Databases

Ancestry

Ancestry is a genealogy and DNA testing company that provides tools for people to research family history and discover ancestral origins. It is best known for its online genealogical database and its consumer genetic testing service, AncestryDNA, which have made it one of the most widely used family-history resources globally.

Archives.com

Archives.com is a subscription-based online genealogy database focused on historical records like vital records, censuses, and newspapers. It targets both beginners and experienced family historians with a simpler, lower-cost alternative to some larger genealogy platforms. Since 2012, it has been owned and operated by Ancestry.com as one of its genealogy brands.

Findmypast

Findmypast is an online genealogy and historical records service based in the United Kingdom. It provides subscribers access to billions of digitized documents, including censuses, parish registers, military, and newspaper archives, to help trace family histories. It is one of the major genealogy databases serving researchers in the UK, Ireland, and beyond.

Fold3

Fold3 is an online subscription service specializing in digitized military records and related historical documents. Operated by Ancestry.com, it provides access to millions of original records from U.S. and international military archives, catering to genealogists, historians, and researchers. The platform emphasizes original imagery and contextual collections for in-depth military history research.

NewspaperArchive

NewspaperArchive is a commercial online database of digitized historical newspapers. It focuses on providing searchable access to scanned newspaper pages from around the world, widely used by genealogists, historians, and researchers for tracing people, events, and local history.

Dead Fred

Dead Fred is an online genealogy organization that hosts a large, free archive of historical photographs, focused on helping people identify ancestors and relatives through old images. It functions as both a searchable database and a community-driven “lost and found” for family photos.

FamilySearch

FamilySearch is a nonprofit genealogy organization sponsored by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints that provides free access to billions of historical records, family trees, and educational tools. Based in Salt Lake City, Utah, it operates globally to help individuals discover their ancestry and preserve family connections across generations.

USGenWeb Project

The USGenWeb Project is a volunteer-driven online network providing free genealogical and historical information for every county and state in the United States. Established in 1996, it connects researchers to local records, transcriptions, and community resources, making it a foundational hub for American family history research.

American Ancestors

American Ancestors is the nation’s oldest and largest genealogical organization, founded in 1845 as the New England Historic Genealogical Society. Headquartered in Boston, Massachusetts, it serves as a national nonprofit center for family history, heritage, and culture, supporting more than 400,000 members and online users worldwide.