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About Connecticut: A Brief History of the State

Ancestry Library Edition. Available at the State Library. Provides access to a wide range of unique resources for genealogical and historical research with more than 1.5 billion names in over 4,000 databases. Ancestry Library Edition includes records from the United States Census, military records, court, land and probate records, vital and church records, directories, passenger lists and more.

A Selected Bibliography of Connecticut Local Histories that include Genealogical Information and General Genealogical Compilations

Biography & Genealogy Master Index. Available at the State Library. Indexes nearly 12 million biographical sketches in more than 2700 volumes and editions of current and retrospective reference books, covering both contemporary and historical figures throughout the world.

Civil War Soldiers & Sailors System. A cooperative effort of the National Park Service (NPS) and other public and private organizations, this site includes a database containing basic facts about those who served on both sides during the Civil War, compiled from some 6.3 million service records at the National Archives. Other information includes regimental histories of both the Union and Confederate Armies, links to descriptions of 384 significant battles of the war, and other historical information.

Connecticut History Online. Contains about 14,000 images of photographs, drawings and prints which may be searched or browsed in a variety of ways, including by keyword, subject, creator, title and date. Online learning tools created especially for middle and high school students provide suggestions for interpreting and exploring the database.

Cyndi’s List. Provides over 240,000 links to information about genealogical records and organizations, ethnic groups, family names, heraldry, and more.

Databases of Individuals listed in State Archives Records. Records relating to Civil War and Spanish American War Veterans, Connecticut World War I veterans, and prisoners at the Wethersfield State Prison, 1800-1903.

Ellis Island Records. The Website of the Statue of Liberty – Ellis Island Foundation, Inc. Includes a searchable index to passenger arrivals.

FamilySearch. The “Search for Ancestors” section includes Ancestral File, the International Genealogical Index, and indexes to the 1880 United States, 1881 British, and 1881 Canadian censuses, while the “Library” section includes contact information on Family History Centers worldwide and access to the Family History Catalog.

First Search. Available at the State Library. More than 50 online databases and more than 1.5 million full-text articles. Includes ECO an extensive OCLC collection of scholarly journals, and PAIS, a database chronicling global public policy and social issues, and other sources useful for public policy research.

Footnote. Available at the State Library. Searchable original, historical documents ranging from major historical events to personal accounts and family histories.  Users can also share their own content and insights.

HeritageQuest Online. Available at the State Library. Heritage Quest can also be accessed remotely through iCONN, the CT Digital Library, using a current State Library card or a library card from any Connecticut library. Collection of genealogical and historical material including family histories, genealogical serials, local histories, and primary sources (including indexes and images of the U.S. Federal Census, 1790-1930).

Library of Congress. Includes the American Memory collection. Also check the “A-Z Index to the Library of Congress Site” for links to information about Genealogy, Geography, History, and more.

National Archives and Records Administration. Includes information on the holdings and services of National Archives branches nationwide and information on genealogical resources, veteran’s service records, and microfilm publications. Searchable databases are included in the “Access to Archival Databases (AAD)” section.

New England Ancestors. Available at the State Library. Includes the full texts of The New England Historical and Genealogical Register, 1847-1994, The Great Migration Begins: Immigrants to New England, 1620-1633; and Legislators of the Massachusetts General Court, 1691-1780; vital records of many Massachusetts towns to 1850; and transcriptions of manuscripts and diaries, military records, Bible records, and church records.

Origins. Available at the State Library. British and Irish record collections dating back to the 13th century, as well as rare and unique photos and books to browse.

Rootsweb.com. Provides links to information on getting started in genealogy, family trees, message boards (surnames, localities, topics), research templates, and other resources including the Social Security Death Index (SSDI).

SSDI, Social Security Death Index. The Social Security Death Index is generated from the U.S. Social Security Administrations Death Master File. It contains the records of deceased persons who possessed Social Security numbers and whose death had been reported to the SSA. This free version of the index is presented on Rootsweb.com.

US GenWeb Project. Serves as the portal for the Gen Web Project. Volunteers from all over the United States post genealogical records and other information pertaining to their states. This site explains the project and provides links to the state sites, including Connecticut.

Bible and Family Records Index

Biographical information about Connecticut judges: Memorials of Connecticut Judges and Attorneys

Biography and Genealogy Master Index. Available at the State Library. Indexes nearly 12 million biographical sketches in more than 2700 volumes and editions of current and retrospective reference books, covering both contemporary and historical figures throughout the world.

Connecticut General Assembly Members, 1776 - date (database)

Governors of Connecticut

History and Genealogy Biography Vertical File

A List of Names included in the State Library Collection of Biographical Sketches, an index to the Library's 79 volume set of biographical pamphlets including sermons, discourses, biographies, memoirs, etc.

Nathan Hale

Prudence Crandall

Connecticut's Boundaries

The Southwick Jog. Why is there a "jog" in Connecticut's border with Massachusetts?

The Panhandle. Why does Connecticut have a "panhandle" that extends westward toward New York?

Connecticut's "Susquehannah Settlers" and Western Lands

The Connecticut Western Reserve. What were the Western Lands, also referred to as the Western Reserve?

The Firelands. 500,000 acres in Ohio were granted in 1792 to those (and their heirs) who suffered losses during the Revolutionary War.

The Susquehannah Company. Where can I find information about those from Connecticut who settled in the Wyoming Valley of Pennsylvania?

Maps and Geography materials at the Connecticut State Library

Connecticut law relating to removing headstones from, or defacing headstones in, Connecticut cemeteries.

Hale Collection of Connecticut Cemetery Inscriptions. Where can I find information on the WPA project to record information from headstones in Connecticut cemeteries during the 1930s?

Research Guide to Cemetery Resources at the Connecticut State Library

Connecticut Census Index, 1790-1850

Census Sources Pathfinder

Research Guide to Census Records at the Connecticut State Library

Research Guide to Colonial and State Census Records at the Connecticut State Library

Research Guide to Special Federal Census Schedules for Connecticut at the Connecticut State Library

Research Guide to the Connecticut Military Census of 1917

Additional information from the U.S. censuses, including derived and compiled statistical data, is available through the Government Information Services Unit.

Church Records Index

The Vosburgh Collection of New York State Church Records

Connecticut Town, City, and Borough Officials from the Secretary of State

Connecticut Towns & Cities Page from the State of Connecticut

A List of Connecticut Towns and Dates of Their Establishment

Connecticut Historical Museums

Connecticut Historical Societies

Connecticut Libraries

Connecticut Municipal Historians

CSL Digital Collections, Town History

Municipal Government

Wethersfield Prison Records database. Index to records relating to prisoners at the Wethersfield State Prison, 1800-1903.
 

Connecticut's Early General Records

CSL Digital Collections, Courts

Guide to the Records of the Judicial Department (772kb)

County Courts Finding Aids

Research Guide to Divorce Records in Connecticut: A Brief History and Summary of Sources
 

Colonial Connecticut Records (CCR) provides online delivery of the complete, digitized volumes of the Public Records of the Colony of Connecticut, 1636-1776.

Early History. A brief historical overview of Connecticut.

Early Settlers. Who were some early European explorers and settlers of what is now Connecticut?

Founders of Hartford. Who were the founders of Hartford? Where is the Founders Monument?

Founders of Windsor. Who were the founders of Windsor?

Important Dates in the History of the Settlement of the Colony of Connecticut Until Unification with the Colony of New Haven in 1665

Matthew Grant's "Diary" or Notebook

Records of the Colony and Plantation of New Haven, from 1638 to 1649. From the Making of America book collection, digitized by the University of Michigan Library, Ann Arbor.

Research Guide to Some Materials on Witchcraft at the Connecticut State Library

The World of Samuel Wyllys

Firelands. What were the "Firelands"?
 

Genealogical Societies Incorporated or Authorized to do Business or Conduct Affairs in Connecticut. Membership in what genealogical societies would entitle me to view Connecticut birth records less than 100 years old?

Hereditary Societies of Connecticut

Genealogical Index Search Service. How can I request information on my Connecticut ancestors? Is there a request form to send in?

Professional Genealogists Familiar With Connecticut State Library Collections. Where can I find a list of professional genealogists who could conduct research for me?

Colonial Connecticut Records (CCR) provides online delivery of the complete, digitized volumes of the Public Records of the Colony of Connecticut, 1636-1776.

Connecticut General Assembly Members, 1776 - date (database)

Connecticut's Early General Records

Finding Aid to the General Assembly Papers, 1821-1870; State Archives Record Group No. 2 (264kb)

Finding Aid to the Rejected Bills, 1808-1870; State Archives Record Group No. 2 (196kb)

Books Recommended for Those Doing Connecticut Genealogical Research

The Calendar Change of 1752

Genealogical Tool Kit. What should I take with me on a genealogical research trip?

Reading and Interpreting Old Handwriting

A Selected Bibliography of Connecticut Local Histories that include Genealogical Information and General Genealogical Compilations

Suggested "How-to" Books for Family History

Suggestions for Beginning Genealogists. How do I get started on my family genealogy?

African-Americans. Research Guide to African-American Genealogical Resources at the Connecticut State Library

French Canadians. Research Guide to Canadian Genealogical Resources at the Connecticut State Library

Germans. Research Guide to German Genealogical Resources at the Connecticut State Library

Irish. Research Guide to Irish Genealogical Resources at the Connecticut State Library

Italians. Research Guide to Italian Genealogical Resources at the Connecticut State Library

Jews

Native Americans

Polish. Research Guide to Polish Genealogical Resources at the Connecticut State Library

Scots. Research Guide to Scots and Scots-Irish Genealogical Resources at the Connecticut State Library

Loyalists. Where can I find information on Connecticut Loyalists during the American Revolution?

Microfilm of Connecticut Records at LDS Family History Centers

Fitch's Home for Soldiers Database. Records relating to Civil War and Spanish American War Veterans.

Noble Pension Database. Records relating to Civil War and Spanish American War Veterans.

Research Guide to Colonial Wars Sources at the Connecticut State Library

Research Guide to Civil War Sources at the Connecticut State Library

Research Guide to Manuscript Military Records at the State Library

Research Guide to Mexican War Sources at the Connecticut State Library

Research Guide to Revolutionary War Sources at the Connecticut State Library

Research Guide to War of 1812 Sources at the Connecticut State Library

Research Guide to World War II Service Records at the Connecticut State Library

Veterans' Deaths Index

World War I Veterans Database. Records relating to Connecticut World War I veterans.

Research Guide to Naturalization Records at the Connecticut State Library

A Bibliography of Connecticut Newspaper Resources

Connecticut Newspaper Project

Connecticut Newspaper Pioneers

Hale Collection of Newspaper Notices of Marriages and Deaths, ca. 1750-1865

History of Newspaper Publishing In Connecticut

Homepages of Connecticut Newspapers

An Introduction to the Gideon and Thaddeus Welles Collection of American newspapers

The Press of Connecticut

Connecticut's Nicknames. Explanations for "Constitution State", "Nutmeg State", and other nicknames for Connecticut and for its residents.

A Listing Of Some 18th and 19th Century American Nicknames. What were some common personal nicknames in the 18th and 19th centuries?

Center for Oral History, Univ. of CT

WPA Life Histories from Connecticut

Probate Estate Papers Index

Research Guide to Connecticut Probate Districts

Research Guide to Probate Records at the Connecticut State Library

Research Guide to Ships' Passenger Lists at the Connecticut State Library. Where can I find information on lists of passengers who came to America in the 1800s or earlier?

Susquehanna Settlers. Where can I find information about Connecticut's "Susquehannah Settlers," those from Connecticut who settled in the Wyoming Valley of Pennsylvania?

Barbour Collection of Connecticut Vital Records (1600s-ca. 1850)

Connecticut Vital Records (How to obtain records of births, marriages, and deaths.)

Connecticut's Vital Records Access Law

· CGS 7-51 Access to and examination and issuance of certified copies of birth and fetal death certificates restricted. Access to and disclosure of confidential information restricted.

· CGS 7-51a Copies of vital records. Access to vital records by members of genealogical societies.

What were the Western Lands, also known as the Connecticut Western Reserve?

Research Guide To Some Materials on Colonial Witchcraft Trials at the Connecticut State Library. What are some of the materials about witchcraft in Colonial Connecticut that are available at the Connecticut State Library?

Research Guide to Women's History Archival Resources at the Connecticut State Library

Connecticut Commission on Culture and Tourism

Connecticut Historical Museums

Connecticut Historical Societies

Connecticut Humanities Council

Connecticut Municipal Historians

Connecticut's State Historian

Office of Connecticut State Archaeology

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