Ancestry Magazine

You just know family letters, Bibles, and diaries are out there somewhere. But where? Start with a resource like this family postcard to help you find clues to stories in hiding.

Chance.
Online keyword searches such as “School Records Gibsonburg, Ohio” or “Big Rapids, Michigan history” could land you just what you’re seeking.

Gifts.
Finding a will or probate record for the sender— or one that names the sender—may point to the family member who received the “rest and residue” of the estate.

Names.
Check for family names in catalogs of historical and genealogical societies, archives, and university libraries in the likely areas.

Bigger Fish.
Creative searching at the National Union Catalog of Manuscript Collections www.loc.gov/coll/nucmc/ and WorldCat can help you find manuscripts that aren’t close to home. Resources including ArchiveGrid and ArchivesUSA can, too, but you’ll have to conduct your search at a historical society or archives with a subscription.

Places.
Libraries have all types of manuscript collections. Look for broader titles like the Guide to Manuscript Collections in the Historical Society of Pennsylvania and A Guide to the Manuscript Collections in the Eastern Washington State Historical Society.