Illya Daddezio has created a new web site that looks interesting. I've only used it briefly but was able to find some rather esoteric resources I had not heard of before, including a listing of a great-uncle's membership in the I.O.O.F. (International Order of Odd Fellows).
Here is a description of the new site written by Ilya:
I'm a genealogy-junkie and have always tried to stay informed about new resources; but with so many outlets publishing new information, and no single place to search across different catalogs, it's not easy. That's what led to the concept of Live Roots -- a new website designed to help researchers locate genealogical data -- both online and offline, and either digitized or in-print. I'm partnering with major genealogy companies and many medium and smaller publishers to combine their respective catalogs into one repository.
Live Roots extends beyond the typical bounds of a traditional search engine or link directory by facilitating access to offline records and publications through partnerships with amateur and professional researchers who either own copies or are geographically close to the libraries and archives that do. This "live" part of the Live Roots concept lets your research continue even when the publication isn't available online. There's nothing more frustrating than finding a resource that could hold the missing link in your tree, and then discovering that there aren't any places online to access it.
The initial version of Live Roots was released Friday. Upcoming versions will expand the amount of information integrated into the catalog, add additional "live" partnerships and implement direct links with several online web sites; bringing seamless access to even more books and data.
More information can be found at http://www.liveroots.com.
This site, like many other search engines, when I enter my surname (TEWKSBURY) I get only cemeteries and cities, and not any surname information. This is my gripe plaguing me for fifteen years of doing research. I assume that there is no way to get around this problem but I got to vent...
Posted by: Ralph Tewksbury | October 14, 2008 at 12:14 PM
Ralph, if you go to http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~canqbogs/links.htm
and under research and "Searchable Names Index" and do a search of your name TEWKSBURY you will find about 20 sources where the name TEWKSBURY is found. Hope this helps - although it is mostly Canada not U.S.
Posted by: Barbara Dawes | October 14, 2008 at 05:15 PM
I did not have a chance to spend a lot of time on LiveRoots but every entry I made took me to a 'Paid' site so not only did I not find any information useful to me but what is the purpose of going to one site that refers you to many subscription sites. I can do this just browsing Google. I must be missing something...
Posted by: Barbara Engel | October 15, 2008 at 06:44 PM
Ralph....maybe you should change your name to Ralph City.
Posted by: Traci | October 15, 2008 at 08:23 PM
I.O.O.F. stands for "Independent Order of Odd Fellows"
Posted by: IOOF | October 15, 2008 at 08:58 PM
---> ...but every entry I made took me to a 'Paid' site...
The two brief searches I conducted both took me to free sites.
- Dick Eastman
Posted by: Dick Eastman | October 15, 2008 at 11:03 PM