Genealogy
(jē´´nēŏl'Әjē, –ăl'–, jĕ–), the study of family lineage. Genealogies have existed since ancient times. Family lineage was originally transmitted through oral tradition and later, with the invention of writing, was passed on through written records. The genealogies in the Bible probably originated in oral tradition. Ancient Greeks and Romans traced their ancestry to gods and heroes, and traditional tribes often claim descent from animals. Genealogies flourished in the Middle Ages because the development of feudalism made status and the transference of possessions dependent upon the tracing of family lines. To a lesser degree, this condition continues in some countries, as England, to the present day. Examples of English genealogies are the books of Burke, Collins, and others on the peerage...Read More
- Credo Reference This link opens in a new window
Credo Reference is an easy-to-use tool for starting research. Gather background information on your topic from hundreds of full-text encyclopedias, dictionaries, thesauri, quotations, and subject-specific titles, as well as 500,000+ images and audio files and over 1,000 videos.
DNA/Genetic Testing
- 23 and MeAfter you provide a saliva sample, 23andMe uses genotyping to analyze your DNA. This means we look at specific locations in your genome that are known to differ between people. We then turn those results into personalized genetic reports on everything from ancestry composition to traits to genetic health risks. Note that genotyping is different from DNA sequencing, which looks at every letter in a particular stretch of DNA.
- AncestryDNA®Ancestry® helps you understand your genealogy. A family tree takes you back generations—the world’s largest collection of online family history records makes it possible. With precise geographic detail and clear-cut historical insights, we can connect you to the places in the world where your story started—from unique regions to living relatives.
- CRI GeneticsSome DNA Tests Include An Ancestry Timeline...Only CRI's Can Go Back Up To 50 Generations. Included in every DNA test at CRI Genetics: Your Advanced Ancestry Timeline.
Add the WHEN to the WHERE of your ancestry and see pinpointed periods in history when each heritage joined your family history. This breakthrough tool will confirm some family stories while also helping you make sense of surprises and mysteries. - GEDmatchProvides a free web-based platform for comparing autosomal test results from multiple DNA testing companies.
- The Genetic GenealogistProvides information and services on combining traditional genealogical techniques with genetic research.
- International Society of Genetic GenealogistsThe mission of the International Society of Genetic Genealogy is to: Advocate for and educate about the use of genetics as a tool for genealogical research while promoting a supportive network for genetic genealogists.
Library Databases
- History Commons (Formerly Accessible Archives) This link opens in a new window
Fourteen fully searchable databases covering American History, African American Studies, Women’s History, the Civil War, and Genealogy. History Commons, formerly Accessible Archives, provides vast quantities of primary source materials reflecting broad views across 18th and 19th-century America.
- African American Experience This link opens in a new window
African American Experience supports research and scholarship in the field of African American Studies with a full library of works analyzing the contributions and challenges of African Americans throughout history. This database includes more than 80 scholarly articles, 8,000 primary and secondary sources, and more than 1,000 biographies.
- American National Biography This link opens in a new window
American National Biography includes portraits of 18,700 men and women -- from all eras and walks of life -- whose lives have shaped the nation.
- Ancestry.com (Tennessee Only) This link opens in a new window
Access to the Tennessee collection of Ancestry.com. This database includes books, official records, and private manuscripts on Tennessee genealogy.
- Manuscript Women's Letters and Diaries This link opens in a new window
Manuscript Women's Letters and Diaries brings together 105,000 pages of the personal writings of women of the 18th, 19th, and 20th centuries, displayed as high-quality images of the original manuscripts.
