Conducting Genealogy Research at the Library
The Pillsbury Free Library has access to several online resources that you may use to research the genealogy of your family or for academic research. Funding is provided by the Library’s Eleanor Cutting Fund. Census data has been released up to 1950.
Online Databases Available Through the Library
Our library license agreement only allows access from library computers.
Unlike a personal Ancestry account, you cannot save information to your personal tree.
Please speak with our staff in the library for help accessing this service.
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Can be accessed from home using your library card and passcode, or from the computers at the library.
To obtain a login from home, please contact our library staff for assistance.
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Other Online Databases
Our library does not have accounts for the following genealogy services, but you may want to explore them on your own:
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A free service provided by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.
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American-Canadian Genealogical Society
American-French Genealogical Society
Useful Guidance on How to Do Genealogy Research
Resources for Learning How to Research Genealogy
Other resources recommended for genealogical research
Chronicling America at The Library of Congress
Fulton Search at NY Public Library
General Guidance on Genealogy Research
Information provided courtesy of Erin Moulton
Process
- Begin with yourself and work backwards.
- Record everything you know: names, places, dates, family stories, etc.
- Break down project into specific questions and goals:
- Major research questions: relationship or identity: e.g. Who was Aunt Mary’s mother? What was Aunt Mary’s mother’s maiden name?
- Minor research questions: events, time, place, occupation: e.g. When was Aunt Mary married? Where did Aunt Mary live?
- Research how to research, where to find records, and what’s available. (See above.) In addition to online databases, identify local repositories, such as State, county, and town records. Also, seek out local experts at town or State historical society or county clerks’ offices.
- Possible sources: census; birth and marriage certificates; obituaries; estate/probate, land use, immigration, and military service records.
- Devise a research goal and plan: e.g. find all census records for Aunt Mary.
- Create a research log to document your research and results. (See example below.)
- Save documents to your own files.
- Cite your sources, e.g. who wrote it, what is it, where is it from, when was it written, where did you find it.
Beware of possible misinformation, e.g. erroneous census data from misreporting, errors in digitization of handwritten information, persons with identical names, or multiple marriages. Seek confirmation from multiple sources.
Example Research Log
| Date: | 2/14/2024 | Question: | Where did Aunt Mary live? | |
| Plan | Results | |||
| Source | Purpose | Notes | Citation | Task Complete/ Files Saved |
| Census | Living, and with whom? | 1930, 40 Mary Smith, Daughter, Dayton, OH Father: Mike Smith, Mother: Jane Smith 1950 Mary Jones, Wife, Bowie, MD Husband: Henry Jones | 1930, 1940, 1950 Census Ancestry.com | X |
| Birth Cert. | Home when born? | 1928 to Mike and Jane Smith (nee Brown) Home: Columbus, OH | 1928 Birth Cert. Ancestry.com | X |
Additional Resources Available in Our Library
Print Resources
The library has a useful collection of family genealogy books, Town and State Histories, Town Reports, and local obituary newspaper clippings from the 1980’s to present time. A search of our catalog by call number HIST will find many of these reference books.
Microfilm and Digital Files
Several historical newspapers and many Town records including vital statistics are available on Microfilm.
Newspapers are also available as digital pdf files on CD.
Research Assistance
We regret that due to limited staffing, we are unable to offer more than very quick searches, for known dates, on request. Copies made by staff or library users will cost 10 cents each.