Would you like to learn about your family’s history? Start your search using the Wyoming State Library’s Genealogy Database Collection to investigate your ancestors and heritage! GoWYLD‘s genealogy collection includes numerous FREE resources that can help you find out more about the whos, whens, and wheres of your family’s unique story.
The most comprehensive of the WSL’s genealogy resources is Ancestry Library Edition. This resource is only available for use in the library, however, it contains over 8.9 billion records and 8,000 searchable domestic and international databases for genealogical research. You can find family trees, census and voter lists, military records, tax, court, and criminal records, will and probate records, and immigration records, as well as obituaries, death certificates, and burial records. To begin a search, all you have to do is enter as much information as you already know. This could include a relative’s name, birthdate, and/or possible location where they lived. This will help narrow down your search and help you learn more about your family and dig deeper into the roots of your own family tree.
If you are looking for a resource to search from home, school, or anywhere else, the WSL’s genealogy collection also includes ProQuest Heritage Quest and African American Heritage. The search process is similar to Ancestry Library Edition and these resources also contain a wealth of information for those searching for more information regarding their family’s heritage.
Gale Primary Sources, ProQuest Newspapers, and Wyoming Newspapers are three more resources you can peruse to find articles and photographs of your family members from long ago. Issues dating back to the nineteenth century can help you learn more about the people who came before you and what life was like when they were in your current stage of life.
Find your historical bearings using Sanborn Maps, which includes Sanborn fire insurance maps for U.S. cities and towns dating from 1867 to 1970. See what your current community looked like a century ago or research your ancestor’s hometown with this extensive collection of primary sources using these historic maps.
Each of these resources is user-friendly and many include helpful guides to help streamline your search. Videos, tip sheets, and tutorials can be found under Tutorials and Guides within GoWYLD’s Genealogy Resources.
Check out all of these informative resources on GoWYLD for all of your genealogical research needs! All of the Wyoming State Library’s GoWYLD’s resources are available free of charge for Wyoming library cardholders. Some resources, but not all, require entering your library card number and PIN.