Gen Web

Another very basic site you should know about happens to be Gen Web and it's actually two websites.  They are http://usgenweb.org/ and http://www.worldgenweb.org/.  This is a project set up by, once again, volunteers! There are people all over the world willing to sponsor a specific area's website and update it with all sorts of information about doing research in that area.  You can find links to how-to websites, or information on how to order a birth certificate, or information on boundary changes in the area.  Most also have a "Lookup" section, too (remember, "lookups" are people willing to look things up for you as in Random Acts of Genealogical Kindness :)  ).  So, I decided to look at Switzerland's site again.  I haven't been on there for a while.

Here's the first thing you see at the World Gen Web project site.  Select your continent:

Then, you select the geographical location you want:

and

Then here you have it!

Now, each area's site will look different and contain different types of information because these sites are all sponsored by different people.  Looking at the Swiss site, I found some fun things.  I found information about Switzerland's history, Swiss festivals, links to different cantons (kindof like counties in the US), and lists of Swiss libraries and archives, and so much more!  I even found out that there are some records in Switzerland dating all the way back to the 13th Century!  Wouldn't that be exciting to trace my line all the back to then?  What a dream!

Now go learn something new about your area of research!