Welcome to my electronic message-in-a-bottle. Below is a list of surnames I am currently researching. If you have any information on these names, please contact me at [email protected]. Most of my information is available to you through one or more of the databases listed below. I've also included a list of useful links.

Thanks for stopping by.

- Bill Merklee

American Family Immigration History Center Searchable databases at Ellis Island. Ancestry.com Burke's Peerage & Gentry The authentic genealogical guide to the UK and Ireland's titled and untitled families. The Civil War Diary of E. B. Root My great-great grandfather is the reason I got into genealogy. Here are his diary, Union Army papers, and photos. Cyndi's List of Genealogical Sites The most comprehensive list of genealogy links anywhere. Everton Publishers Publishers of Family History Magazine. The site contains numerous searchable databases. Family Search Access to the genealogy databases of the LDS church. Genealogy.com Largely for owners of FTM, but their Internet Family Finder can be very helpful. FTM's CDs can be accessed at many LDS Family History Centers or public libraries. genealogical.com A great place to purchase research and reference works. Get help publishing your own work, too. GenServ A remarkable searchable database of submitted GEDCOMs. Minimal subscription fee. Higginson Book Company Offering reprints of thousands of family and local histories. MyRoots Wonderful software for your PDA. National Genealogical Society

New England Historic Genealogical Society For anyone with New England ancestors, a membership in this organization is a must. Members have on-line access to a number of databases. NewspaperArchive.com Search more than 12 million pages of historic newspapers online and view them in Adobe's PDF format. The New York Genealogical & Biographical Society If your research takes you to New York, this is the place to go. Memebers have on-line access to a searchable archive of The New York Times. Reunion for Macintosh IMHO, the best genealogy software available. RootsWeb A cooperative resource, and the finest on-line community around. A wealth of free data, courtesy of paid members. Care to join us? Some truths about on-line genealogy An article on the joys -- and limitations -- of the Internet as a research tool. The USGenWeb Project Volunteers working to provide Internet websites for genealogical research in every county and every state of the United States. U.S. National Archives & Records Administration Vital Records Information This site contains information about where to obtain vital records (such as birth, death & marriage certificates and divorce decrees) from each state, territory and county of the United States. Also has links to foreign records sites. Why do you do genealogy? In October 1997, I posted this question to the Roots-L list. Here are the answers. Yates Publishing Order family group sheets from a staggering list of surnames.