Genealogy Data
We can construct an individual's biography in terms of birth year, birth place, residence, as well as family, occupational and educational background by utilizing genealogy data over the Internet. I mainly use the information provided by Ancestry.com.
Ancestry.com requires a subscription service.
Here is the links to the genealogy databases I use.
- U.S. Decenial Census Manuscript Images - Name and address searchable. The images contain age, birth place, residence, occupation of an individual and family members for 1850-1880 and 1900-1930.Some wealth information is available for 1850-1870 and 1930.
- U.S. City Directory Images and Databases - Name and address searchable. The images and databases contain residence, occupation and place of business of an individual. Mostly in 1890s or New England states. Spouse names are available for some cities in New England later years (after 1930).
- U.S. Military Records - Name and address searchable. The images and databases contain birth year, residence, occupation and place of business of an individual who were drafted. Relative names are available for World War Records.
- Immigration and Passport Records - Name searchable. The images contain age (or birth year),
occupation, port and date of arrival of an individual and his/her relatives. For the immigration immages, occupation is available before 1910, and birth place is available
in later years (after 1920). For passport images, residences since arrival are also available.
- Quick Links: [U.S. Passport Applications, 1795-1925]
- Family Trees - Information on family members (parents, spouses and children) including birth date,
birth place, marriage dates. Mostly for U.S. individuals. Sometimes, biographical information is also available.
- Quick Links: [One World Tree] [Public Member Trees]
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Stories and Publications - Biographical information on individuals through family and local histories as well as newspaper obituaries.
- Quick Links: [Family and Local Histories] [Obituaries, 1851-2003]
- Other Free Resources
- FamilySearch.org - Family Trees and 1881 Canadian Census Manuscript Database.
- The Tech - MIT newspaper for looking up MIT engineering students.
- IEEE History Center - Legacies of famous engineers.
Other U.S. Historical Data
- Historical, Demographic, Economic, and Social Data: The United States, 1790-2000 - database of census of population and housing made by Michael R. Haines. Required a log-in via a proxy server such as VPN.
- U.S. Decennial Census of Population and Housing, 1790-1890 and 1970-2000 - The books in PDF format.
- U.S. Census Statistical Abstracts and Historical Statistics, 1790-2005 - The books in PDF format.
- U.S. IPUMs - Data on U.S. individuals (mainly cross-sectional).