# How can I find information about long-dead relatives? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 13, 2013, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-find-information-about-long-dead-relatives/671107 "2013-10-13T00:31:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Speaker\_for\_the\_Dead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c77e96/32.png) [@Speaker\_for\_the\_Dead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Speaker_for_the_Dead)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2013, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-find-information-about-long-dead-relatives/671107/1 "2013-10-13T00:31:19Z")
This is a pretty broad question, but I come from a line of late-birthers, so I’m 70 years removed from my grandparents. Only my paternal grandfather was alive when I became aware of my own existence, and he had significant dementia. As such, I’m stuck with my parents’ imperfect recollections of family events. I know it’s a long stretch, but how can I dig up more genealogical information? For example, my great uncle moved to the US from Canada to do research in WWII, when he died in a lab accident. I’m curious what happened. But in general, I know I have interesting family, but local resources are limited! I know of [Ancestry.com](http://Ancestry.com), but are there any other sources? Places to start? Did I miss some threads in my cursory searches. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2013, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-find-information-about-long-dead-relatives/671107/2 "2013-10-13T01:00:40Z")
[Familysearch.org](http://Familysearch.org) is a stripped down version of [Ancestry.com](http://Ancestry.com) and a good place to find basic information. If you know anything about where your great uncle lived, there are various newspaper archives online. You might be able to find an obituary for him. Good luck. ---
**Author:** ![Northern\_Piper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/northern_piper/32/5304_2.png) [@Northern\_Piper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Northern_Piper)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2013, 3:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-find-information-about-long-dead-relatives/671107/3 "2013-10-13T03:57:23Z")
It’s not an on-line search resource, but you could try the Saskatchewan Genealogical Society: > **[Home - Saskatchewan Genealogical Society](https://saskgenealogy.com/)** > > Est. reading time: 5 minutes They can give you good research tips. ---
**Author:** ![Isilder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/cc9497/32.png) [@Isilder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isilder)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2013, 4:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-find-information-about-long-dead-relatives/671107/4 "2013-10-13T04:29:51Z")
> [@Speaker\_for\_the\_Dead](#): > > This is a pretty broad question, but I come from a line of late-birthers, so I’m 70 years removed from my grandparents. Only my paternal grandfather was alive when I became aware of my own existence, and he had significant dementia. Well if helps if you have your parents full (maiden ) name, DOB, where born and where registered. You can then get your parents birth certificates. which list details for their parents , hopefully. Always harder to go back to find mothers family due to the name changes. Well you may have to go to the fathers wedding , and thus find details about the bride… Then you have to find matches going back back. Mormons collect genealogical info… They put lots of money into obtaining copies of all the records they can. ---
**Author:** ![Obeseus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbce88/32.png) [@Obeseus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Obeseus)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2013, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-find-information-about-long-dead-relatives/671107/5 "2013-10-13T04:35:15Z")
A good place for newbies without paying to subscribe to sites is [http://genforum.com/](http://genforum.com/) If there is a forum for the surnames you seek, you could post a message. Someone connected might see and be able to help you. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2013, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-find-information-about-long-dead-relatives/671107/6 "2013-10-13T14:47:32Z")
Check [Find a Grave](http://www.findagrave.com/) (free) on the off chance that someone else may have posted a memorial for your family members. People sometimes post the obituaries. Google Books is a good source for finding mention of ancestors. If you know what city the person died in, then try newspaper archives. ---
**Author:** ![Rhythmdvl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/85f322/32.png) [@Rhythmdvl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rhythmdvl)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2013, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-can-i-find-information-about-long-dead-relatives/671107/7 "2013-10-13T15:00:49Z")
Head to you local new age shop. Find a psychic to hold a seance. Someone that fancies themselves a **Speaker for the Dead**.