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If you can add any data to the Geleick family tree please feel free to contact me, if you think you may be related directly or by marriage then please share the information, I can offer the full family tree details, with research notes and sources, to anyone who is researching trees that may join with mine.


Post your Genealogy Research on FamilyTreeCircles.com

Thursday, August 16, 2007

Genealogy Sites on the Internet

As a start for researching and for learning about how to research here are a few links, in no particular order. Some of these may prove useful everyday some you may never use again, most have some free information at least, some are totally free, some link to commercial parts of their own or other sites.

One of the terms that will keep cropping on at these and other sites is GEDCOM, which may mean nothing to a new researcher.

GEDCOM Briefly Defined

  • GEDCOM is a generic, database format designed to allow users to share family history database files between differing genealogy software programs.
  • To create a GEDCOM file (in most programs), go to "File, Export to GEDCOM" and create a new file with a ".ged" file extension after the name.
  • To read another person's GEDCOM file (in most programs), go to "File, Import from GEDCOM" and create a new database file that can be opened in your genealogy software program. This will not merge with your existing database file unless you indicate that you wish for the two files to be merged.
  • GEDCOM files can easily be shared with others via e-mail attachment or on a disk.
  • GEDCOM files can easily be uploaded to lineage-linked databases.
  • GEDCOM files can be converted for use in genealogy companion software programs and utilities that will create things like specialty charts, books, scrapbooks and web sites.
So in short it is a way to store and share genealogical data, but there is a warning I must add.

Many sites suggest you upload your gedcom data to their site to help others, and on many sites that is all there is to it, users can see each others data and form links to their existing data increasing the tree size of all concerned. Some of the commercial sites though use your data in another way, for example by selling your (and other peoples) data on compilation CD's or by charging users a subscription to access the data, data that you have freely shared! I am quite happy to share any of my research freely, hopefully I will get more data back in return, but I am not at all happy about a company hoarding as much data as it can in order to make money on the backs of unpaid researchers. These same companies also gather indexes to public data such as census returns or vital data and charge users to search the indexes, data which should be public domain and freely available. So I suggest you check what your gedcom data will be used for before you upload it.

Anyway back to the links -

For more information than you can shake a stick at

Cyndi's List of Genealogy Sites on the Internet
  • A categorized & cross-referenced index to genealogical resources on the Internet.
  • A list of links that point you to genealogical research sites online.
  • A free jumping-off point for you to use in your online research.
  • A "card catalog" to the genealogical collection in the immense library that is the Internet.
  • Your genealogical research portal onto the Internet.

261,900+ links for family history!
252,550 in
180+ categories, 9,350+ new and uncategorized



More free tips and ideas from Treasure Maps

Free genealogy search tips, how to articles, and family tree helps:

This site will lead you to some unique, helpful methods, free genealogy lessons, tutorial, hints and tips that will send you in the right direction with your family history.

Take your time and have fun with the free tutorials and courses.



I confirmed a lot of data about grandfather Geleick from this site, and met a step grandson that was unknown about. It can be a little awkward to learn how to use it but is a great start for sharing data

Add your family tree, share it and discover more about your ancestors.


You may or may not agree with the religious beliefs of the Mormons but you will soon begin to appreciate the work they have done in collecting family history records, it is almost impossible to list what they have and, so far, not all of it is online so you may end up getting out of your chair and visiting one of their family history centers to fill in some missing details.

FamilySearch Internet Genealogy Service


Next time I'll post about the Geleick family and how the tree is growing.
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