You've decided to conduct some genealogy research on the Internet,
but not sure where to start?

Although there are sites with important genealogical data (names, dates, locations) on the Internet, most often researchers will find just another avenue for leads through the Internet. You'll receive email or read "postings" from a researcher following the same lineages, investigate leads by accessing state archives or historical society sites online, download the latest genealogy software, or learn "researching" tips. You might even want to put your own genealogy research "online".

However, one of the most useful places on the Internet, isn't a site at all, its Internet Mailing Lists and Usenet Newsgroups. These mailing lists allow people to exchange information via email. There are mailing lists for every hobby and topic imaginable including genealogy. The difference between the two are mailing lists are email subscriptions people join and everyday the mailbox will fill with useful and not so useful emails from other individuals on the Internet, while UseNet Newsgroups are giant bulletin boards where people post messages and people answer postings, but these answers remain on the bulletin board and are not sent via email. So, Usenet requires a subscriber to visit the newsgroups to participate while Mailing Lists allow people to participate simply via email.

Some important Genealogy-related mailing lists and newsgroups are listed below:

Mailing Lists

Mailing Lists are a way for interested genealogists to meet each other.

• The most popular is from Rootsweb. They maintain a host of mailing lists
• Vicki's Home Page is another good place to visit for mailing list information.
• For a list of genealogy-related mailing lists from A to Z,
  check out Chris Gaunt's email discussion lists
• General Internet mailing lists can be found at Tile Net or at LISZT

You can join these mailing lists by sending email to the list server at the appropriate address, your email address then is added to the list and you will receive any messages posted to the list by others or you can send your own messages. The format of the email you send to join a list may vary, so please check with the list server first. Chris Gaunt's pages have most of the appropriate information on how to join a list.

UseNet NewsGroups

Genealogy-related Usenet Newsgroups allow Internet users to post inquiries regarding surnames, dates, locations, researching software, and general questions. These "posts" are seen by anyone reading that particular newsgroup. People can then respond directly to the individual or back to the group. These article threads may last a day, a week, or even months with posts, replies, and counter-replies back and forth.

Try DejaNews to search Usenet for a topic

Below is a list of genealogy-related newsgroups

• alt.adoption -- Adoption issues
• alt.adoption.agency -- Adoption issues
• alt.genealogy -- Alternative discussion group for genealogy.
• fido.eur.genealogy -- European roots.
• fido.ger.genealogy -- German genealogy.
• soc.genealogy.african -- African family history.
• soc.genealogy.australia+nz -- Genealogy Down Under.
• soc.genealogy.computing -- Genealogical computing and net resources.
• soc.genealogy.benelux -- Belgium, Netherlands and Luxembourg roots.
• fr.rec.genealogie -- Francophone genealogy.
• soc.genealogy.french -- Francophone genealogy.
• soc.genealogy.german -- German family history.
• soc.genealogy.hispanic -- Hispanic genealogy.
• soc.genealogy.jewish -- Jewish roots.
• soc.genealogy.marketplace -- Genealogical products and services.
• soc.genealogy.medieval -- Pre-1500 European lineage discussions.
• soc.genealogy.methods -- Genealogical methods and resources.
• soc.genealogy.misc -- General genealogical discussions.
• soc.genealogy.nordic -- Scandinavian roots.
• soc.genealogy.slavic -- Eastern European family history
• soc.genealogy.surnames -- Surname inquiries and tafels.
• soc.genealogy.uk+ireland -- British Isles genealogy.

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