Research Links

Paid Resources

www.ancestry.com   This is a genealogy web site that can be accessed at the Local History and Genealogy Department computers. It contains actual portraits of original documents, pictures of actual U.S. Federal Census records, draft records and various city directories.

www.genealogybank.com   This is an excellent search tool to access actual copies of old newspaper articles through the USA.  It also includes the Social Security Death Index, recent obituaries, and some historical documents.

www.newspapers.com Ancestry’s searchable newspaper database.  Contains the Daily Herald, The Sun, and The Sun Herald.

www.newspaperarchive.com Searchable newspaper database that contains the Daily Herald and The Sun into the 1970s.

General Genealogy Resources

http://1940census.archives.gov/  Link to the 1940 census through the National Archives website.

https://1950census.archives.gov/ Searchable link to the 1950 census released in 2022.

www.familysearch.org   A search engine sponsored by the Church of the Latter Day Saints who have collected vital statistics throughout the world.  Free to use, but log in required.

www.legacy.com  Site includes guest books for funeral notices within a year of death, unless a paid subscription extends that time further.

www.heritagequest.com Heritage Quest contains census, city directories, war records, and more.  It is free to use with a Mississippi library card or on a computer at any Harrison County Library.

http://www.findagrave.com  This is the search engine to locate interments and cemeteries.

https://gravelocator.cem.va.gov/ngl/index.jsp This is the VA national gravesite locator.  Servicemen as well as their wives are also listed.

http://www.castlegarden.org/searcher.php Pre-Ellis Island Port of New York passenger search.  This source covers 1820-1892.

https://www.libertyellisfoundation.org/passenger Ellis Island passenger search.  This site is free to use, but log in must be created. 

https://www.accessgenealogy.com/ Free website for loaded content.  Includes records for early African and Native Americans.  This website also includes the Free US Native American Rolls from 1885-1940.

http://genealogytrails.com/ Free and transcribed genealogical records from across the United States.

https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/ Massive newspaper archive powered by the Library of Congress.  Searchable by date and state.

http://aad.archives.gov/aad/index.jsp  A US government site from the National Archives; includes indexing for military personnel, passenger lists, and prisoners of war.

Local Genealogy Resources

http://infoweb.newsbank.com/resources/?p=NewsBank    Indexed transcribed newspaper articles published by The Sun Herald from 1994 – present. This service is available at any Harrison County Library branch or from home with the use of a Harrison County Library card.

http://www.bradfordokeefe.com/  Links to the Bradford-O’Keefe Funeral Home obituaries.

https://www.riemannfamily.com/ Links to the Ridmann Family Funeral Homes obituaries.

https://www.biloxi.ms.us/resources/cemetery/ the City of Biloxi has created a searchable database and map for interments in the Old Biloxi Cemetery. 

http://www.lacolonialdocs.org Free digitized versions of Louisiana documents with searchable database.

https://harrisoncountyms.gov/goverment/circuit_clerk/index.php The County website which has clickable links to marriages and land records.

https://www.sos.la.gov/HistoricalResources/ResearchHistoricalRecords/Pages/OnlinePublicVitalRecordsIndex.aspx A link to the Louisiana Secretary of State’s Orleans Parish marriage and birth records and Louisiana death records.

Local History Resources

https://oceanspringsarchives.net/ Historical resources for the City of Ocean Springs.

https://biloxihistoricalsociety.org/ Historical resources for the City of Biloxi.

https://www.usm.edu/oral-history Website for the Oral History Department of the University of Southern Mississippi.  The site can be searched by name and topic.  Digital files available for listening.

http://www.hancockcountyhistoricalsociety.com  An excellent website hosted by the Hancock County Historical Society.

http://passhistory.org The official website of the Pass Christian Historical Society.  Contains past newsletters and the 1870 Census for Pass Christian. 

http://landmarks.passchristian.net Histories of places like hotels and businesses in Pass Christian, MS.

http://www.msarchaeology.org/maa/internetarch.html  A link to the Historic Text Archives from the Mississippi Archaeological Association; includes whole books.

http://mdah.gov Website for the complete catalog and digital collection of Mississippi Department of Archives and History.

http://algensoc.org Alabama Genealogical Societies website featuring indexes and lists including one for the First Families of Alabama.

http://archives.alabama.gov Online card catalog and digital library for Alabama’s Department of Archives and History. 

https://www.mlc.lib.ms.us/mlc-services/online-resources/wpa-county-files/  The Works Progress Administration Manuscripts were produced in the 1930s for each Mississippi county. They include information on history, geography, culture, and more relevant information on the county.

Maps and Images

https://digitalsanbornmaps.proquest.com Free version for Mississippi available at Local History and some free version available online on the Library of Congress Website.

http://www.lib.utexas.edu/maps/mississippi.html  (Online Maps)

http://www.digitalnc.org/ Links to digitalized yearbooks, city directories, newspapers, etc. from locations throughout the state of North Carolina.

http://msdiglig.org Mississippi Digital Library is an open source for digital photographs, documents, and maps of the state.

http://lousianadigitallibrary.org Louisiana’s source for digital documents including photographs, maps, and other images. 

http://biloxi.ms.us/katrina_and_Biloxi/Photo_Galleries.html  This is a picture gallery – City of Biloxi.