Some Genealogy FTP Sites on the Internet, version 2.0 1/95 Compiled by Chris Gaunt, cgaunt@umich.edu on Internet (preferred), 71031,2100 on Compuserve and John Fuller, JohnF14246@aol.com (New info is prefaced by a +. Do not include it in your commands.) Here's a listing of genealogy FTP sites, info on using FTP and info on FTP by email. I've included one site that has lots of info on the internet in + general. I'm sure other FTP sites will pop up now and then, or one + might stop offering ftp, or directories will be changed. I will try to + keep this file up-to-date. FTP addresses are preceded by "ftp: ", while + email addresses are preceded by "email: ". + To do FTP from Compuserve, you must be using one of the Compuserve + Information Managers. Type GO FTP. + To email out of CIS, use CIS Mail, and type + >INTERNET: + in front of any email address listed. Before you start, check the time. If it's a university site you're planning on using, it should be after business hours AT THAT SITE. + University sites are those with ".edu" at the end of their addresses. Do a dir to get a complete listing of the current files at any of the sites. Info on FTP commands is given at the end of the site listing. 1. In Pennsylvannia: ftp: ftp.cac.psu.edu + cd genealogy + get INDEX (gives you a large master index of all subdirectories + except /lines subdirectory) cd genealogy/ can be /gedcom, /paf, /programs, /nondos, /utils, /lines, or /text + get INDEX at any subdirectory for files in that subdirectory (each of these subdirectories may/maynot have other subdirectories) A candy store of genealogy info! Has program files, utility files, text files including the Roots-L text files, partial transcript files for UK census, some Jewish genealogy files, demo files for genealogy. (This same site can be accessed via gopher. Penn State University is the place to look for once you're on a gopher; look for their FTP server.) + The genealogy file maintainer at this site would like to make it as + complete as possible. To see about uploading one of your own files, + contact the maintainer at saw@ftp.cac.psu.edu. Check the master index first + to see if it is already at this site. 2. In North Dakota: [FTP site closing, August 1995, but e-mail ftp: vm1.nodak.edu service available from LISTSERV@MAIL.EWORLD.COM] cd ROOTS-L This is the current site of the Roots-L mailing list. There are many files available by either ftp or regular email. A listing of their files is in the file FILES.RL in one of the libraries in the CIS Roots Forum, but it is not current. To get files by ftp at this site, you need to put a period between the filename parts (ie, get GENEALOG.SRCHFILE). +email: To get these files by email, send your message to: + listserv@vm1.nodak.edu + The body of the message contains the get command: + GET GENEALOG SRCHFILE + /files ROOTS-L (rather large; sends you all files) 3.ftp: ftp.netcom.com (Note: do NOT do a dir once you're in the pub/ directory -- it's VERY long!) cd pub/GS/GSDS (note caps) + The caps stand for Genealogy Software Distribution System, which I + believe is a Fidonet BBS. Alias is Genesplicer BBS. Has Kith & Kin, Brother's Keeper, Family ScrapBook. These files are changed constantly, and the old files are placed on the ftp.cac.psu.edu site. There are many text files. Announcements appear often on the Roots-L mailing list about new files being placed in this area. The site does seem to be quite popular, as I've been unable to log onto it (all possible anonymous logins were in use when I tried). +email: Also has an email ftp address: + ftpmail@genesplicer.org (more on ftp by email at end of file) + For a listing of all files, send email to the above ftpmail address with + the following message: + Get allfiles.lzh + To decompress, you will need an LHArc program, lha255b.exe. I know + there are many sites which house this program; commercial service users may + want to check their own libraries first for availability. + You can also get a uuencoded text version by sending email to the + above ftpmail address with this message: + get ALLFILES.TXT + You will receive back three messages, one an acknowledgment, + and two being the file in two parts. You will need a uudecoder program + to use this file. Unix system users use the command uudecode . + I discovered both parts of the file uudecode into the same file; the second + replaced the first on my home directory. :-( + A couple PC programs are available in CIS's Internet forum library 5: + XFERP1.ZIP, and UUCOD3.ZIP. I have not tried either of these, nor + have I found a decompression program for the Macs. (Also, there are + non-genealogy files at this site, and they are included in the listing.) 4. In Massachusettes: ftp: rtfm.mit.edu a. files available: cd pub/usenet-by-group/news.answers/books books and bookstores info cd pub/usenet/alt.war.civil.usa/U.S._Civil_War_Reading_List US civil war reading list (did not get it, though) cd pub/usenet/alt.war.civil.usa/U.S._Civil_War_FAQ US civil war Frequently Asked Questions file b. can be used to look for people who have posted to Usenet usegroups: email: send an Internet email to mail-server@rtfm.mit.edu use any To: and any Subject: in body of message type: send usenet-addresses/[surname] An example: send usenet-addresses/gaunt (Please note this does not include people sending email to mailing lists) 5. In California? ftp: crvax.sri.com cd netinfo get interest-groups For a large master list of mailing lists. There is a lot of other info about the Internet at this site. (I believe SRI puts out a series of books on the Internet.) 6. In Michigan: ftp: oak.oakland.edu This site seems to have mostly genealogical software. cd SimTel/msdos/genealgy + (this is not a typo) 7. In Utah: ftp: xmission.com cd pub/users/jayhall Has a Windows genealogy program, an index to British, German, and Loyalist officers in the American Revolution, Everton's catalog, catalog for Automated Archives, programs to search the catalogs, a package of useful genealogical info, and more. 8. Location? ftp: hipp.etsu.edu cd pub/genealogy LDS research guides 9. In England: ftp: ftp.essex.ac.uk cd pub/genealogy Files from 2% sample of the 1851 UK Census. These files are compressed using Unix tar and Z compression. An index by name is available. I found several GAUNTs in these files! :-) 10. ftp: hoth.stsci.edu cd gedcom53 (latest GEDCOM specs) cd lines (Lifelines genealogy program, for Unix) + This site also has an email server. For more information on how to get + these files via email, request the file GENEALOG FTPSTSCI from + listserv@mail.eworld.com (via email). 11. In Australia: ftp: coombs.anu.edu.au cd coombspapers/otherarchives/uk-nra-archives (UK National Register of Archives) + Contains research guides from the UK's National Register of Archives. + Guide topics include but are not limited to: beginning family history, + colonial hisory, genealogy, labour history, womens history, and newspapers. 12. In Utah: ftp: ftp.xmission.com cd /pub/users/wwfamily Site for the Automated Name Matching & On Line Research company. Houses the informational files for this company as well as the public GEDCOM file space for uploads. This is a commercial venture which has been announced on CIS previously. Site maintained by Mike Andrews (wwfamily@xmission.com). 13. In Washington, DC + ftp: ftp.nara.gov or abigail.nara.gov + cd genlinfo U.S. National Archives -- maintains a fairly new gopher of info on what the National Archives is all about, including research hints for genealogists. email: To access by gopher mail, send an email to gophermail@calvin.edu You can probably use anything for the To: and Subject: fields. In the body of the message type: Port=70 Path=1/ Host=gopher.nara.gov You'll get back a message telling you to mark with an X the menu items you want, and return the message. If you send the message back with no X's, they say they'll send you all items. (I did not check to see what happened after returning the message.) Note: the NARA doesn't have anything to do with the gophermail service, so if it doesn't work properly, don't email them. Probably postmaster@calvin.edu would be able to send you the correct address for the gophermail server consultants. + 14. ftp: genealogy.emcee.com + cd pub/1880 (Note: DON'T do a dir here........... + get MUST.HAVE It'll waste resources: $ and CPU time) + This file is an intro and index to the files at Genealogy Online dealing + with the 1% sampling of +the 1880 Federal Census. Michael Cooley has + broken these files down into more manageable size and made them + available to the public. (Original files are located at this ftp address: + legohead.hist.umn.edu/pub/1880/pu1880.Z. Over 15MB compressed!) + + cd pub/genealogy/vendors/nqf (National Queries Forum-several issues) + cd pub/genealogy/vendors/sq (Southern Queries) + cd pub/genealogy/groups (a few genealogical societies) + cd pub/genealogy/surnames (a few surnames) + cd pub/genealogy/software (software --may not be up yet) + + email: You can get the intro/index file by ftpmail by sending a + blank message to this address: 1880@genealogy.emcee.com + (A blank message contains no subject or text in the body.) + For more info about Genealogy Online, send a blank message to: + info@genealogy.emcee.com + To contact Mr. Cooley, email him at emcee@emcee.com + 15. In Washington DC +ftp: ftp.loc.gov + cd pub + get README (description of the directories) + get INDEX (Large listing of all the files) + This is the Library of Congress's ftp site. You will not be able to search the + library online. You must use telnet to do that. + (telnet: locis.loc.gov) +16. In Washington DC: +ftp: gateway.census.gov (US Census Bureau) + cd pub/genealogy + files include: + Soc.Roots.FAQ + faq.margaret.olson + fhc1-6.txt + gene-info.txt + genealogy.faq.draft + getting.started + ngstips.txt + tafel.txt + tiny-taf.txt + vitalrcds.txt + vitalrec.txt + Another directory is labeled images + Many other subdirectories for various subjects; do a dir after + you cd pub. + 17. In Washington DC: + ftp: ftp.ssa.gov + cd pub + Info on the Social Security Administration + 18. In New York + ftp: ftp.nysed.gov + cd pub + The index.txt explains that there are self-extracting files of: + The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Internet + Surfing the Internet + Zen and the Art of the Internet + All are good guides to the Internet. +19. In New York +ftp: ubvm.cc.buffalo.edu + cd NETTRAIN + get INTERNET BY-EMAIL + Guide for accessing the Internet's resources using only email. + email: listserv@ubvm.cc.buffalo.edu + In the body of the message type: + GET INTERNET BY-EMAIL NETTRAIN F=MAIL + (This file is copyrighted so I cannot upload it to CIS.) + 20. ftp: nysernet.org + cd israel + Files of possible interest to those doing Jewish research. + 21. EEF's Guide to the Internet + (was the Big Dummy's Guide to the Internet) 385K + ftp: ftp.eff.org + cd pub/Net_info/Guidebooks/EFF_Net_Guide/netguide.eff + gopher: gopher.eff.org + http://www.eff.org + America Online: keyword EFF + Compuserve: EFFSIG forum + 22. Internet Network Information Center (InterNIC). + InfoSource service provides information on how the Internet is organized + and used. To access the InfoSource collection on the Internet: + email: mailserv@is.internic.net + in body of message: help + (you will receive info on how to use mail server) + ftp: is.internic.net + telnet: is.internic.net + login: gopher + gopher ds.internic.net. +22. Global Heritage Center + A commercial enterprise with genealogy CD-roms + http://www.mindspring.com/~sledet/geneology/ghc.html + ftp: ftp.mindspring.com + cd ~sledet/geneology/text + email: sjledet@netcom.com (Sterling Ledet) ANONYMOUS FTP FTP stands for File Transfer Protocol. It is Anonymous when sites are set up for the public to make a connection with the remote computer and transfer or get files from it. I'm providing instructions here based on what works for my Internet account. Again, to use CIS's ftp service, type GO FPT. According to the newsrelease, you must be using one of the CIM interfaces to do FTP. If you do not have one of these, you can still do FTP -- by email (see below). There may be more info on CIS's FTP service in the file, FTPNET.ZIP found in CIS's INETFORUM in library 6. To use FTP, simply type: ftp (where hostname is something like ftp.cac.psu.edu) login: anonymous (usually) password: is usually your user ID (ie 1234.567@compuserve.com), sometimes guest The remote computer should tell you your login is ok. You should see an ftp> prompt when commands are expected. Once you're on, you can change directories, do directory listings, and get files. Files on ftp sites are usually arranged in directories, subdirectories, sub-subdirectories, and so on; you need to know where the file is before you can get it. I've given the hostnames and the pathways to genealogical info so you can ftp more easily. You'll have to do directory listings to find out the filenames. Some other commands you may need/want: remotehelp -- lists commands on remote computer help -- lists commands on your computer (ie Compuserve's) dir--lists filenames and directories in the current directory cd -- to change to the named directory get filename.extension -- transfers the file from the remote to the local computer, ie get genealog.welcome1 cdup--takes you back up the directory tree to the parent directory pwd--print working directory, with the complete path bye--breaks the connection and returns you to your host computer (Compuserve's) Here's a capture of an ftp session, with my notes in [ ]'s. (If you know which path you need to take, you can eliminate the unnecessary dir commands and simply type cd pub/genealogy/LDSpc after connecting to hipp.etsu.edu) #ftp hipp.etsu.edu [# is from my local host; I typed the hostname.] Please report $FTP problems/questions to "Online_Help" via $Message, or call 764-HELP. [this is a message from my host computer] um.cc.umich.edu FTP client (Version of Feb 9/94 14:20:09) 220 hipp FTP server (Version 5.60) ready. [the remote computer is ready] Name (192.43.199.82:HLEA): anonymous [it asks for my name] 331 Guest login ok, send ident as password. [anonymous is ok, what's my id] Password: [blanked out -- password is email address] 230 Guest login ok, access restrictions apply. ftp> dir [gives the listing of directories and files in current directory] 200 PORT command successful. 150 Opening ASCII mode data connection for /bin/ls. total 6 dr-x--x--x 2 0 root 512 Apr 10 1993 bin [dr at beginning...] drwx--x--x 2 0 root 512 Feb 25 1993 etc [..means directory] dr-xr-xr-x 13 500 root 512 Dec 9 1993 pub 226 Transfer complete. 192 bytes received in 0.53 seconds (0.353 Kbytes/sec) ftp> cd pub 250 CWD command successful. [change working directory -- ok] ftp> dir 200 PORT command successful. 150 Opening ASCII mode data connection for /bin/ls. total 28 [it sends the directory list] drwxr-xr-x 7 0 root 512 Nov 22 1993 class drwxr-xr-x 6 0 root 512 Apr 5 1993 genealogy drwxr-xr-x 4 0 root 512 Dec 17 1993 hc11 drwxr-xr-x 2 0 root 512 Feb 25 1993 hipp drwxr-xr-x 3 0 root 1024 Dec 9 1993 icom drwx-wx-wx 3 0 root 2560 May 31 23:03 incoming -rwxr--r-- 1 0 root 125 Mar 10 1993 last.crash drwxr-xr-x 2 0 root 512 Mar 2 10:09 misc drwxr-xr-x 7 0 root 512 Sep 15 1993 photo drwxr-xr-x 4 0 root 512 May 29 20:28 railroad drwxrwxr-x 3 0 root 512 Feb 8 07:38 satellite drwxr-xr-x 2 0 root 512 Feb 25 1993 weather 226 Transfer complete. 783 bytes received in 2.941 seconds (0.259 Kbytes/sec) ftp> cd genealogy [ - at the beginning means file] 250 CWD command successful. [ d means directory] ftp> dir 200 PORT command successful. 150 Opening ASCII mode data connection for /bin/ls. total 14 drwxrwxr-x 2 0 root 1536 Apr 5 1993 LDSmac [mac files?] drwxrwxr-x 2 0 root 1536 Mar 4 1993 LDSpc [pc files?] drwxrwxr-x 2 0 root 2048 Mar 4 1993 LDStext [plain text] drwxrwxr-x 2 0 root 512 Apr 5 1993 roots 226 Transfer complete. 265 bytes received in 0.814 seconds (0.317 Kbytes/sec) ftp> cd LDSpc 250 CWD command successful. ftp> dir 200 PORT command successful. 150 Opening ASCII mode data connection for /bin/ls. total 4502 [These are all files as indicated by the -r--r--r-- ] -r--r--r-- 1 0 root 27879 Feb 27 1993 AK-0802B.GRO -r--r--r-- 1 0 root 33779 Feb 27 1993 AL-0801B.GRO -r--r--r-- 1 0 root 32088 Feb 27 1993 AR-0804B.GRO -r--r--r-- 1 0 root 32286 Feb 27 1993 AZ-0803B.GRO -r--r--r-- 1 0 root 43806 Feb 27 1993 CA-0805B.GRO -r--r--r-- 1 0 root 34224 Feb 27 1993 CO-0806B.GRO -r--r--r-- 1 0 root 44177 Feb 27 1993 CT-0807B.GRO -r--r--r-- 1 0 root 34480 Feb 27 1993 DC-0809B.GRO -r--r--r-- 1 0 root 38135 Feb 27 1993 DE-0808B.GRO -r--r--r-- 1 0 root 38094 Feb 27 1993 FL-0810B.GRO -r--r--r-- 1 0 root 29616 Feb 27 1993 HI-0812B.GRO -r--r--r-- 1 0 root 36155 Feb 27 1993 IA-0816B.GRO -r--r--r-- 1 0 root 29105 Feb 27 1993 ID-0813B.GRO -r--r--r-- 1 0 root 43867 Feb 27 1993 IL-0814B.GRO -r--r--r-- 1 0 root 44100 Feb 27 1993 IN-0815B.GRO -r--r--r-- 1 0 root 32995 Feb 27 1993 KS-0817B.GRO -r--r--r-- 1 0 root 47776 Feb 27 1993 KY-0818B.GRO -r--r--r-- 1 0 root 40313 Feb 27 1993 LA-0819B.GRO -r--r--r-- 1 0 root 240677 Feb 27 1993 US-GEN.GRO -r--r--r-- 1 0 root 47790 Mar 2 1993 ga-0811b.gro -r--r--r-- 1 0 root 45390 Mar 2 1993 ma-0822b.gro -r--r--r-- 1 0 root 70949 Mar 2 1993 md-0821b.gro -r--r--r-- 1 0 root 46778 Mar 2 1993 me-0820b.gro -r--r--r-- 1 0 root 36720 Mar 2 1993 mi-0823b.gro -r--r--r-- 1 0 root 35155 Mar 2 1993 mn-0824b.gro -r--r--r-- 1 0 root 40537 Mar 2 1993 mo-0826b.gro -r--r--r-- 1 0 root 35643 Mar 2 1993 ms-0825b.gro -r--r--r-- 1 0 root 30341 Mar 2 1993 mt-0827b.gro -r--r--r-- 1 0 root 49731 Mar 2 1993 nc-0834b.gro -r--r--r-- 1 0 root 30967 Mar 2 1993 nd-0835b.gro -r--r--r-- 1 0 root 38363 Mar 2 1993 ne-0828b.gro -r--r--r-- 1 0 root 47774 Mar 2 1993 nh-0830b.gro -r--r--r-- 1 0 root 36827 Mar 2 1993 nm-0832b.gro -r--r--r-- 1 0 root 34943 Mar 2 1993 nv-0829b.gro -r--r--r-- 1 0 root 45537 Mar 2 1993 oh-0836b.gro -r--r--r-- 1 0 root 48916 Mar 2 1993 ok-0837b.gro -r--r--r-- 1 0 root 34467 Mar 2 1993 or-0838b.gro -r--r--r-- 1 0 root 66422 Mar 2 1993 pa-0839b.gro -r--r--r-- 1 0 root 49051 Mar 2 1993 ri-0840b.gro -r--r--r-- 1 0 root 53347 Mar 2 1993 sc-0841b.gro -r--r--r-- 1 0 root 33305 Mar 2 1993 sd-0842b.gro -r--r--r-- 1 0 root 41006 Mar 2 1993 tn-0843b.gro -r--r--r-- 1 0 root 50270 Mar 2 1993 tx-0844b.gro -r--r--r-- 1 0 root 108041 Mar 2 1993 ut-0845b.gro -r--r--r-- 1 0 root 75454 Mar 2 1993 va-0847b.gro -r--r--r-- 1 0 root 44197 Mar 2 1993 vt-0846b.gro -r--r--r-- 1 0 root 39821 Mar 2 1993 wa-0848b.gro -r--r--r-- 1 0 root 32256 Mar 2 1993 wi-0850b.gro 226 Transfer complete. 3370 bytes received in 13.815 seconds (0.238 Kbytes/sec) ftp> get va-0875b.gro 200 PORT command successful. 550 va-0875b.gro: No such file or directory. [Typo on the filename.] 200 PORT command successful. 150 Opening ASCII mode data connection for va-0847b.gro (75454 bytes). 226 Transfer complete. [File has been transferred.] 76379 bytes received in 17.881 seconds (4.171 Kbytes/sec) + [Bytes transferred should equal bytes received......] + [maybe I should have transferred in binary mode.] ftp> bye [I log off.] Note that there is a difference between lower and upper case. If you can tell that a file has been compressed, it's best to transfer it in binary mode. Type binary before typing a get command. + Compressed files have file extensions like zip, zoo, arc, exe, + com, lbr, pak, Z, gz, arj, and tar. FTP by Email To get the above file by email, you need to send the commands in a message to an email FTP server. There are several; sometimes they are very slow, which can be frustrating. ftpmail@decwrl.dec.com [MA?] (not supported; sometimes down for a week at a time.) bitftp@pucc.princeton.edu [NJ] bitftp@dearn or bitftp@vm.gmd.de (Europe only) ftpmail@ftp.uni-stuttgart.de [Germany] ftpmail@grasp.insa-lyon.fr [France] bitftp@plearn.edu.pl or bitftp@plearn (Europe) ftpmail@doc.ic.ac.uk [United Kingdom] ftpmail@sunsite.unc.edu [University of North Carolina?] Compuserve users of course will need to put the >INTERNET: in front of the above addresses. Address your CIS Mail message to the email FTP server nearest you. The mail server does not need a subject or a name for your message; you can put anything in these fields. In the body of your message type: open cd dir get quit is the name of the ftp site, such as ftp.cac.psu.edu is the path I've given in the list of ftp sites (You will need to do a dir to get the filenames. Then send another ftp email request without the dir for the file.) is the *exact* filename and extension of the file you want You can put as many as 100 commands after the open command. For more info on available commands, send an email to the email FTP server with a one word message: help. The server will send back its help file. When you send for the help file it seems to arrive quickly; the actual ftp'ing seems to take a while. You get a confirmation email telling you that the server got your request, how many "jobs" are ahead of you, and that ftps from the server's site get priority. The above directory listing and file can be gotten by email-FTP using a Mail message from CIS: To: >INTERNET:ftpmail@SunSITE.Unc.EDU Subject: Blank or anything you want open hipp.etsu.edu cd pub/genealogy/LDSpc dir get va-0847b.gro quit end of file