Welcome to Research Resources, a collection of tools, services, books, and supplies that may be helpful to others who are researching family history, preserving old records, documenting cemeteries, or exploring the communities where their ancestors once lived.
Some of these are resources I have used in my own research, while others are included because they may be useful to fellow family historians. As this page grows, I hope it becomes a helpful starting place for anyone working to preserve the stories, photographs, documents, and memories of those who came before us.
Some links on this page may be affiliate links. This means I may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you. Any income from these links helps support the ongoing costs of maintaining Rebecca’s Treasures and preserving local history for future generations.
DNA & Genetic Genealogy
DNA testing can be a helpful tool when traditional records leave gaps, especially when working with unknown parentage, migration patterns, or connecting family branches.
- AncestryDNA + Traits -
Discover your ethnicity, connect with DNA matches and build your family tree with one of the worlds largest genealogy databases. - 23andMe Ancestry Service
Discover your ethnic origins, connect with DNA relatives, and explore your family history through detailed ancestry reports. - 23andMe - Health + Ancestry
Includes ancestry reports plus optional health insights - FamilyTreeDNA
A favorite among experienced genealogists for Y-DNA, mitochondrial DNA and advanced family history research. - MyHeritage DNA
Excellent for finding international DNA matches and expanding your family tree with relatives from around the world.
Newspapers, Military Records & Online Research
Old newspapers, military files, census records, and historical databases can help bring names and dates to life.
- Newspapers.com
Search millions of historical newspapers from across the United States and beyond. Start with a 7-day free trial to explore obituaries, local news, marriage announcements, and uncover the stories, people, and places that help bring your family history to life. - Fold3
Explore military records, pension files, service records, and other historical documents. - Ancestry
Build your family tree, search billions of historical records, and connect with DNA matches. - FamilySearch
Search millions of free historical records, build your family tree, and explore digitized books and family history resources. - LDS Genealogy
Browse free genealogy records, historical databases, and helpful research links organized by state, county, and record type. - Internet Archive
Explore millions of free digitized books, family histories, county histories, city directories, maps, and historical records.
Kentucky & Appalachian History Books
County histories, local maps, family books, and regional studies can add valuable context to family research. These resources can help place your ancestors within the communities where they lived, worked, worshiped, and raised their families.
- Kentucky Genealogy
- County Histories
- Historical Atlases & Maps
- Appalachian History & Culture
Featured Recommendations
The Kentucky Encyclopedia
An outstanding reference for Kentucky genealogy and local history research. Covering more than 2,000 people, places, communities, and historical topics, this encyclopedia provides valuable background for understanding the places where Kentucky families lived and worked.
Kentucky Place Names
An indispensable reference for Kentucky genealogists and local historians. This book explores the origins of more than 2,000 Kentucky communities, post offices, streams, and geographic features, helping researchers better understand the places where their ancestors lived.
DeLorme Kentucky Atlas & Gazetteer
A favorite for exploring Kentucky's backroads and forgotten places. Detailed topographic maps show small communities, creeks, churches, cemeteries, public lands, and thousands of local features that often don't appear on standard road maps. An excellent companion for genealogists researching rural Kentucky families.
Historical Atlas of Kentucky
Historic maps, county boundary changes, transportation routes, and land ownership information provide valuable context for tracing Kentucky families through time.
Kentucke's Frontier (A History of the Trans-Appalachian Frontier)
An excellent introduction to Kentucky's early settlement, pioneer families, and the development of communities throughout the Commonwealth.
Learning Genealogy
Whether you're just beginning your family history journey or looking to sharpen your research skills, these books and workbooks can help you learn proven research methods, organize your findings, understand historical records, and inspire the next generation of family historians.
- Beginner Guides
- Research Skills
- Organization & Documentation
- Family History Workbooks
- Genealogy for Young Researchers
Featured Recommendations
Unpuzzling Your Past
One of the best beginner genealogy books available. It teaches research
methods, record keeping, source citations, and how to solve common family
history problems while avoiding mistakes that can send researchers down the
wrong path.
Evidence Explained
A trusted reference for documenting genealogy sources and creating accurate citations. While geared toward more advanced family historians, it is an excellent resource for anyone who wants to keep well-documented, reliable research.
Operation Granny Files
Designed for ages 8–14, this hands-on workbook introduces children and
families to genealogy through interviews, family trees, census records,
pedigree charts, and fun detective-style activities. Although created with
homeschool families in mind, it is equally useful for grandparents,
libraries, genealogy societies, and anyone wanting to share family history
with the next generation.
Archival & Preservation Supplies
Preserving family photographs, letters, certificates, and historical documents helps ensure that your family's story can be passed safely from one generation to the next. Using archival-quality storage materials protects these irreplaceable treasures from everyday wear and deterioration.
- Lineco Archival File Folders
Protect family records, certificates, military papers, wills, deeds, newspaper clippings, and photographs with archival-quality, acid-free, lignin-free file folders. Designed for long-term preservation, they're an excellent choice for organizing genealogy collections while helping prevent deterioration over time. - Archival Sheet Protectors
Protect important family records, census pages, photographs, and research notes while allowing them to be viewed without direct handling. These archival-quality, acid-free, PVC-free polypropylene sleeves are ideal for preserving documents in binders and keeping frequently used records clean, organized, and protected from everyday wear. - Photo Mounting Corners
Preserve treasured family photographs the traditional way without applying adhesive directly to the photograph. Acid-free photo mounting corners securely hold vintage photographs, cabinet cards, postcards, and family keepsakes in albums or display pages while allowing them to be removed later without damage. - Lineco Archival Storage Box
Safeguard irreplaceable family documents, photographs, newspapers, and heirlooms in an acid-free archival storage box designed for long-term preservation. These sturdy clamshell boxes help protect delicate materials from dust, light, handling, and everyday wear, making them an excellent choice for preserving treasured family collections for future generations.
Cemetery Preservation & Research Tools
Cemetery documentation and conservation require specialized, safe tools for locating, cleaning, and photographing old headstones without causing permanent damage to fragile historic stone.
- D/2 Biological Solution
Widely recommended by cemetery preservation organizations and trusted by the National Park Service for appropriate applications, D/2 Biological Solution is a pH-neutral, biodegradable cleaner that safely removes algae, lichen, mold, and other biological growth from historic marble and granite headstones without the use of harsh chemicals. - Natural Tampico Mason Brush
A soft natural-fiber brush recommended for gently cleaning historic gravestones. When used with D/2 Biological Solution, it helps remove dirt, algae, and biological growth without scratching or damaging marble, limestone, granite, or sandstone. - Plastic Detail Scrapers
Safely remove compacted dirt, moss, and debris from deeply carved lettering after cleaning with D/2 Biological Solution. Plastic scrapers are far less likely than metal tools to scratch or damage historic gravestones, making them an excellent addition to any gravestone cleaning and preservation kit. - Nitrile Protective Gloves
Protect your hands while cleaning gravestones, handling old records, or working with cleaning solutions. Powder-free nitrile gloves provide an excellent grip, resist punctures better than latex, and help keep historic documents and photographs free from skin oils and dirt. - Rite in the Rain Waterproof Field Notebook
Record cemetery inscriptions, plot locations, and research notes in any weather. These durable all-weather notebooks are designed to withstand rain, humidity, mud, and damp conditions, making them ideal companions for cemetery visits, field surveys, and outdoor genealogy research.
Thank you for supporting Rebecca’s Treasures and the work of preserving family stories, cemetery records, local history, and the memories of those who came before us.