Features Resources
Genealogy Tool Kit: Getting Started—Research Basics
A helpful guide for getting started with genealogical research from the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA)!
This checklist offers a step-by-step process to start your family history research, organize your work, and introduce you to federal records of genealogical value. Each step outlines essential information and strategies to conduct your research in a logical and successful way. As you follow these steps and complete each worksheet in the tool kit, use the appropriate checkboxes to mark your progress.
Find a Grave
Crowd-sourced resource for finding birth and death dates based on grave markers.
Developing Your Research Skills
A resource from Genealogy.com with plenty of tips, tricks, and helpful links.
Other Resources
- Cyndi’s List
- A categorized and cross-referenced index to genealogical resources on the Internet, 261,000+ links for family history!
- European Family History Research Tips
- Tips from the Malta Dual Citizenship Legal Team on how to trace your family heritage and history.
- Family Tree Creator
- A free online source to create your family tree quickly
- Iowa Genealogical Society
- IGS is a non-profit organization whose mission is to create and foster an interest in genealogy and to aid others in researching their family history. IGS was founded in 1965 by a small group of dedicated genealogists who met in members' houses and carried the original collection in an orange crate. Today our 3,000+ members are worldwide and the book collection alone spans the length of over five football fields.
- National Archives: Genealogists/Family Historians
- A great starting place for genealogical research, how-to tips for beginners and experts, links to primary sources world-wide, and databases of family trees.
- National Archives: State Archives
- Genealogists may need to get information from state archives and historical societies.
- State Historical Society of Iowa
- A main repository of Iowa historical and genealogical information.
- Society of American Archivists
- Organizations, associations and groups related to or of interest to the archival profession.