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IRISH GENEALOGY Researching Your Irish Roots |
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The Desert
Shamrock
Arizona’s
Original Irish Newspaper
Volume 10, Number 1, January/February 1999, page 21
RESEARCHING YOUR
IRISH ROOTS
Family
History Research and the Internet
by Robert M. Wilbanks
IV, B.A.
Professional Genealogist & Historian
Networking is an important part of
genealogical research, whether searching for someone with more family data,
learning basic or specific genealogical techniques, or identifying types of
records and information, and their location. This basic concept of learning and
sharing information with others has made the Internet an additional significant
tool of genealogy. Genealogy now represents 20% of the information on the
Internet, making it the number one topic.
Records,
indexes, reference material, addresses, repository descriptions, and other
extensive material and information useful to the genealogist are available on
the ever-growing Internet. Web sites exist for general and special topic
genealogical societies, regional or ethnic genealogical societies, genealogical
companies and professional services. Libraries, archives and other repositories
also have their own web sites. Then there are sites dedicated to locating
sites.
The
following web sites are excellent starting points for American-Irish research,
for keeping current about local and national events, and for new information
continuously added to the Internet.
Family
History Society of Arizona, http://www.fhsa.org, has details on their eight
chapters with monthly meetings and beginner’s classes; great for learning
genealogy basics and general networking in Metro-Phoenix. The society provides
special programs, seminars, and informative newsletters. See their site for
details regarding their 16th Annual Meeting in Scottsdale, February 6th,
featuring guest speaker Wade Hone of Salt Lake City, author of Land and
Property Research in the United States. He specializes in land and
property, taxation, general American, Scandinavian, Hungarian and Slovakian
research.
Arizona
Genealogical Computer Interest Group (AGCIG), http://www.agcig.org, is
dedicated to computer genealogy education. Learn about genealogy software,
Internet research, the "latest and greatest" in CD's, computer
hardware and software, and other gadgets and "toys". See their site
for details on a Regional Conference in Phoenix, March 12th-13th, featuring three
nationally known speakers in eight different sessions.
Arizona
Genealogical Advisory Board, http://www.azgab.org, is great for statewide
genealogy and historical news and events. It includes listings of statewide
genealogical, historical, and lineage societies, libraries, museums, and the
Arizona Archives, with links to their sites. The "Calendar of Events"
allows you to keep up with different events occurring throughout Arizona, such
as the Genealogical Workshop of Mesa Seminar, February 13th, featuring James L.
Hansen, Reference Librarian and Genealogical Specialist, Library of the State
Historical Society of Wisconsin. Another is the Arizona Department of Library,
Archives and Public Records’ "Arizona Convocation" which will be held
in Sierra Vista, February 26th-27th, discussing maps, genealogy, historical
records, archives, museum collections, as well as documents, photographs, artifacts
and books.
National
Genealogical Society, http://www.ngsgenealogy.org, is dedicated to helping
people learn and practice quality genealogy. This site features information on
the society’s activities, library, conferences, links and other data. For
example, they provide a home study course, a library from which you can borrow
books by mail, and a bimonthly newsletter with articles on research techniques,
queries, news, events, and computer tips. Their quarterly is internationally
regarded for its articles on research tips, techniques and case studies, and
they sponsor the largest national annual genealogy conference.
USGenWeb,
http://www.usgenweb.com, is a volunteer effort to create and link sites for
every state and county in America, providing information on state, county and
town histories, societies, repositories, records, queries, and more.
WorldGenWeb,
http://www.worldgenweb.org, is a similar effort on an international scale. The
Ireland page, http://www.worldgenweb.org/ireland/index.html, includes queries
by county, professional research ads, surname links and resource lists for each
Irish county on the GENUKI site. Volunteers will look up information from
published works, records, and Ireland’s phonebook.
Irish
Genealogical Society International, http://www.rootsweb.com/~irish, has
extensive information on Irish genealogy, queries, links, details regarding
their society and library. This library has one of the largest collections of
Irish records and genealogy information in America. There are links to specific
Irish surnames, townlands, counties, resources and more. There are also
articles from IGSI’s journal, and an index to genealogical articles in Irish
periodicals.
Irish
Ancestral Research Association, http://world.std.com/~ahern/TIARA.html,
includes links to Irish Library Catalogs, Book Stores, Publishers, On-line
Newspapers, Periodicals, Journals, Emigration and Passenger Lists, Family
Associations, Databases, Search Engines, Professional Researchers and
Commercial Services.
Fianna:
Irish Ancestry and Historical Research,
http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Meadows/4404, has Irish genealogy and
history links, Irish County sites, Irish Immigration and Ship sites, Irish
Land, Geography, and Map sites, Searchable Irish Genealogy sites, and extensive
links to databases and other genealogy sites.
UK+Ireland
Genealogy (GENUKI), http://midas.ac.uk/genuki, has pages on England,
Ireland, Scotland, Wales, the Channel Islands, and the Isle of Man, with
subject sections relating to all the British Isles, as well as archives and
libraries.
British
Isles Family History Society USA, http://www.rootsweb.com/~bifhsusa,
details the society’s research collection housed at the Los Angeles Family
History Center. Irish record sources and research guides are discussed,
microfilm numbers are given for many sources, and the site explains using a
Family History Center for Irish research. There are links to other British
Isles resources too.
Cyndi’s
List of Genealogy Sites on the Internet, http://www.CyndisList.com,
contains the most links, of any site, to genealogy. One can search by surname,
locality, or topic, to link to a wealth of genealogy sites. The "Ireland
and Northern Ireland" page is an extensive catalog of Irish genealogy
sites. Categories include: General Resource, History and Culture, How To,
Heritage Centres, Libraries and Archives, Mailing Lists and Newsgroups, Maps
and Gazetteers, Newspapers, People and Families, Research Services,
Publications, Queries and Surname Lists, Records, Societies and Groups. Be sure
to visit the AGCIG site (see above) for details on their Seminar featuring
Cyndi Howell, author of Cyndi’s List, on February 20th in Mesa.
For
previous articles on the basics of searching for your family history, visit my
web site at http://www.robertwilbanks.com. First, click on Professional
Services, then Genealogical Writings.
DISCLAIMER: This is an important reminder that the above article is provided here exactly as originally written and published several years ago. Therefore, while most of the primary context of the article may still be relevant, please be aware that possibly certain of the information and references may now be outdated, such as individuals and organizations, links, contacts, facilities, etc. Please follow-up accordingly for more updated information.
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©2013, Robert M. Wilbanks IV, Scottsdale, Arizona
created Nov 15, 2013; last updated Nov 15, 2013