Genealogy Resources

Press release from the Cromaine District Library:

December 17, 2021

As many of you may know, Ancestry Library Edition has been accessible for home use during the pandemic. Unfortunately, that will come to an end December 31, 2021. Ancestry Library Edition will still be accessible for use inside the library. If you prefer to do your genealogy research from the comfort of your home, there are many other free options available.

MyHeritage Library Edition is a family history database available through the Michigan eLibrary with access to a wide range of historical documents, images, and public records. To use this database you will need to get a Library of Michigan library card which is easy to do online, and your library card number will be emailed to you. Once you have your card number, you can begin exploring the MyHeritage database. To access the database, scroll down the Library of Michigan Family History website until you see Family History Databases and click on MyHeritage.

Michiganology features vital records and naturalization records for Michigan. When visiting the Michiganology site, click on research at the top of the page, then select the area of family history you are searching for.

FamilySearch.org is a free site where you can search vital records, census, military records, photos, newspapers, and much more. You can also create your own family tree, and look at other members family trees. This is an excellent resource that has over 3,000 historical record collections.

If you want to learn more about how to do genealogy research, here are some great ways to do so using your Cromaine library card.

Universal Class is offered by Cromaine, and has over 500 classes on a variety of subjects for you to take at your leisure. Universal Class offers a Genealogy 101 class that covers tips and strategies for beginning the process of constructing your family tree, types of records available for research, and how to preserve your family records and history. To access Universal Class, go to Cromaine’s website, click on menu, and under Digital Library you will see Universal Class at the bottom of the list.

Family Tree Magazine is available to you on Overdrive. Browse current and back issues to learn best research tools and practices to trace your family's history.

Discovering Your Roots: An Introduction to Genealogy is a video series available on Hoopla with 15 episodes. To access this series visit the Hoopla website, and log in if you have a Hoopla account already, or create an account using your library card.

Library of Michigan has recorded webinars on how to use Ancestry library edition, how to use MyHeritage library edition, and how to do your own family history research. To access these webinars go to the Library of Michigan Family History site.

Cromaine has many books on genealogy to check out. Here are some titles:

• The Family Tree Toolkit: A Comprehensive Guide to Uncovering your Ancestry and Researching Genealogy by Kenyatta D. Berry
• Guide to the Michigan Genealogical & Historical Collections at the Library of Michigan and the State Archives of Michigan by Michigan Genealogical Council
• The Family Tree Problem Solver: Tried-and-True Tactics for Tracing Elusive Ancestors by Marsha Hoffman Rising
• Family History 101: A Beginner's Guide to Finding Your Ancestors by Marcia Yannizze Melnyk
• Unofficial Guide to Ancestry.com: How to Find your Family History on the #1 Genealogy Website by Nancy Hendrickson
• Unofficial Guide to FamilySearch.org: How to Find your Family History on the World's Largest Free Genealogy Website by Dana McCullough

If you have any questions about any of these resources, or would like some genealogy help, email Librarian Loni Wetherell at lwetherell@cromaine.org.

This press release was produced by the Cromaine District Library. The views expressed are the author's own.