First wish: U.S. Civil War pension files

When we consider the wide array of repositories with historical records of genealogical value, we can either rise to the challenge or throw our hands up.

After hours of googling and browsing, many newcomers and even experienced genealogists may come away with little more than aggravated wrists, eyes, backs, brains, and children. We must understand that the World Wide Web –via the Internet- has only a fraction of Family History Library, National Archives, and other key collections.

The thousands of cubic feet of U.S. Civil War pension files is one example of what is NOT on the Internet. The fine site at www.archives.gov will continue to take online requests to search such records, but no one has dared to microfilm, scan, or re-index these incredibly valuable documents [there is a Group here focusing on Military Pensions].

So many courthouses and archives and libraries, great and small, have minimal online collections.