A Hidden Resource for Historic Genealogy Software

A few months ago, while researching ways to improve my process of transcribing US Censuses, I stumbled on a site with a bit of a different twist. I was looking for information on a discontinued program (called GenScriber) and this site had a detailed write-up as well as download links. While I didn't end up pursuing the software, I did take time to poke around the website and I was impressed. GenealogySoftware.net is dedicated to—you guessed it!—genealogy software, with a focus on historical software (although it does reference some newer updates as well). From the website:

GenealogySoftware.net will be at its core, a database of genealogy and genealogy-related software (programs, applications, whatever term you want to use) – a collection of information and news about genealogy software stretching from the very humble beginnings of genealogy programs in the 1970s up through the 2020s.

The premise behind the site appears simple. There are family historians who've been using the same software for many years. Some still utilize programs no longer updated, or even available. Or perhaps they have old files they can no longer access (floppy disks anyone?). Just because software is no longer "current" doesn't make the files created in it any less valuable. Family history is still family history. So if your Great Aunt Edna, who still used her old DOS computer for her research, left you all her research in her will...maybe this site will help you access it! Or perhaps like me, you were looking for a program to assist with a specific task. Just because software is no longer updated or distributed doesn't mean it wasn't very good at doing the task it was designed for. It's up to individual users to choose the software and utilities for their personal needs. New and shiny doesn't always mean better. 

The site creator attempts to acquire copies of all the software he comes across. While the site does not host software downloads or user manuals, unless given approval from the developer to do so, they do provide links or other potential ways of sourcing older software. They do not include links to third-party sites offering unauthorized downloads. From the website, "We want to actively promote the development and distribution of genealogy software, but only through the appropriate (and approved) methods." They also attempt to remain neutral. They aren't going to tell you "this is the best software for....." Their goal is simply to provide information for upwards of 1000 different applications.

It appears this site was created in 2024, so it's not terribly old. But there have been no recent updates I could find since spring of 2025 (though the footer of the site does say 2026). I did try to find the creator on other blogs and social media, but those too have had little or no activity. I'm not sure if there will be future updates (I hope so!) but nonetheless, the historical value is still the same. 

Whether you're looking for information on an old piece of software you used to use, or are looking for software for a specific purpose, when it comes to genealogy software and applications, you can probably find information of use. Despite not being 100% up to date, I've included the link in my Genealogy Toolbox. So if Great Aunt Edna leaves you her genealogy research, maybe this site can be of use to you.

Disclosure: I used ChatGPT to assist with a title and search description. All content is my own.

Image by PublicDomainPictures from Pixabay