Fresno California East Family History Center/Links

National Government Genealogical Resources

 * The National Archives: Resources for Genealogists
 * Guidelines for Using Historical Records in the National Archives
 * Using Civilian Records for Genealogical Research in the National Archives Washington DC Area
 * National Archives for the United States
 * Regional Archives, Pacific Region, San Francisco
 * Request for Military Records
 * US Military Pension Record Applications
 * Digging for Ancestors at the Bureau of Land Management Website
 * Overlooked Clues in US Census Records

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS)

A little known program of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) provides genealogy information that may be difficult or impossible to obtain elsewhere. The records include naturalization files, visa applications, and citizenship tests, and may reveal family secrets and mysteries. In addition to relatives, historians or researchers can also request files.

Under the USCIS Genealogy Program, which started in 2008, requests are usually completed within 30 days. The government will run a search of the name, as long as the person is deceased. If there are records available, the government charges additional fees for the files. The fee for a record copy from microfilm identified as (M) is $20 per request. The fee for a copy of a hard copy file identified as (HC) is $35 per request. More information about the fees associated with each file series may be found at USCIS Government History Genealogy Records.

The documents typically include immigration information, often (but not always) including exact hometowns in their ancestors native countries. The files often have information on brothers, sisters, aunts, and uncles. Many times it is useful to obtain the records of your uncles, aunts, and cousins who also immigrated from "the old country."

If the immigrant applied for American citizenship, the details are also included in these files. For anyone of Japanese, German, or Italian origin who lived in the United States during World War II, the documents often include FBI reports about the person's activities, including friends, family, and political activities.

For more information about the program, check out USCIS Government Genealogy.

FamilySearch Hispanic Research Resources

 * Relatives Masked in the Indexes of Ancestry (English) taught by Debbie Gurtler, AG and Katrina E. Morales (Video, 40:21) Click here for a 4-page Handout (PDF)
 * Improve your Search Results in FamilySearch Hispanic Records (English) taught by Debbie Gurtler, AG (Video, 50:44)
 * Familiares enmascarados en los indices de Ancestry.mx (español) taught by Katrina E. Morales (Video, 45:39)
 * Online Resources for México (PDF)
 * Improve Your Search results in FamilySearch Hispanic records by Debbie Gurtler, AG (PDF)

FamilySearch Partner Websites
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Digitized Books
Discover unknown ancestors in a collection of over 20,000 digitized family and local history publications from around the world. Preserve your printed family history for generations and share it without making paper copies. When you use scan-on-demand, you keep the original and FamilySearch makes a high-quality digital copy and preserves it no matter how technology changes. Questions? send an e-mail to [mailto:books@familysearch.org books@familysearch.org]

Download free e-book
"48 Ancestry.com Research Tips" from Family Tree University at: Free e-Book: 48 Ancestry.com Search Tips

The Family History Guide
What is "The Family History Guide"? The Family History Guide is a new website that represents a best-in-class learning environment for family history. Its scope is broad, but its focus is narrow enough to help you achieve your goals, step by step. Whether you're brand new to family history or a seasoned researcher - or somewhere in between - The Family History Guide can be your difference maker. Check out the website at: The Family History Guide

Unique features you'll find on the site:
 * Over 350 Goals for learning, supported by over 600 flexible Choices


 * Step-by-step instructions to make learning easier
 * Links to over 1,000 videos and articles from FamilySearch, Ancestry, and more
 * Quick-links to search records from multiple sources
 * Project Tracker sheets and Classroom materials for self-study or group instruction