A Billion Records!

Inside New England Historical Genealogical Society

I overlooked this announcement yesterday. Who would have thought it could be true? My brain probably assumed it was just a late April Fool’s Day joke. However, American Ancestors is allowing free access to all their databases for 1 week starting yesterday!

In case you’re not familiar with this website, it is the site for the New England Historical Genealogical Society (NEHGS). Yes, that society with all the records in Boston. If you don’t already have a membership and have New England ancestors, you need to get over there and take a look at this resource fast!

Studying the records

If you have New York State ancestors, you need to get there just as fast. Let’s start with the fact that they have many, many records for New York as well as the New England states. After all, we border on half of their states. Also, think about your early New York ancestors, where did they come from? Unless they were early settlers in the Hudson Valley that landed at present-day New York City and traveled up the river or were native Americans, chances are they came here from New England. That was a major immigration route traveling west out of New England to New York and then farther west as time went on.

 The announcement:

American Ancestors by NEHGS Announces an Unprecedented, Historic Event for Genealogists: A BILLION Records FREE! AmericanAncestors.org/Free-Billion

April 6, 2016—Boston, Massachusetts—America’s oldest and largest genealogical society announces a historic event for family historians around the world. From April 6 to April 13, American Ancestors by New England Historic Genealogical Society (NEHGS) is offering FREE access to all of its online records on AmericanAncestors.org. More than one billion records covering 18 countries— including the most important family history research materials for early America created by the experts and scholars at NEHGS—and all are open to anyone who registers for a free account.  Start searching now at AmericanAncestors.org/Free-Billion.

To assist family historians of all levels in locating more pieces of the family tree puzzle, NEHGS is granting this unprecedented free access to its entire collection of genealogical databases from Wednesday, April 6, 2016, at 12:00 a.m. (EDT) through Wednesday, April 13, 2016, at 11:59 p.m. (EDT). Free accounts on AmericanAncestors.org ordinarily allow visitors only a sample of the vast offerings that NEHGS provides family historians of all levels. This unprecedented free access promotion by NEHGS from April 6 through April 13 offers the Society’s entire collection of online content for eight full days to anyone who registers for a free account.

About American Ancestors and NEHGS

Holding the largest collection of original family history materials in the country, the New England Historic Genealogical Society, founded in 1845, is the nation’s oldest and largest genealogical society. Our website, AmericanAncestors.org, offers access to more than 1 billion searchable records and leading scholarly resources to help you advance your family history research. Our expert staff helps researchers of all levels explore their past and their families’ unique place in history. Located in Boston, our research center houses millions of manuscripts, books, and original items to preserve the stories of families in America and beyond.