20 Websites Every Genealogist Should Use presented by Emily Coffman Richardson Ed.D.

We are lucky to have the Internet at our disposal.  But let’s use it fully by looking at 20 websites that will help you break down your brick walls.  We are all familiar with Ancestry and FamilySearch, and how to research using Google.  But there are other websites focused on specific resources and locations that can help you discover documents and additional links to answer your ancestral questions.  This will be a fast introduction to the websites so be prepared to listen and learn. And spend time at home afterwards finding new information about your ancestors. Even if you’ve heard similar presentations, this is bound to provide you some new sites that will aid in you ancestor discovery.

Emily is a professional genealogist and lecturer living in Denton, Texas.  She began her genealogy research working with her mother in courthouses and cemeteries finding records for her ancestors in Ohio and Pennsylvania. In 2019, she retired from higher education as a faculty member and administrator, moved to Texas and opened up Kinsearchers, the original name of her mother’s business as a genealogist.  For her clients she often works on lineage applications, for multiple societies, as well as brick walls including research for name conflicts within family trees. Emily has received the Martha Washington Award from the SAR for researching multiple lineages for prospective members of the SAR.  She has helped numerous clients join the SAR, DAR, 1812, Sons of the Republic of Texas, Daughters of the Republic of Texas, Colonial Dames, First Family Applications for multiple states and Colonial Clergy. She is the president of the Texas State Genealogical Society (TxSGS) for a two year term that began on January 1, 2025.  She previously served as secretary for four years and as the Director-at-Large for the executive committee for TxSGS.  She oversees the production of the new TxSGS Podcast, Lone Star Family Trails..