October is Family History Month in the US and to celebrate people are encouraged to explore and preserve their family's history and share the stories of their ancestors. Family History Month can also be a time to reflect on your lineage and spend time with your family! During this month, many people delve into genealogy research and if you are interested in starting or continuing your own research on your family's roots, the Digital Library at Fulton County has some great resources for you!
For genealogical research, knowing where to start can be a challenging task, but Ancestry Library Edition can help you fill in your family tree. Ancestry can only be used in-library, but you can start your research journey with just a name and then use Ancestry's filters to expand or narrow your search to include (or exclude) specific places, timeframes, occupations, etc.
Ancestry may be the most well-known database for genealogical research, but you can also continue your research using MyHeritage Library Edition. MyHeritage includes billions of historical records not limited to censuses, photos, military records, and immigration lists. If you are looking for military records, try Fold3 Library Edition! Fold3 provides access to publicly available military records and you can search by conflict, time period, and demographics.
HeritageHub is another valuable tool for those interested in discovering their roots. HeritageHub provides access to US newspapers which can include death notices and obituaries. Death notices and obituaries can both provide critical information for genealogical research. HeritageHub can be accessed both inside and outside of the library.
For patrons seeking to access HeritageHub inside of a Fulton County Library branch, click here
For patrons seeking to access HeritageHub outside of the library, click here
In addition to HeritageHub, patrons also have access to the Social Security Death Index (SSDI). The Social Security Death Index (SSDI) is a searchable database of individuals whose deaths were reported to the Social Security Administration.
These tools can help you get started or continue your journey of uncovering your roots and celebrating your family this month. Still not sure where to start or need tips about research? The National Genealogical Society (NGS) offers free resources about getting involved in genealogy and sharing your family's story.
Happy researching!
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