Ancestry.com is quite possibly the largest online genealogy resource out there. Of course, the site charges a membership fee but there are constantly new resources and improvements being added to the site. There are also special events throughout the year where specific collections of records are available to everyone to search for free.
It sounds like the folks at Ancestry.com have some exciting things in the works for 2012. Here are a few things that they plan to offer in the coming year. One major item that is coming soon to Ancestry.com is the 1940 United States Census, complete with handwritten Census records. The 1911 UK Census will also be available at some point next year, along with more state Census records.
Those of you with ancestors from Pennsylvania and Massachusetts can get excited about vital records from those two states being added this year to the Ancestry.com archives. Researchers whose ancestors come from the U.K. can look forward to parish vital records from Lancashire and the city of Manchester. Did you know that church records can be a gold mine for genealogists? Ancestry.com is adding to their already large collection of church records in 2012 with new Quaker records, Swedish church records, and nonconformist church records from the U.K.
The list goes on, because Ancestry.com has even more on their agenda for next year. Railroad records and maritime records from the U.S. and the U.K. are just a couple of items that will be added in the occupational records department. Improvements to the way users view and search the site are also forthcoming, as are free family tree apps for even more devices.
It is important for you to know that I am in no way affiliated with Ancestry.com, nor do they compensate me in any way for mentioning their site here. In fact, I am not even a member. It is such a vast and popular resource for genealogists worldwide, though, that when they make announcements I often find them worth mentioning.
Photo by click on morguefile.com.