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| Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay |
In this lesson I recommend some helpful websites that I've bookmarked on my virtual “reference shelf”. Genealogists are constantly having to look things up, whether it's dates for historical context, or the meaning of obsolete words and phrases. Below are some sources that could come in handy next time you’re stuck for an answer.
Family History Reference
FamilySearch Wiki A real miscellany of useful genealogical resources. You can learn about different types of records, find out what’s available for a specific country and where, or download forms and worksheets, to name just a few of its features.
GENUKI This is the must-have in your toolkit for British research. It breaks the UK up into its constituent parts (not forgetting the Isle of Man or the Channel Islands), then counties, with location and contact information for archives, libraries, family history societies and parish churches.
Maps & Gazetteers
National Library of Scotland Maps With extra-wide coverage (not just the UK) and the capacity to compare areas in different time periods, this is a perennial favourite with family historians.
Gazetteer of British Place Names Search by postcode or place name with this superb reference tool.
Hometown Locator is my go-to gazetteer when working with United States records. You can search or browse states, counties, and cities.
Dictionaries
Dictionary of the Scots Language Whether you've been stumped by an old Scottish will, or are just baffled by Burns, this is the perfect solution.
Genealogy Latin Dictionary This resource is ideal for when you come across a random phrase in a parish register and have forgotten all your schoolgirl Latin.
Obsolete Things
The National Archives’ Old Currency Converter Ever wondered where those TV documentaries get their “in today’s money” equivalents? Wonder no longer.
Old Medical Terminology Great for understanding more about what killed off your ancestors in days gone by.
History, Geography, & General Knowledge
Encyclopaedia Britannica The world’s longest running encyclopaedia moved online many years ago, but it’s still more trustworthy than popular alternatives, and is excellent for putting your ancestors’ lives in a social or historical context.
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