Where to Dig Next: Research Plan Generators
Find the best Delaware, Illinois and Michigan records for the person, place, years and record types you are researching. Each tool builds a prioritized plan, county by county. They do not search by name.
How it works
- Tell the tool what you know. Pick a county, tick the record types you need, set a date range, and add keywords if you have them. Every field is optional.
- Read the prioritized plan. Sources appear in sections by record type. County cards sort ahead of statewide ones, and records you can only see out of state sort last in their section.
- Open the source or plan a visit. Follow the link for online collections, or use the repository and call number. Print the plan when you are ready.
- 6research plan generators
- 30,629unique sources across all six tools
- 188counties covered (3 Delaware, 102 Illinois, 83 Michigan)
- 19record types to choose from
Delaware Research Plan Generator
Statewide and county sources for any Delaware family.
- 1,480sources
- 3 of 3Delaware counties with county sources
- 18 of 19record types with sources
- 542free online sources
Sources by record type
Sources by access
A source can carry two access tags, so these can add up to more than the total.
Delaware African American Research Plan Generator
Sources chosen for African American family research in Delaware.
- 477sources
- 3 of 3Delaware counties with county sources
- 18 of 19record types with sources
- 210free online sources
Sources by record type
Sources by access
A source can carry two access tags, so these can add up to more than the total.
Illinois Research Plan Generator
Statewide and county sources for any Illinois family.
- 17,564sources
- 102 of 102Illinois counties with county sources
- 19 of 19record types with sources
- 6,841free online sources
Sources by record type
Sources by access
A source can carry two access tags, so these can add up to more than the total.
Illinois African American Research Plan Generator
Sources chosen for African American family research in Illinois.
- 1,672sources
- 97 of 102Illinois counties with county sources
- 19 of 19record types with sources
- 958free online sources
Sources by record type
Sources by access
A source can carry two access tags, so these can add up to more than the total.
Michigan Research Plan Generator
Statewide and county sources for any Michigan family.
- 11,614sources
- 83 of 83Michigan counties with county sources
- 19 of 19record types with sources
- 3,496free online sources
Sources by record type
Sources by access
A source can carry two access tags, so these can add up to more than the total.
Michigan African American Research Plan Generator
Sources chosen for African American family research in Michigan.
- 4,071sources
- 83 of 83Michigan counties with county sources
- 19 of 19record types with sources
- 426free online sources
Sources by record type
Sources by access
A source can carry two access tags, so these can add up to more than the total.
Access tags
Each card shows how you can use the source. Colors match the tags inside the tools:
