Cyndi's List of Genealogy Sites on the Internet is a categorized and cross-referenced list of links for genealogical

Genealogy

Genealogy is the study of families and the tracing of their lineages and history. Genealogists use oral traditions, historical records, genetic analysis, and other records to obtain information about a family and to demonstrate kinship and pedigrees of its members...

 research. The site contains roughly 290,000 links in 180 categories. Cyndi's List supplements operating expenses with affiliate advertising.

History

The list was first created as a short list of genealogy bookmarks that was shared with the members of the Tacoma-Pierce County Genealogical Society at the September 1995 meeting. The web site opened in March 1996; by the end of that year, it had more than 10,000 links. In 1998 it obtained its own domain name. The site has since received numerous awards

The creator of the site, Cyndi Howells, is the author of three books on genealogical research and the Internet, including a printed copy of Cyndi's List.

Structure

The links are categorised into sections which are then subdivided. The top level divisions are:

• Computers & the Internet
• Ethnic Groups & People
• Help from Others
• History
• Immigration, Emigration, Migration
• Localities
• Marketplace
• Memorabilia
• Military
• Miscellaneous
• Occupations
• Records
• Religions
• Research Tools & Reference Materials
• Wars

There are several other indexes, and a search facility using Google

Google

Google Inc. is an American multinational public corporation invested in Internet search, cloud computing, and advertising technologies. Google hosts and develops a number of Internet-based services and products, and generates profit primarily from advertising through its AdWords program...

.