I started researching my family history in the 1980s.
I remember how long it seemed to take to order a copy of a vital record. First, you had to request the form to use to order a copy of the record. Then you sent in the form, with your check, and waited weeks – in some cases months – to get the copy of your record.
That’s, of course, assuming that you had the right name, date, and place for the event.
Sometimes a request for a record search yielded no results. And, then you started over with another request. Another check. And another wait.
Today, a similar search can take minutes on the Internet, thanks to the efforts of various state archives, libraries, societies, and other organizations. In many cases, access to the digital records is free.
It’s truly amazing.
This week, for example, I found the death record for my great-grandfather, who died in 1927 in Georgia. In the 1980s, it took weeks for me to get a paper copy through the mail. This week it took minutes to find the same record on the Georgia Archives’ Virtual Vault.
Not only does Georgia’s Vault have death certificates for 1919-1927, it also has Confederate Pension Applications, maps, postcards, and a number of other documents.
Digital treasures – vital records, census records, and more – can be found on many web sites sponsored by state archives and libraries
The Library of Michigan, for example, has the state’s entire 1870 Federal Census – images and index.
Pennsylvania’s State Archives has marriage records, 1885-1891, among its digital documents.
West Virginia’s Archives has birth, death, and marriage records for a number of years and counties.
I’d encourage you to explore your states of interest to discover your own digital treasures.
simply amazing! I’m still tracing my own family tree back if anyone has info of any Winn family members from High Wycombe get in touch!