Archive Compass - Know where to look.

About

Built by record hunters

$Built by record hunters$

We started as a small research group helping neighbors find grandparents in scattered ship manifests. The turning point came when a client’s parish moved counties twice in thirty years—every index was wrong. We mapped the jurisdiction changes and found her great-grandmother in forty minutes. That map became our first guide. Since then, we’ve compiled regional portals, tested thousands of collection entry points, and tracked where digitization is actually live. We’ve made every mistake, so you don’t have to repeat them. Our team blends librarianship, data wrangling, and a love of footnotes to keep the details straight.

Features

What We Offer

Jurisdiction-smart Record Guides

We encode boundary shifts and archive practices, then point you to the correct repository page. Most users skip tangled index pages and land on a collection that actually fits their timeframe.

Digitization Status by Region

We monitor repository updates and field reports to tag collections with precise access status. Avoid wasted trips and prioritize sources available now, trimming wait times by days or weeks.

Name Variant and Alias Hints

We suggest phonetic equivalents and regional conventions, improving hit rates on tricky surnames and given names. Fewer misses mean fewer false leads and more confident, document-backed conclusions that stand up in citations.

Deep Links to Collection Entry Points

Skip six to eight clicks per search and land where the records actually begin. Partners may require subscriptions; we mark free windows and trial periods clearly to save money.

Side-by-Side Coverage Compare

We chart date spans, jurisdictions, and index quality so you avoid redundant paywalls. Typical users save $18.40 per month by dropping overlaps without losing access.

Step-by-Step Search Tutorials

Each tutorial shows example queries, filters, and pitfalls with screenshots and timing estimates. Use them live while you search to reduce guesswork and avoid time-sinks.

Research Notebook and Saved Paths

Capture the exact path that worked, including filters and links, and revisit it later. Share a read-only link with collaborators, keeping everyone aligned without messy spreadsheets.

Alerts for New Digitizations

Choose regions and record types; we notify you within 24 hours of verified updates. Never miss a newly scanned register or index that unlocks a stalled ancestor.

Citation-Ready Source Details

Every collection page lists repository, call number, date span, and access notes in a consistent format. Export to your research tool to keep documentation clean when you present findings.

Process

How It Works

1

Describe your target record

Enter a person, place, and record type with an approximate date range. In about two minutes, we translate that into jurisdictions and likely repositories, easing the uncertainty.

2

Compare sources and choose your path

We present prioritized collections with digitization status, index quality notes, and coverage gaps. Spend five to seven minutes reviewing, then pick the path that feels most promising.

3

Go direct to the right collection

Click our deep link to open the exact collection page with suggested filters prepped. Relief hits fast as you see records instead of dead ends in under ten minutes.

4

Save, track, and share

Save the steps that worked, add notes, and set alerts for related collections. Future you and collaborators can repeat success in seconds, with less second-guessing.

Pricing

Starter

Free

Explore the directory and get guided links for common record types.

✓ Access jurisdiction-smart directory for major regions
✓ Three saved searches and notes
✓ Weekly newsletter with new digitizations
✓ Basic tutorials for top record sets

Get Started

⭐ Most Popular

Researcher

$9/month

Everything you need to move from guesswork to sources, faster.

✓ Unlimited saved searches and research notebook
✓ Full library of premium cheat-sheets (PDF)
✓ Side-by-side coverage compare and index quality notes
✓ Digitization alerts within 24 hours
✓ Citation-ready export and priority email support

Get Started

Pro Team

$29/month

Built for libraries, societies, and pros collaborating on active research.

✓ Five seats with shared projects
✓ Read-only share links for patrons or clients
✓ Export citations and paths to CSV
✓ Quarterly editorial briefings for your region
✓ Invoice billing and librarian resources

Get Started

Testimonials

What People Say

“

Our students needed 1910s parish registers split by old county lines. This finally explained the boundary change and linked the right diocese. We cut prep time by about 70 minutes and avoided ordering the wrong microfilm.

A

Alina Park

Archives Librarian

“

I was torn between two immigration sites for 1921 arrivals. The compare view showed overlapping coverage and better indexing on one. I saved $24 that month and found my great-grandfather’s manifest in 11 minutes.

D

Don R.

Student Researcher

“

Name variants are everything in my work. The alias hints boosted my hit rate on a stubborn Basque surname by roughly 33%. I now start every client intake with their jurisdiction guide.

M

Miguel Ortega

Professional Genealogist

“

Their digitization flags prevented a three-hour drive for a probate file that went online last week. The alert landed the same day it published. Huge morale boost for our volunteer team.

P

Priya Shah

Records Volunteer

“

I used to guess my way through indexes. Now I follow the tutorial and deep link. Two brick walls cracked in one weekend, and I canceled a redundant subscription that would’ve cost me $79.

H

Helen McCoy

Family Historian

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Do you replace paid genealogy subscriptions?

No. We show you which database or archive is most likely to hold your record and link you directly. Many collections require a subscription to view images. Our value is saving time and helping you avoid paying for overlapping access you don’t need.

How do you make money, and is there bias?

We earn affiliate commissions from programs such as Ancestry, MyHeritage, Findmypast, GenealogyBank, Archives.com, and Newspapers.com, plus optional premium memberships. We label free versus paid options clearly, and our compare view shows overlaps so you can minimize spend.

What’s the typical ROI for the Researcher plan?

In customer surveys, many users report saving about 63 minutes per project and trimming roughly $18 per month in redundant subscriptions. If your time is valuable or you manage multiple trees, the plan generally pays for itself within the first month.

How current is your digitization status?

We monitor repository updates and field reports daily. When a collection changes access, we flag it and update the guide, typically within 24 hours. You can also subscribe to alerts for specific regions or record types.

How are you different from free listicles and forum posts?

Lists often miss jurisdiction changes and link to homepages instead of collection entry points. Our guides encode boundary shifts, index quirks, and direct links. You spend less time clicking around and more time looking at records.

Is this right for me?

If you want a clear path to likely sources with less trial-and-error, yes. It might NOT be for you if you prefer unguided exploration, rarely use subscriptions, or only research within a single, well-known collection.

What about privacy and security?

We store only the search notes and saved paths you create. Payment processing is handled by vetted providers; we never see full card details. You can delete your account and data from settings at any time.

Can libraries and societies use this with patrons?

Yes. The Pro Team plan supports five seats, shared projects, and read-only links for patrons. Many teams use it at a reference desk to quickly route visitors to the right collection.

Do you cover non-English records and name variants?

Yes. Our guides include regional naming conventions and common transliterations. We’re continually expanding beyond English-language collections and welcome suggestions for areas to prioritize next.

Resources