Genealogy

Welcome to the subject guide for genealogy! This guide is maintained by the Liaison Librarian for History, but may also be useful for genealogists and family historians. Although once considered an ancillary discipline, genealogy is increasingly considered an essential tool for studying the past as well as ourselves.

The guide includes:

• Genealogy & Local History Resources: Recommended resources to get started with personal or historical genealogy, organized by location: local (Montreal), national (Canada), and international
• Books and Guides: Several specialized physical and electronic books and guides for genealogists
• Immigration Resources: Recommended resources focused on immigration records and immigrant experiences
• Resources at McGill: A curated list of resources available at and about McGill students, staff, and faculty that will benefit the genealogist 

Ethical Considerations

It is notable that many genealogical companies and websites rely on the use of un/underpaid and exploitative prison labour in order to make genealogical materials such as census records available online and easy-to-use. Keep this ethical consideration in mind when deciding to undertake a genealogical project. To learn more, read:

• Shane Bauer, "Your Family’s Genealogical Records May Have Been Digitized by a Prisoner," Mother Jones, August 13, 2015.
• Kristen Howard, "Digitization and Exploitation: Acknowledging and Addressing the Use of Exploitative Prison Labor by Libraries and Archives," Library Quarterly 93, no. 3 (July 2023): 241-55.

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