Resources for Genealogists

What You Can Find Online

The National Archives web site has very few actual records online. Our web site's focus is on articles and information on how to conduct in-person research in the different types of records, along with finding aids, such as microfilm indexes.

This doesn't mean we have no interesting or valuable records available online. Here's a list of some of our online records that might help you with genealogy.


What If What I Need Is Not Online?

The National Archives has a very large amount of records that are useful for genealogy, but most of these records are not online.


What genealogical records are online?

Primarily this web site provides research tools, such as microfilm indexes and finding aids, articles and information on where to find the records and how to access them.

However, there are a few exceptions. Below are some of the records of genealogical interest that are available on the web site:

Note: The National Archives has a subscription to Fold3 (formerly Footnote), Ancestry and Heritage Quest, which have digitized many of NARA's holdings with genealogical interest, and made them available online. There is unlimited access to these services, free-of-charge, from any NARA facility nationwide.

 

Resources for Genealogists >

The U.S. National Archives and Records Administration
1-86-NARA-NARA or 1-866-272-6272