What HeritageQuest is
HeritageQuest Online is a genealogy database that many public libraries and some educational institutions make available to their patrons. It was originally a ProQuest product, and its records are now provided in partnership with Ancestry, which is why people often search for the two names together. You normally use it for free with a library card, so it is a way to search some Ancestry-sourced records without a personal subscription.
What is inside
Library descriptions of the service typically highlight:
- U.S. federal census records, with images and indexes covering many years from 1790 onward, depending on the current collection
- Family and local history books, digitized volumes that can include biographies and genealogies
- City directories for many U.S. cities over a long period
- Military records, such as Revolutionary War pension files
- Freedman’s Bank records from the 1860s and 1870s
- Other government and legal documents, including some probate and will records
Contents are updated over time, so check your library’s description or the database help pages before assuming a particular record set is included.
How HeritageQuest relates to Ancestry
They are separate products with a shared record source. HeritageQuest is aimed at libraries and focuses on U.S. records. Ancestry.com is the subscription website with a far larger and international collection, family trees and DNA testing. HeritageQuest generally lets you search records without building a family tree on the site, which is a simpler experience but means you save your findings elsewhere.
How to access it
- Check your public library’s website for “databases,” “genealogy” or “research.”
- Look for HeritageQuest Online in the list.
- Many libraries allow remote access with a library card number and sometimes a PIN; others restrict it to library computers.
- If your library does not offer it, ask whether another library in your state or region provides access to residents.
HeritageQuest, Ancestry Library Edition and Ancestry.com
| HeritageQuest | Ancestry Library Edition | Ancestry.com | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Typical access | Library card, often from home | Often in-library only | Paid subscription |
| Focus | U.S. records and local histories | Broader, including international collections | Broadest, plus trees and DNA |
| Family trees | Not the focus | Typically search-only | Yes |
Library policies vary, so these are general patterns rather than rules.
Tips for using HeritageQuest
- Search with fewer details first. Indexes contain transcription errors, so name variants and wide date ranges help.
- Save images and note the source information right away. See how to cite census records in Chicago style for the elements to capture.
- Use local history books to learn about a community, not only to find your ancestor’s name.
- Keep a log of what you searched; see how to organize genealogy research.
- Combine it with free sources such as FamilySearch; see finding pioneer ancestors on FamilySearch for an example of what that site offers.
Knowing the limits of U.S. records is also useful; see how far back genealogy records go.
Frequently asked questions
What is the study of family lineage called?
It is called genealogy. Family history is a related term that often includes stories and context as well as names and dates.
What are the differences between MyHeritage and AncestryDNA tests?
Both are consumer DNA tests that estimate ethnicity and find relatives who also tested. They differ in database size, regional strengths, reference data and how they present matches and trees. Match lists depend on who has tested with each company, so the right choice depends partly on where your relatives have tested. Check current features before buying.
What is the golden rule of genealogy?
Work from the known to the unknown, verifying each generation before moving to the next.
How can I find a family tree on Ancestry?
You can search public member trees through the Ancestry site’s search tools (see sharing family trees on Ancestry for how tree privacy works), though full access to trees and records generally requires a subscription. Treat other people’s trees as clues and confirm them with records.