United States

Start a U.S. genealogy project using federal census, military, immigration, land and naturalization records.

Search U.S. historical records, family trees and research guides in one place.

Explore state guides, local histories, family histories, newspapers, maps and other collections.

Learn how historical federal and state census records can be used to reconstruct families and communities.

National Archives’ collection of links to genealogy databases and online research resources.

Volunteer genealogy projects organized by state and county, with many free local resources.

Population censuses from 1790 onward are among the most important nationwide sources for U.S. family history.

Search U.S. birth, marriage, death, census, immigration, military and other collections.

Passenger arrivals, border crossings, immigration files and related records can help reconstruct migration.

Citizenship records may contain names, residences, dates, origins and other family clues.

Deeds, land entry files, patents and property records can reveal relationships and migration.

Federal and local court records can provide unexpected evidence about families and communities.

Service records, pensions, draft registrations and unit records cover many generations.

Explore military service and veterans-related records for American ancestors.

Birth, marriage and death records are generally handled at state and local levels.

Wills, estates and probate files can identify spouses, children, heirs and property.

Town histories, family histories and local publications can provide context that official records miss.

Historical newspapers can reveal marriages, deaths, migration, businesses, obituaries and community events.

Official guidance for researching immigration and passenger arrival records.

Search passenger lists, border crossings, naturalizations and related U.S. immigration records.

Passenger and immigration resources associated with the Port of New York.

Historical New York passenger arrival resources for the period before Ellis Island.

Historical immigration and naturalization records held by U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services.

Research resources for historical immigration case files and related federal records.

Central starting point for U.S. military genealogy research.

Official information about obtaining U.S. military service records.

Research individual service records and learn how to request records.

Search military-related historical collections available through FamilySearch.

Federal records and research guidance for African American genealogy and history.

Research guides covering Freedmen’s Bureau, Freedman’s Bank, USCT, Buffalo Soldiers and more.

Search census, vital, military and other historical collections relevant to African American research.

Federal Writers’ Project interviews and related historical material.

Official guide to researching American Indian and Alaska Native ancestry and tribal enrollment.

Federal records concerning Native American peoples, tribes, agencies, schools and lands.

Research resources concerning the Five Tribes and Dawes Commission enrollment records.

Official Bureau of Indian Affairs tribal directory for identifying current tribal entities.

Explore federal records relevant to Asian American and Pacific Islander history.

Search genealogy guides and collections for Asian American and Pacific Islander communities.

Search U.S. historical records and community-related collections.

Federal records and research guidance for Hispanic and Latino history.

Explore state, local and community research guides.

Search U.S. records and family history collections.

Major international Jewish genealogy resource with extensive U.S.-related material.

Archives and historical resources documenting American Jewish life.

Search U.S. census, vital, immigration and other historical records.

Historic American newspapers and newspaper-related research tools.

Explore newspaper collections and research resources.

Search historical newspapers and other U.S. collections available through FamilySearch.

Cemetery, memorial and burial information that can provide useful research clues.

The primary federal archive for U.S. historical government records.

Major collections of books, newspapers, maps, photographs, manuscripts and local histories.

Library of Congress guides organized around U.S. states and territories.

Official starting point for finding state-level government resources.

Free historical records, family tree and U.S. research resources.

Large collection of U.S. census, vital, immigration, military and other genealogy records.

Historical records, family trees and DNA genealogy tools.

Military-focused historical records and documents.

Large digitized newspaper collection useful for U.S. local and family history.

Historical newspapers, obituaries and other genealogy resources.

Large U.S.-focused DNA matching ecosystem connected to historical records and family trees.

DNA matching and genetic genealogy tools with international family history connections.

Autosomal, Y-DNA and mtDNA testing with tools for deeper genetic genealogy research.

Consumer genetic testing and DNA-relative matching.

Cross-platform DNA comparison tools for genetic genealogy.

Tools for segment analysis, chromosome mapping and relationship research.

Slavery-era research, emancipation, Freedmen’s Bureau, USCT, census and community records.

American Indian and Alaska Native ancestry, tribal affiliation and federal records.

Research paths for Hispanic and Latino communities across U.S. regions.

Jewish American families, immigration, communities and international connections.

Immigration, exclusion-era records, community histories and Asian American research.

Use local histories, newspapers, archives and community organizations to reconstruct family networks.

Research before and around the formation of the United States through colonial and early local records.

Military service, pensions, land claims and lineage society research.

Use early census, land, probate, tax, court and military records.

Military records, emancipation, Freedmen’s Bureau and post-war communities.

Passenger lists, naturalization, urban records, newspapers and immigrant communities.

Census, Social Security, military, immigration and local records become especially valuable.

Free historical records and family history tools.

Official federal genealogy resources and research guides.

Genealogy guides, local histories, family histories and research collections.

Historical American newspapers and research tools.

Free volunteer-created state and county genealogy projects.

Official American Indian and Alaska Native ancestry guidance.