selling software for building, customizing, searching and sharing your family history. It features integrated on-line database searching through Ancestry.com, the largest Internet database for genealogy enthusiasts.
Family Tree Maker allows you to simply enter the information that you already know into a graphical pedigree tree. You can then easily click on one of the names, and the software will search and find records for that individual, such as U.S. Census records and images, death certificates and other valuable resources. Once you have found a record, such as a Census record, for an individual, especially if the record is of that individual at an early age, you can find his or her parents and immediate family members and expand your tree remarkably with just a few clicks.
Family Tree Maker is available at www.familytreemaker.com for only $29.95.
Ancestry.com
Ancestry.com (www.ancestry.com) provides the largest collection of family history records on the Web. They offer a wide variety of genealogy records such as: U.S. Census records and images; birth, marriage, and death records; historical newspapers; and the list just continues to swell.
One of the important features they have integrated is the Ancestry World Tree. When building your tree you can upload your own data and it will become searchable by other users. There are thousands of individuals currently trying to trace their roots, and many of them have marked success. By searching their pedigrees you may find data that tie directly to your tree and help you fill in the blanks in no time.
As aforementioned, Ancestry.com is the only database that links directly to the innovative Family Tree Maker 2005 software and is a good choice if you are interested in this hobby and willing to pay money for the service. The service is worth the money and if you're still skeptical they offer a free trial period to get you started.
Other great resources
RootsWeb(www.rootsweb.com) is a free service provided by Ancestry.com and features minimal results from the same database. If you're just getting started in this sometimes costly hobby this is a good route for you.
USGenWeb(www.usgenweb.org) provides a free searchable database with much of the information available on Ancestry.com. Each state has its own representatives for this project and each provides varying resources. The cemetery records they have for South Carolina are very interesting.
GenCircles(www.gencircles.com) is another great free resource that allows you to view information that other individuals have already compiled similar to Ancestry.com'sWorld Tree feature.
FamilySearch(www.familysearch.org) is a wonderful free service provided by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. The Mormons have long had a deep interest in family roots and provide this service allowing you to search for your ancestors by name for free.
A final note
Don't be afraid to use Google to search for more resources than I've reviewed for you here. There are literally thousands of sites to choose from when it comes to genealogy on the net.
Tracing your roots on the Internet can be a very good experience. My personal experiences have informed me of the phenomenal improvements that have been made in the field of genealogy because of the World Wide Web. On this day of remembrance, there is a special emphasis placed on family. Let this stand as a reminder that the time has never been more appropriate to appreciate our families and loved ones by tracing our roots.