State and local libraries have genealogy guides, local history books and newspaper archives that are unavailable anywhere else. The Family History Library in Salt Lake City contains thousands of genealogical records on microfilm. The library s collection can also be accessed at Family History Centers nationwide. The National Archives and the Library of Congress also hold many important genealogical documents. Often a trip to an ancestor s hometown will prove fruitful.
Researchers can access primary documents at the local cemetery, courthouse and church.
A visit to an ancestral home in another country can be rewarding, but researchers should gather as much information as possible in America before they leave, Popovich said. Improve your Research Skills To learn the finer points of record gathering, consider taking a free online genealogy course. If you think you ve hit a dead end, browse the archives of Shaking Your Family Tree for research tips. Jelene Britten View more articles , questions or lists . Tap into the Publications Library from Factiva , an archive of thousands of publications dating back up to 15 years.