The current cost of living crisis has made researching family history inaccessible for many. I believe that everyone should have access to the tools for researching their family tree, no matter their financial situation, so in this three part series I’ll be sharing tips and tricks for doing family history for free or at a lower cost. 

While the subscription prices of major family history sites can make it feel like researching your family tree is impossible if you are on a budget, there are so many wonderful free options out there! So today, let’s take a look at three free sites/platforms for housing and researching your family tree. Please note that I am in no way sponsored by, vouching for, recommending or endorsing the platforms/sources mentioned in this blog post. I simply enjoy sharing knowledge in the hopes it might benefit someone.

Let’s begin!

#1 Trove

“Trove is a collaboration between the National Library of Australia and hundreds of Partner organisations around Australia.”

“Search Trove to explore amazing collections from Australian libraries, universities, museums, galleries and archives. It’s free and available online all day, every day.”

 “Search for digital copies of newspapers, Government Gazettes, maps, magazines and newsletters. Or books, pictures, photographs, archived websites, music and interviews. Even information about famous Australians, including copies of letters, diaries and personal archives.”

– The Trove Website, https://trove.nla.gov.au/

#2 FamilySearch

“FamilySearch is a non-profit organization that provides family history services free of charge to everyone, regardless of tradition, culture, or religious affiliation.”

– The FamilySearch website https://www.familysearch.org

#3 Ancestry Libraries

“Ancestry® Library Edition, distributed exclusively by ProQuest and powered by Ancestry.com, delivers billions of records in census data, vital records, directories, photos, and more.

Ancestry Library Edition brings the world’s most popular consumer online genealogy resource to your library. It’s an unprecedented online collection of individuals from North America, the United Kingdom, Europe, Australia, and more.”

– https://proquest.libguides.com/ancestrylibraryedition

Many libraries (and some universities) have Ancestry Library Edition available to use on their computers. While you can’t create your own family tree on it, you can view records and make notes or send records directly to your email address to view later. Check with your local libraries (or university if you are a student) to see if they offer Ancestry Library Edition or other family history sites.

I hope this blog posts helps and happy researching!

Liliana