Home page of RootsWeb.com, now part of Ancestry
Has instructions for getting started, tracing family trees, using archives, search engines
List of Ancestry.com rated sites, heavily slanted to their site and sister sites, but with listed below other sites and links to each site; has a list of popular former sites, now "dead"
Visitors to the site may "Vote" on which of the existing 1,300+ genealogy websites rate as top sites. Sites are listed by number of votes, with the top ones explained and links to a long list of other sites to investigate
Cyndi's List, Internet Sites Genealogy, beginner and links to hundreds of thousands of genealogy websites
A tremendous site with FREE information and vital and other records. Some information not yet indexed
Tutorials teach users how to access information and work the site
A wonderful resource that lists the 50 top-rated genealogy websites
Indicates which sites are subscription/ pay & which are free
includes active links and a very brief description of each site
"MyHeritage offers the best free genealogy site on the web. MyHeritage is the only site for genealogy that features the MyHeritage Research
super search engine. The MyHeritage Research search engine allows you to search over 1,400 free geneology websites simultaneously. In one search, you can cover multiple spelling variations, phonetic synonyms,
Soundex and Megadex variants, and much more"
includes Free sites; some advertisement sites
FREE searches for postings that include family information, obituaries, etc. Put names "Jane Doe" in quotes and enter. Search parameters are very limited
"Unlike last year, when we singled out free websites, the 2011 compilation includes both free and subscription sites. Though some mostly free sites charge for premium services, you’ll see a symbol only next to sites where you have to pony up for the core content. Ready? Go ahead and spoil yourself a little with these 101 stellar sites." NOTE what constitutes "core content" may mean NO useful free information!-LK
"In a bumpy economy, is there any more welcome word than free? When we took a break from checking our credit-card balances and 401(k) accounts to consider this year’s 101 Best Websites, the theme was as obvious as the lint in our wallets: the best free genealogy sites. Fortunately, when it comes to online genealogy, the old sayings “There’s no such thing as a free lunch” and “You get what you pay for” go right out the window. You can learn plenty about your family history without ever entering a credit-card"
Home page for LOM genealogy; has guides for conducting research, web links, older workshop PowerPoints, PDF handouts, 1870 MI Census, guide to MI County Clerks, newsletters, MI Naturalization Indexes (only) for many MI counties, MI newspapers, SeekingMichigan, MeL, Michigan Genealogist, MI Cemetery Sources
A tremendous list vetted by librarians. Useful genealogy sites grouped under adoption census computer_software ethnic_resources history immigrarion naturalization land_records libraries archives military Native_Americans vital_records
MI Dept Human Services FAQ & Answers about adoption; links to county offices, publications, individual & family services, lots of info for people wanting to adopt and also some info for people seeking to reunite with birth parents, adopted siblings, and children given up for adoption.
Evan B. Don Aldson Adoption Institute - Adoption Registries and Intermediaries by State: Below is a state-by-state list of adoption registries and intermediaries for those who would like access to their adoption records.* Laws for each state determine the procedures by which adoption information may be accessed and the types of information which may be disclosed.
"The Central Adoption Registry is a file that is maintained by the Department of Human Services in Lansing, MI. This file contains former parent and adult former sibling statements giving consent or denial to have information about themselves released to an adult adopted person who is searching.
The former family statements are forwarded to the child placing agencies and courts upon request so that they then can make a determination whether identifying information can be released to the adult adopted person or an adult adoptee's direct descendant in those cases where the adopted person is deceased."
"Former parents may complete a "Parent's Consent or Denial to Release Information to Adult Adoptee" form, FIA-1919.
An adult sibling may file either the "Adult Former Sibling Statement to Release Information to Adult Adoptee" form FIA-1917 or the "Release of Information to Adult Adoptee by Brother/Sister as Proxy for Deceased Parent" form FIA-1918.
These forms are available by contacting the family division of circuit court, a child placing agency, local Department of Human Services, the Central Adoption Registry, or by downloading the form from your computer. "
"Out-of-State Agencies * Confidential Intermediary Program
* Out-of-State Agencies * Confidential Intermediary Program
* Closed Adoption Agencies and who holds their records
* Michigan Search and Support Groups *State and National Registries, * Adoption Booklist: Search & Reunion
*Closed Adoption Agencies and who holds their records
*Michigan Search and Support Groups
State and National Registries
*Adoption Booklist: Search & Reunion"
Many sites under the following categories: "Category Index - General Resources, Locality Specific, Mailing Lists, Newsgroups & Chat, Professionals, Volunteers & Other Research Services, Publications, Software & Supplies, Societies & Groups, Related Categories, Finding People, Newspapers, Orphans, Professionals, Volunteers & Other Research, Services, Queries & Message Boards"
"A mutual consent reunion registry for family members who have been separated from each other by adoption, divorce, foster care institutional care, abandonment, etc."