As a professional genealogist and someone who has studied history for years, both writing papers and researching, I can attest to the value of local records.
Often when helping individuals who want to unlock a door to their family trees the first place I turn is to local archives and records.
Learning how local county or city governments organize documents and how far back they keep records is also important. Knowing this can make the chances of finding vital records for relatives a lot easier. However, the lack of records may also provide you with an opportunity to connect with other local resources such as historical or genealogical societies to locate ancestors.
Historical societies aside from local vital records offices can be a treasure trove for genealogists. This is because historical societies often collect many items, books, documents, and more from local families who donate them.
So what sorts of items might be found at local historical and genealogical societies? It varies, of course, but you may find valuable research resources such as:
- Diaries
- Old letters
- Family photos
- Compiled genealogies from previous generations
- Cemetery maps, including locations of unmarked graves and who is in them
- Wills that weren’t filed with a court
- Written family stories that people want to preserve
- History books on local history, including things that may have affected your ancestors
- Old newspapers and newspaper clippings that haven’t been digitized online
Never underestimate the use of a local newspaper either. Their archives may be both online and in person. I have found several fascinating stories or interesting articles about historical events, people, and places within our own Alleghany News archive. Thankfully those records go back to the late 1920s. Other online resources offer earlier editions of the newspaper, which could not be obtained otherwise.
If it's land records you are searching for, longing to find an old family property then a local Register of Deeds office can be very helpful. Many local areas have what are known as GIS systems. These systems often tie back to the Register's office and can offer deed books and page numbers for further information.
If not online or at a historical society, try the local library. Many have microfilm archives that hold a great deal of information along with a local history section. Anyone looking to make a genealogy road trip should look into these places, offices, and societies. These record keepers can help unlock some of the doors to our ancestors whether they stayed in that community for a decade, or all of their lives.
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