Online family trees are everywhere, but they’re just the beginning. If you want the full story behind the names and dates, you need compiled family histories. These detailed genealogies contain the narratives and supporting documents that family trees lack.
Compiled family histories are accounts written by genealogists who’ve researched and documented their family tree. Unlike simple pedigree charts, these sources include stories, historical context, photographs, and copies of original documents. They’re potential goldmines for family history researchers.
In this article, you’ll discover where to find both published and unpublished compiled family histories and how to access them to gather more information for your own family history research.
This post was originally published in July 2022 and last updated on 26 June 2025
Why Compiled Family Histories Beat Online Family Trees
When genealogists take the time to write their family histories, they include far more than basic information. These detailed accounts typically feature:
- Narratives that explain the circumstances behind life events
- Supporting documentation including letters, photographs, and original records
- Historical context that places your ancestors in time and place
- Source citations that allow you to verify and extend the research
- Extended family connections often missing from basic family trees.
This extra information provides crucial context and research leads that may help build evidence to support or challenge conclusions you’ve drawn from other sources.
Best Places to Find Compiled Family Histories
Published compiled family histories are easier to locate than unpublished ones, though you still need to know where to look.
Tip: Search WorldCat to locate the nearest library to you that holds a copy of the book that you want.
Specialist Family History Libraries
Libraries specialising in genealogy maintain the largest collections of published family histories. In Australia, the Society of Australian Genealogists’ library houses nearly 5,000 published family histories, while the Genealogical Society of Victoria holds over 2,000.
If you are in the US, there’s the Family History Library in Salt Lake City; the Allen County Public Library in Fort Wayne, Indiana; and the Library of Congress in Washington.
Local and general libraries may have some family histories, but their collections typically focus on “how-to” genealogy guides rather than completed research.
Digital Book Collections
Digitised copies of family histories are not as common, but it is worth searching major online collections, such as:
- Internet Archive – Extensive collection of out-of-copyright books, including family histories
- HathiTrust Digital Library – Academic library partnership with genealogy materials
- Google Books – Searchable collection with preview access
- FamilySearch Digital Library – Over 375,000 digitised publications specifically focused on genealogy.
I’ve not found many Australian family histories in these collections, but they have been great for my Jamaican research.
Family Histories in Archives
Family history organisations’ archives often maintain significant collections of unpublished family history research. Some of these may be compiled with narratives, but they are usually less structured than published family histories.
Compiled family histories are not commonly held by other types of archives, particularly State and National archives.
How to Access Published Compiled Family Histories
Search Strategy Tips
The biggest challenge is identifying relevant materials in library catalogues. Avoid broad searches for “family history” or “genealogy”, as these return thousands of how-to guides and indexes.
Instead, try these approaches:
- Search by surname – Use variable spellings and related names
- Search by location – Try counties, towns, and regions where your family lived
- Browse classified sections – Family history libraries separate compiled histories with special call numbers.
Using Family History Indexes and Websites
Published bibliographies of family histories help overcome catalogue limitations. These indexes organise thousands of titles by surname and location. However, they may not include recent publications.
In Australia, Family History Connections maintains an online index of over 10,000 published family history titles. You’ll find bibliographies for other locations online, such as Besterman’s 1971 Family History: A Bibliography of Bibliographies (in the Internet Archive).
You may also be lucky and find a website for your area or period of interest that lists published genealogies. Here’s one for Medieval English Genealogy.
Use the FamilySearch Wiki to Find Genealogy Books
The FamilySearch wiki pages help you find family history books, online and offline. Go to the page for the country or region you are researching and select ‘Compiled genealogies’ or ‘Genealogies’ in the list of Record Types on the right-hand side.
Here’s a few examples:
- United States Compiled Genealogies
- Jamaica Compiled Genealogies
- Cornwall, England Compiled Genealogies
How to Access Unpublished Compiled Family Histories
Unpublished family histories present greater challenges. They often lack descriptive titles, and each archive catalogues collections differently.
Search Techniques
- Surname searches in catalogues remain your best option, though they are not guaranteed to find everything
- Contact archivists for assistance.
Access Limitations
Most unpublished compiled family histories aren’t digitised due to:
- Copyright restrictions or privacy issues on recent materials
- Time-intensive digitisation requirements.
In-person visits to family history libraries and archives usually provide the best access to unpublished materials. Requesting copies without a visit is challenging and risky, as you can’t determine which parts of the collection you need without seeing it!
Using Compiled Family Histories in Your Research
Remember that compiled family histories are derivative sources. Treat their contents as research leads requiring corroboration from other sources.
Always:
- Note the sources used by the original compiler and track them down
- Verify conclusions using other sources
- Cite the work when using information in your own research
- Seek permission before using any copyrighted material, if you intend to publish.
Frequently Asked Questions
What’s the difference between a family tree and a compiled family history?
A family tree shows relationships and basic vital information. A compiled family history is where a researcher synthesises all their knowledge and writes it up in a structured format. It usually includes narratives, historical context, supporting documents, and detailed source citations.
Are compiled family histories reliable?
They vary in quality and accuracy. Always treat them as derivative sources requiring verification against other sources.
Can I find compiled family histories online for free?
Many historical family histories are freely available through Internet Archive and FamilySearch. Others require library access or purchase.
How do I know if a compiled family history exists for my family?
Search family history library catalogues and WorldCat by surname, check published indexes, and consult the FamilySearch wiki page for the location.
Take Your Research Beyond Online Trees
Compiled family histories offer depth and context that online family trees simply cannot provide. While they require more effort to locate and access, the details and supporting documentation make them invaluable for serious genealogy research.
Start with the digital collections at FamilySearch and Internet Archive for easy access. Then identify family history libraries in areas relevant to your research for more comprehensive searching.
Check out these related resources:
Analysing Derivative Sources – Learn to evaluate compiled family histories and other derivative genealogy sources critically
Archives for Family History – The role of archival collections and how to access them
For more of my articles about research methods for family history, go to the Research Methods page.
For more of my articles on improving your search techniques, go to the Research page.
About the Author
Danielle Lautrec is a genealogy educator, researcher, and author of The Good Genealogist. With qualifications in history, family history, and historical archaeology, she teaches for the Society of Australian Genealogists.
