Explore County Records By Computer

Sun., Aug. 15, 1999

Donna Potter Phillips The Spoke

Ever heard of USGenWeb? If you do any kind of genealogy on the Internet, you need to know about and use the wonderful resource that is USGenWeb.

You can get to this site by typing www.usgenweb.org, or www.cyndislist.com.

A colorful American map greets visitors at the “front door” of the site and takes them into a huge storehouse of information. Click on the state you want, and once there, you have the option to select the county you want to research.

Each state site is different and no two county sites within a given state is likely to appear the same. Every county has a coordinator who is free to maintain the site as he or she wishes. As you click your way from county to county, you’ll encounter an assortment of colors, graphics and links. More importantly, you’ll see various types and quality of information.

Here’s a list of items I think make for a good county Web site:

Pertinent information about that county: location, its county seat, points of interest, etc.

Maps are welcome additions.

Information about the local genealogical and historical societies.

Genealogical projects and publications of these groups.

Queries, accepted and posted, along with instructions on how to submit them.

A listing of people willing to do research, both onsite and from their libraries.

Databases of original records from the area.

(Speaking of Web sites: have you checked out the Eastern Washington Genealogical Society’s site? Go to http://www.onlinepub.net/ewgs) Some of the new and exciting things coming to a county Web site near you include mailing lists.

Imagine it - a mailing list devoted entirely to the research interests of folks in a given county. For instance, a mailing list established in 1997 for Augusta County, Va., now has approximately 700 members.

Query systems have evolved and developed to the point that it is possible to search not only nationwide, but worldwide, for queries and other information that has been posted about surnames.

Another relatively new development is a search engine designed for county level use. This means that visitors can enter a surname and find all references to that name at a specified county site.

Many counties make good use of photographs. Instead of just including text to give a church history, a photo of the church is sometimes added.

USGenWeb’s Archives was the first major large-scale project of the new site in 1996. Its goal was - and is- to put public domain records online, making them freely accessible to everyone. These include probate, land, vital, church, county, military, Bible records, obituaries and passenger lists.

The USGenWeb Census Project, begun in 1997, has the mission of transcribing all of the U.S. federal censuses and putting the information online. This is still a fledgling project, which means you might not yet find your specific county and year of interest.

The Tombstone Inscription Project, also started in 1997, was intended to be a lasting tribute to our ancestors. The project is organized state by state and cemetery by cemetery, and new data is welcomed.

There is even a Kidz Project on USGenWeb, a resource page for children.

I’ll continue discussing this great boon to researching our ancestors in next week’s column.

Local journalism is essential.

Give directly to The Spokesman-Review's Northwest Passages community forums series -- which helps to offset the costs of several reporter and editor positions at the newspaper -- by using the easy options below. Gifts processed in this system are tax deductible.

Meet Our Journalists

Jesse Tinsley

Meet Jesse Tinsley. As a certified drone pilot, this veteran Spokesman-Review photographer often can be seen capturing beautiful aerial photographs of our region. Sometimes though, the job requires getting down with the dogs.
Jim Meehan

Jim Meehan is no stranger to Zag Nation. As the lead writer covering the Gonzaga men’s basketball team, he tells the stories behind the game and gets fans a bit closer to their favorite players.
Molly Quinn

There is no artist in Spokane like Molly Quinn. Her whimsical style is instantly recognizable to readers of The Spokesman-Review. She has painted gorgeous illustrations that instantly elevate the journalism accompanying it. She brings to life the stories that defy photography. She makes our pages better.
Rob Curley

Spokesman-Review editor Rob Curley loves to talk with people and learn about their lives, whether it's a best-selling author or a stranger he meets downtown on his walk to lunch. It's that inquisitive nature combined with a playful sense of storytelling that helps make our newspaper different than most.