I have filled out your survey, but wanted to also add more commentary that it provided
room for. I have found that libraries are a wonderful source of data and information, and
some little local libraries have been keeping data, unbeknownst to them, for many, many
years. Alpena Michigan's county library in Alpena has obituaries that have been run
for possibly 100 years or maybe a little less. And they are very much 'into'
providing resources and information to genealogists these days. They have added a full
force on line contact method for getting data from them, and local genealogists have
generously donated their works to be put on line. If you wish to take a look, they are
at:
http://www.alpenalibrary.org/special/genealogy/genealogy.html
Sanilac county is another great source for people whose ancestors might have come through
Canada. They also have a great genealogical group, and library, and are currently
attempting to recreate an 1890 census of sorts, using all possible local data to determine
who might have been there in 1890, from county land records, the 1880 and 1900 censuses,
birth, marriage and death records, etc.
The little genealogical societies are many times one of the largest supporters of those of
us who are attempting research in their areas. They usually have already gone through all
the cemeteries, listing the occupants, with the data on their records and tombstones; and
they usually have tried to get and document church records, birth records, marriages,
etc. Most times, they will have these transcriptions printed and sell them to get income
to support other projects that are made to help researchers like me.
The huge libraries that are well known hold data from great, large areas. The LDS library
in Salt Lake City, Utah, holds data from the world, and will send out copies of what they
have (if available) to local Family History Centers, which are located in just about every
American town. There is now a rental fee, but it's minimal, and the films and other
pieces of data are sent for a period of time, so the researchers will have access to much
more than usual.
As for myself, I've run into books in libraries that have held important information
for my research on my ancestors, and they are often in places that I never thought would
have data! I found, in Cheboygan, Michigan's tiny library, a book about the Loyalists
that had gone from the United States during the Revolutionary War, to Canada, for refuge.
The book had lists of the Loyalists, and their entire families' names, which was
invaluable to me. I would imagine that many Michigan libraries would have a copy of that
book, since after the war, many of the descendants of those Loyalists moved back into
Michigan (from New York, then Canada), and lived there quietly. Mine did.
I love on line work, since I can do it all from my desk. I love that many of the gen
societies are working with other sites that hold data for us. If you google genealogy and
Michigan, you may find a ton of sites that will be available for you, just for Michigan
information.
Just to give you a sample:
ancestry.com (pay site)
familysearch.org
rootsweb.com
myheritage.com
genealogy.com (pay site)
myfamily.com
findagrave.com
footnote.com (pay site)
onegreatfamily.com (pay site)
worldvitalrecords.com (pay site)
genealogytoday.com
ancestorhunt.com
accessgenealogy.com
ellisisland.org
cyndislist.com
interment.net
ungennet.org
geni.com
kindredkonnections.com (pay site)
and the list could go on for pages.
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~migenweb/
shows you that within some sites listed above, are subsites for Michigan.
Rootsweb itself has the ability built in for people who register for its use (free) to
connect with each other via lists or boards as well. All the counties in Michigan are
included there. To start, go to:
http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/ and select either
mailing lists, or message boards. That will show you one method used by us to ask each
other questions, or for help.
Genealogists have found that the web is an enormous tool for us to use to connect around
the entire world to find our data. MUCH more is available that way, than in the old way,
where we had to go to the original source. We almost have to trust those who are
transcribing our data for us, and yes, we will quote their data, and use them as the
source. Thankfully, many times, some of the on line sources will also show us the
original document, which we can copy and save to our computers.
myra herron