I broken through several brick walls by using Genealogy Bank, particularly through the extensive collection of obituaries.

I love this site. GenealogyBank has greatly furthered my research with their Philadelphia, PA and various New York papers. They are also responsive to suggestions about improving the site. I'm waiting for them to get Pittsburgh, PA papers!

I'm always so wary about paying for memberships, especially one that requires $10 just for a 30day preview! Would anyone be willing to look someone up for me so that I can know if it's worth the money at the moment? I don't have a lot of money to throw at genealogy research right now, and there are way too many sites that want money just to view their results.

I love the newspaper collection at genealogybank.com; Just wish I knew how to research the wonderful historical records. They seem elusive to me as the names I am searching are too common and I don't know the specific records I want to search through.

I really like GenealogyBank too. I started out with the 30 day trial, and didn't sign up right away, but missed it so much I ended up signing back up for the annual subscription, and I'm never disappointed. I found the newspaper articles - the real deals, not a transcription - announcing that my 4th great grandfather divorced his wife because she had run off with the town doctor - in 1817! He then packed up his kids and moved to Ohio. I had never imagined that the wife buried next to him there was not the mother of his children!!!

Hi- I belong to genealogybank, and I'm happy to do lookups :)
Kate

I think thats really nice of you to offer, Kate, and I appreciate the thought behind it, being generous and all, but I don't think that its the right thing to do.

I think what Kate means is that she is willing to do look ups so people can know if it's worth it to buy a subscription. But, unfortunately, I see what you mean. People may try to take advantage of her. So Kate, just beware of that. And please please please do not be afraid to say "NO!" or put a limit on how many names you will look up for one person. It's totally up to you, but I'd hate to see someone take advantage of your generous offer.

I guess my concern comes more from having been a small-business owner myself. GenealogyWise offers an affordable trial period for about $10, which seems fair. Announcing that you will help people avoid supporting their business doesn't seem quite right, and I believe that the terms of use indicate it is for personal purposes. Kind of like the issues surrounding music file-sharing, really. Maybe someone from GB would care to comment.

I understand your concerns.

I have found GenealogyBank to be really good for early Philadelphia death notices, and sometimes obituaries. I also found a lot of info on one of my brickwalls, who I can't find on census records from 1850-1900, but because I find him listed in cast lists and articles, I at least know where he was at certain moments. :)