Genealogy can be made easier with the right tools and organizational forms.

Free charts & forms

Geographical and ethnic helps

David Rumsey Maps
Geographic Names Information System (GNIS): Ever wondered in what county a town was located, or which cemeteries were in a certain county? The Geographic Names Information System can help. Enter a town name and its state, and you’ll be presented with a list of features associated with that town and the name of the county it's in. Click on a name for geographic coordinates and links to various maps and satellite views of the area.
Google Maps: Google Maps provides a standard map view, a satellite view, oand a view of the terrain. How tall was that mountain that great-grandpa had to hike to visit the nearest town? Zoom in on the terrain view to find out. Going to visit a library or courthouse for the first time? Google Maps Street View is available for a growing number of cities. You can zoom in on an address and see the building itself. Using the rotation arrows, you can turn around and look at the other side of the street, move down the street, and see landmarks you'll be able to use as you navigate your way to the repository. Street View can also enable you to see buildings in your ancestors’ neighborhoods that are still standing.
Perry-Castañeda Library Map Collection
Library of Congress: American Memory Collection-Maps

Census abbreviations: You may find that census enumerators used confusing abbreviations. This website will help you sort out some of the more common abbreviations you’ll find in past censuses.
Census enumerator instructions (IPUMS): Census enumerators were given very specific instructions when it came to recording the answers your ancestors gave. Reading these instructions can be helpful in understanding the records. This site includes the original instructions for the years 1850-1950.

WorldCat: Looking for more information about a battle in which your ancestor fought during the Civil War? What were the working conditions of the industry in which your ancestors were engaged? The answers to these and many other questions can often be found in publications on WorldCat. WorldCat will alert you to their existence, and when you enter your zip code, it will give you a list of libraries that have the publications in their collections.
Wikipedia: Ever wondered whether a historic event prompted your ancestors to leave the country they called home for generations? Wikipedia can give you some ideas. Search for a year, and you’ll get a chronology of world events from that year.
Google Translate: Your ancestor’s non-English records doesn’t need to be a brick wall. Use tools like this one to decipher words and create a template of the record form.
Manifest Markings: A Guide to Interpreting Passenger List Annotations: This is your guide to deciphering passenger list annotations.
BehindtheName.com: Find ethnic versions (the versions usually recorded on passenger lists) of your ancestors’ given names with this site.
Cyndi’s List: Cyndi’s List has been a reliable family history guide for more than 18 years.