12 Days of Genealogy Media Resources - Google Books

For Day 11 of our 12 Days of Genealogy Media Resources, we’re focusing on Google Books and why it’s an essential—but often overlooked—tool for genealogy research.

In this episode, we talk about how Google Books allows researchers to full-text search millions of digitized books, including rare and out-of-print family histories, local and county histories, city directories, and other published records that may not be indexed anywhere else. These materials often contain references to ancestors that don’t appear in traditional genealogy databases.

We discuss how using specific search terms, name variations, and advanced search operators can dramatically improve your results, especially when researching common surnames. We also cover how filters—such as publication date ranges, content type, and “full view” availability—can help you focus on materials published during your ancestor’s lifetime.

If you’ve ever struggled to find context, background, or written references to your family beyond census and vital records, this episode will help you think differently about how books can support your genealogy research.

🎧 Listen in for practical strategies, real examples, and tips you can start using right away.