Cyndi's Soapbox

• Genealogy has many possible sources for data, for learning and for sharing. The Internet is only one of those possible sources. See the list of numerous other tools below.
  • We don't refer to "library genealogy" or "archives genealogy" or "FHC genealogy," so why would we refer to "Internet genealogy?"
  • The Internet is just one of many tools in the genealogical researcher's toolbox. I believe it is the most powerful tool we have because it saves us time and money and helps us spend our research time in a more productive manner.
  • A genealogist cannot use just one research tool and hope for reliable or complete results.
  • Genealogists are only successful when they combine the use of all of their tools and make the most of all available resources -- online and offline together.

• The tools in our research toolbox include the following (to name a few, and not necessarily in this order):
  • You and your family members
  • Your personal records and family memorabilia at home
  • Libraries
  • Archives
  • Courthouses
  • Museums
  • Churches
  • Cemeteries and funeral homes
  • Newspapers
  • Your local LDS Family History Center
  • Local and national genealogical and historical societies
  • Professional genealogical researchers
  • Genealogy books, CDs, microfilm, microfiche and software
  • The Internet

• The Internet is the latest, most powerful tool in our research toolbox, giving us:
  • A learning center (i.e. tutorials, articles, veterans and professionals).
  • A meeting place (i.e. mailing lists, newsgroups, chat rooms, message boards).
  • A place to publish our research questions, concerns, results and advice.

• Remember these things:
  • The Internet is not your only starting point for genealogical research.
    
    (See:   Beginners,   Education,   How To,   How To ~ Tutorials & Guides)
  • The Internet is not the place to end your genealogical research.
    
    (Trust me here...your research will never be finished.)
  • You will not find everything you need on the Internet.
  • Not everything that you are looking for can be found on the Internet.
  • There is not a web site or an online database for everything you need in your research.
  • Just because you assume your research materials will be online, doesn't mean they will be online.
  • Just because you want your research materials to be available online, doesn't mean they will be online.
  • Finding data online does not mean that it is correct, thoroughly researched or well-documented.
    
    (See:   Citing Sources,   Genealogy Standards & Guidelines)
  • The Internet is not the cause of poor genealogical research or undocumented data. False pedigrees, family myths and research errors were a part of genealogy long before the Internet. The difference is that these things are more easily found and duplicated online, so the Internet is the recent target for criticism.
    
    (See:   Citing Sources,   Genealogy Standards & Guidelines,   Myths, Hoaxes & Scams)
  • Finding data online does not mean that you are "finished" with your research.
    
    (See:   Citing Sources,   Primary Sources)

How To

• Ancestry.com - Bad Data Online: Problems and Solutions 
  Article by Donn Devine.
• Astronauts to Ancestors - Real Research Breakthroughs Via The Internet  
  Article by Mark Howells describing how accidental discoveries on the Internet can lead to research breakthroughs.
• Computerized Trolling 
  By Richard A. Pence.
• Exploring Cyndi’s List 
  By Robin Pyatt Bellamy.
• Family Chronicle - Researching Your Roots Using the Internet 
  "Cyndi Howells says that the Internet may not be what you think."
• Finding Genealogy on the Internet 
  Online full text of a book by Peter Christian.
• In Search of an Honest Link 
  A surf of a thousand clicks can end very, very badly. How links fool us into visiting web sites we don't wish to see. Online article by Mark Howells
• The Internet & Webbing Your Family History 
  From the Harper County Genealogical Society.
• Internet_Genealogy Mailing List 
  For the sharing of information, URLs and ideas for ways of using the Internet for research. Questions, suggestions and discussions regarding the usefulness of particular message boards, mailing lists and websites are encouraged. Archives: browse or search.
• Internet Genealogy - What's Good! What's Not! . . . And What Are We Going To Do About It? 
  By Bettie Cummings Cook, CG.
• Questor -Pedigree Puzzle 
  Using the Internet to solve genealogical mysteries.
• Standards For Use Of Technology In Genealogical Research 
  Recommended by the National Genealogical Society.
• Surfing Genealogy Style - Finding Your Ancestors on the Internet 
  From the About.com genealogy section.
• Using the Internet for Genealogy 

Internet-Specific Research Tools

• Ancestry.com - Genealogy and Family History Records 
  • IMAGES-ONLINE-HELP Mailing List 
    For the discussion and sharing of information regarding the use of Images Online, an ability provided by Ancestry.com to view and print documents that have traditionally been stored on microfilm or in a limited number of archives and libraries (e.g., census records). The list is for assistance in using the images, not for lookups. Archives: browse or search.
• Cyndi's List of Genealogy Sites on the Internet 
  Index of links for genealogical research, categorized & cross-referenced.
  • CyndisList Mailing List 
    A read-only list to provide users of the Cyndi's List web site with daily site updates, number of new/updated links, names of updated categories, answers to frequently asked questions, and descriptions of new features or improvements. Additional information can be found on the CyndisList web page. Archives: browse or search.
• FamilySearch Internet Genealogy Service 
  • FAMILYSEARCH Mailing List 
    Designed to assist anyone with questions regarding use of the Internet for searching Family History. The Familysearch internet site and others are discussed for genealogical research such as searching, downloading, contributing, cross-referencing and microfilm numbers, and basic "getting started" questions are also discussed and welcomed. Surname specific research is not discussed. Archives: browse or search.
  • LDS-FamilySearch-Website Mailing List 
    For the discussion and sharing of information regarding the LDS Family Search website. Queries regarding general genealogical research, researching your own family, or LDS doctrine are beyond the scope of the list.
• Footnote.com 
  Footnote is an online repository for original historical documents, combined with the ability for users to make comments, annotations, and upload their own documents. Some areas of Footnote are free to use, while others can be freely searched and then viewed with a paid subscription.
  • Browse Original Documents 
    Arranged by time period.
  • Member Discoveries on Footnote 
    Members can annotate documents, create story pages, add comments, upload documents, and more.
  • Original Documents on Footnote 
    A complete list of all titles.
  • Story Pages 
    Create quick and easy web pages you create.
• Genealogy Resources on the Internet - Mailing Lists 
  The comprehensive site for all currently available genealogy e-mail mailing lists.
• RootsWeb.com 

Publications, Software & Supplies

• Cyndi's List Genealogy Bookstore 
  A categorized list of genealogy research books that looks a lot like my bookshelf at home.

• Amazon.com Genealogy Bookstore - Internet Genealogy  and Online Genealogy 
  The following are individual book titles of interest for this topic. The book links below point to the Amazon.com bookstore online where you may purchase the book if you wish. These links are provided to bring these published resources to your attention as an aid to your research. Follow the links to books of interest to make note of their title, author, publisher, and ISBN. You might then use this information to obtain the book from your local library or your favorite corner book shop.
  • Climbing Your Family Tree: Online and Off-line Genealogy for Kids 
    A book by Ira Wolfman.
  • The Complete Idiot's Guide to Online Genealogy 
    A book by Rhonda R. McClure.
  • Cyndi's List: A Comprehensive List of 40,000 Genealogy Sites on the Internet 
    A book by Cyndi Howells.
  • The Genealogist's Internet 
    A book by Peter Christian.
  • The Genealogy Forum on America Online: The Official User's Guide 
    A book by George G. Morgan.
  • Genealogy Online: Millennium Edition 
    A book by Elizabeth Powell Crowe.
  • Internet Genealogy 
    A magazine by Moorshead Magazines. Directed towards the numbers of newcomers to genealogy who are using the Internet for their research and to the traditional genealogists who may have been wary of the Internet in the past. Published six times a year. Available by subscription, on newsstands & as an online magazine on the web.
  • Netting Your Ancestors: Genealogical Research on the Internet 
    A book by Cyndi Howells.
  • Online Roots: How to Discover Your Familys History and Heritage With the Power of the Internet 
    A book by Pamela Boyer Porter.
  • Planting Your Family Tree Online : How to Create Your Own Family History Website 
    A book by Cyndi Howells.
  • Plugging into Your Past: How to Find Real Family History Records Online 
    A book by Rick Crume.
  • Virtual Roots : A Guide to Genealogy and Local History on the World Wide Web 
    A book by Thomas Jay Kemp.
• Cyndi's List -- The BOOK! 
  A book by Cyndi Howells. A Comprehensive List of 40,000 Genealogy Sites on the Internet.
• Netting Your Ancestors: Genealogical Research on the Internet 
  A book by Cyndi Howells.

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