This is a growing collection of free genealogy books and documents. Read or download the free PDFs.
Folklore of Highland County, a 1946 book by Violet Morgan, is a collection of historical accounts and folklore about Highland County, Ohio. The book features a range of topics, including the area’s geography, the history of its indigenous populations, and stories about settlers who came to the area in the 19th century.
This pamphlet is an account of the development of Lowell, Ohio, from its earliest settlement by the Ohio Company of Associates in 1788. The text chronicles the township’s evolution from a frontier outpost to a thriving farming community, and then to a village with industries powered by the Muskingum River.
Leslie J. Freeman’s “Alameda County: Past and Present” is a historical account of the development of Alameda County in California. The book covers a wide range of topics, from the native Indian tribes who inhabited the area to the Spanish Dons who claimed vast ranchos, and the early American settlers who established cities like Oakland and San Leandro. Freeman details the founding of missions, the development of transportation and industry, the evolution of social life, and the establishment of government institutions. The text also provides biographies of key figures in the county’s history, including William Heath Davis, Jose Joaquin Estudillo, and Anthony Chabot. Freeman emphasizes the importance of the Spanish Missions in the early development of California and describes the evolution of the county from a sparsely populated, agricultural area to a major center of industry and commerce.
Cyrus Henry Brown’s Brown Genealogy, first published in 1907, is an essential resource for genealogists tracing the Brown family lineage. This volume, published in 1915 and labeled as “Volume II,” should be understood as a complete replacement of the original volume rather than a supplementary addition. Brown’s new research and updates make this work a standalone resource for those exploring the Brown family’s extensive history. It is fully indexed, and the content spans nearly 250 years, offering valuable insight into numerous branches of the family.
John Allston (1666-1719) emigrated from England to Berkeley District, South Carolina, likely accompanying Governor John Archdale in 1694. His descendants and relatives spread across South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, and Tennessee, among other places. This account traces the family lineage, providing genealogical details that reach back to the 1300s in England. It encompasses related families such as Ballard, Crawford, Groves, Hawkins, Peques, and Williams, offering a comprehensive view of the interconnected family history.
The Heyward family played a significant role in the colonial history of South Carolina, with their lineage tracing back to the arrival of the family’s pioneer during the Proprietary Government period. James Barnwell Heyward’s *The Colonial History of the Heyward Family of South Carolina, 1670-1770* provides a detailed genealogical record of the Heyward family, focusing on the first three generations in Carolina. The work, intended as an epitome of a more comprehensive compilation, emphasizes the family’s rural roots, agricultural successes, and contributions to South Carolina, including their service during the Confederate War. Through documented public records, Heyward offers a thorough account of the family’s evolution from the late 17th century through the American Revolution.
The 1923-1925 South Berkshire Directory. A general directory of the towns of Alford, Egremont (North and South), Great Barrington (including Housatonic), Monterey, Mount Washington (including Alandar), New Marlboro (including Clayton, Hartsville, Mill River and Southfield), North Canaan, Conn. (including Canaan and East Canaan), Sheffield (including Ashley Falls), Stockbridge (including Interlaken and Glendale), West Stockbridge (including State Line). An alphabetically arranged list of business firms and private citizens, co-partnerships, corporations, town, county and state officers, schools, churches, banks, railways, clubs and other associations, secret and benevolent societies, etc., street and house guides for great Barrington and a complete classified business directory.
Published in 1946 by McCormick-Armstrong Co., Wichita, Kansas, “Hutchinson, a Prairie City in Kansas” is an important historical resource that captures the quintessence of a small city transitioning through time. The author, Willard Welsh, has painstakingly collected stories, facts, and photographs to compose a narrative that preserves the memory of Hutchinson’s development from its early days to an expanding city center.
The publication of “History of the First Settlement of Hall County, Nebraska” fills a long-standing gap in the historical documentation of Nebraska’s early settlement periods. This significant work, originally penned by William Stolley in 1907 and published in German, offers an invaluable narrative of the pioneering days that shaped Hall County.
The document titled “The story of the land of Orland” provides a comprehensive history of Orland California, tracing its development over a century. It covers a wide range of topics, including the geography of the area, significant events, and notable individuals who shaped the town’s history. Overall, the document encapsulates a detailed narrative of Orland’s evolution from a small settlement to a developed town, reflecting broader historical trends in California’s development during the 19th and early 20th centuries.
The Farmersburg Centennial, held from June 14-20, 1953, marked the 100th anniversary of Farmersburg, Indiana, commemorating its founding in 1853. Sponsored by the Farmersburg Community Club, this celebration highlighted the town’s rich history and progress over a century. The centennial events, including historical exhibits, parades, and community gatherings, was not just a reflection on the past but a commitment to building a future that honored the vision and perseverance of its founders. To commemorate this 100yr event, a committee was formed to create this souvenir book showcasing the town’s history.
Mary Joan Boyer’s “The Old Gravois Coal Diggings,” published by The Tri-City Independent in Festus, Missouri, in 1952, provides a comprehensive historical account of a once-thriving coal mining locality in St. Louis, Missouri. This photocopied book, consisting of 107 pages with irregular pagination and faint photos and text, preserves the history of an area that has largely faded from contemporary memory.
“Pioneer Days in Malheur County” by Jacob Ray Gregg is a comprehensive historical account that seeks to perpetuate the memory of prominent pioneers and preserve an authentic history of Malheur County, Oregon. This privately printed volume, published in 1950 by L. L. Morrison in Los Angeles, spans 442 pages and provides a broad narrative of the region’s history, covering significant events and developments from the mid-19th century onwards. Key locations discussed include Ontario, Vale, Nyssa, Westfall, Harper, Juntura, Ironside, Brogan, and Jamieson. The work also delves into critical historical topics such as the Bannock War and the Overland Trail, alongside accounts of early pioneer life.
This page offers quick access to a range of historical indexes available at the Lancaster County, Pennsylvania archives, which are valuable for genealogical research. These resources include indexes for wills, deeds, probate records, Orphans’ Court records, estate files, and more. Researchers can efficiently navigate through these records to trace family histories and gather details on ancestors from Lancaster County. Each index is organized to help locate relevant documents that provide critical information such as dates, property ownership, family connections, and other vital data crucial for genealogical research.
The book New Brunswick, New Jersey, in the World War, 1917-1918, published in 1921, is a commemoration of the contributions made by the residents of New Brunswick during World War I. In addition to recounting events, the book offers an extensive list of New Brunswick’s honor roll, capturing the names and ranks of those who died, and the names of all who served. It also provides narratives from local soldiers who fought overseas, including letters from the trenches. The inclusion of detailed rosters, reports from military units, and the community’s war efforts makes this volume a valuable historical resource, preserving the memory of how one New Brunswick, New Jersey mobilized and contributed during one of the world’s most defining conflicts.
This early history of Floyd County Texas strives to tell the story of the early settlement of this portion of the Plains of Texas. From it’s frontier life to the creation of its towns, Claude V. Hall narrates a tale of settlement, struggles, and growth.
“Our Strip of Land: A History of Daggett County, Utah” by Dick Dunham, published by the Daggett County Lions Club in 1947, offers an account of the rich history of Daggett County. Despite being one of the newest political entities in the West, Daggett County boasts a long legacy of settlement and occupation, dating back to 1825 with Ashley’s visit. The region played a significant role during the fur trapping era and became a central hub for trappers and mountain men. The book delves into the early settlement activities, the establishment of trading posts, and the development of the livestock industry. Furthermore, it highlights the unique geological features of the Uinta Mountains and the region’s diverse natural resources, including rock phosphate, natural gas, and various minerals. Scenic descriptions of the county’s striking landscapes, such as Sheep Creek Canyon and the canyons of the Green River, underscore its natural beauty and historical significance.
In this concise history of the government of the village of Warsaw over its first 100 years, Bishop traces its growth from a small hamlet, just a few years past the pioneer era, into a thriving community of nearly 4,000 residents, equipped with almost all the municipal improvements expected by mid-twentieth century citizens. This unique perspective on Warsaw’s history offers genealogists valuable facts for crafting narratives about Warsaw ancestors, including details such as the introduction of street lights and the origins and changes of street names up to 1945.
In this pictorial souvenir of Tombstone, Blythe endeavors to present to you the buildings of Tombstone as they looked in 1940s through pencil sketches, although the majority of the buildings were built between 1879 and 1882. One of the prime highlights of the town is the old Bird Cage Theatre, which offered in its heyday, “stupendous, colossal attractions” by night, gambling and drinking by day, has been turned into a museum and is filled with mementos of the town’s early history. You have missed a prime sight if you fail to see Tombstone, heart of the old Southwest where history was written with six-shooters.
Annuity Roll, containing the names of surviving members and immediate lineal descendants of deceased members of the Lower Band of Chinook Indians of Washington, entitled to participate in the settlement provided by the Act of August 24, 1912