Genealogy
Genealogy is the study of families and their ancestors and histories. Genealogy research requires using primary sources about family connections. Most genealogy databases require a subscription; the Virginia Tech Libraries does not provide access to any of these databases. This topic guide emphasizes local genealogy research. Most genealogy research support is provided by Special Collections staff.
Getting started with library research | Overview of genealogy | Recommended databases | Primary document sources
Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System from the National Parks Service
Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System from the National Parks Service
Contains basic facts about servicemen who served on both sides of the Civil War. Facts are from records that are indexes of other documents about Union and Confederate Civil War soldiers maintained by the National Archives and Records Administration. Also includes histories of regiments in both the Union and Confederate Armies and descriptions of 384 significant battles of the war. Currently contains over 6 million soldier names from 44 states and territories.
Virginia Heritage Database
Virginia Heritage Database
Virginia Heritage indexes finding aids (collection descriptions) to manuscripts and archival materials held by libraries across Virginia. These finding aids may link to digitized versions of these materials, but the majority of these collections have not yet been digitized. 1607-present.
American Slavery: A Composite Autobiography from Greenwood
American Slavery: A Composite Autobiography from Greenwood
American Slavery contains both an overview of the collection of former slave narratives with related links (available without charge from the home page) and the collection of narratives themselves. Each narrative is delivered as a PDF as originally transcribed, with some interviews available as sound files. Searchable by name of narrator, interviewer, or master, the county or state where the narrator lived in slavery, the narrator's age or year of birth, or the location of the material in the print version (volume and page). 1920s-1940s (original interviews).
Archival Research Catalog (ARC) from the National Archives
Archival Research Catalog (ARC) from the National Archives
ARC is the online catalog of the National Archives' nationwide holdings. This catalog displays descriptions of record groups and collections, series, file units, and items. Some content has been digitized, including historical documents, photographs, and images.
Access to Archival Databases (AAD) from NARA
Access to Archival Databases (AAD) from NARA
Provides access to records preserved permanently by the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). Out of the nearly 200,000 data files in its holdings, NARA has selected approximately 475 of them for public searching through AAD. These data were selected because the records identify specific persons, geographic areas, organizations, and dates. The records cover a wide variety of civilian and military functions and have many genealogical, social, political, and economic research uses. 1800s-present
