It's time for this week's Ancestry Quick Tip Jamboree! Thanks to everyone who has sent in a Quick Tip. Please keep them coming so that we can keep this tradition going. You can send your tips to: ADNeditor@ancestry.com.

Quick Tips may be reprinted, with credit to the submitter, in other Ancestry publications, so if you do not want your tip included in a publication other than the Ancestry Daily News and Ancestry Weekly Digest, please state so clearly in your message.

Have a great day!
Juliana

Unclaimed Property Databases
Debbie Helton

I recently found a place that was beneficial in my research that I had not even thought about. That source would be unclaimed property that is turned into each state when an insurance company, bank, previous employer etc would have funds, property, stock certificates and they would not be able to locate the person. Each state has a website where you can research your names. I have found several estates listed with the last known address listed. Of course, you would have to know the state where someone lived or you would have to search each state to find the information. You can Google the website by state (for example: unclaimed property Tennessee) and do a search. I hope this proves helpful.

Michigan County Histories
Pat Hendrickson

Thank you, Paula, for reminding us of the significance of the county histories of the last 1800s.

Michigan recognizes the importance of these histories and has put 170 titles (202 volumes) on a searchable website (www.hti.umich.edu/m/micounty/). Just type in the surname or town, or do an advanced search using Boolean, Proximity, or Citation searches.

For those of us who live a long ways away from the state where ancestors lived (mine lived in Michigan on the same farm for 160 plus years - I live in Nevada!), these online resources are invaluable.

Again, thank you, Paula and thank you, Michigan!

Map Collection Online
George Goodrich Farrell

The Library of Congress has a truly huge collection of maps online. Some are current and others very old. Some even have the names of the early settlers. If you double click on most of the first images they will become larger. Many can be printed. Don't miss the zoom feature at the bottom of the page. However when you zoom it may take a very long time to load.

You can also Google search for state and/or county maps.