NARA

The National Archives and Records Administration, also known as NARA is an independent agency of the United States government responsible for preserving and documenting both government and historical records and making those records available to the public. They offer insight into the lives of people, their families and our history. Because the records at the National Archives come from every branch of the Federal government, almost all Americans can find themselves, their ancestors, or their community in the archives (NARA).

NARA has a well organized page for genealogists and family historians. It's arranged by research topics or types of records. The most commonly used records for research are military, census, immigration, naturalization and land records. Visit the website, http://archives.gov/ and explore the wealth of information available to you. Start your research online, or visit the Northeast Regional Archives in New York City at 201 Varick Street, New York, NY 10014.