I created and I maintain The Olive Tree Genealogy pages alone. I don't have a staff and I don't have a regular core of volunteers. What I do have is a strong committment to FREE genealogical data for all researchers!

I began bringing primary source documents to the 'net in 1996 with one ship's list. The response from the genealogical community was so overwhelmingly positive that within a few months I had transcribed and put dozens more lists online. As of September 2000 the total number of ships lists that I have online is in the hundreds.

Without the past there is no present, nor can we build a future. Our ancestors made it possible for us to be here. Researching our ancestors, finding out their stories and getting to know them as real people who laughed and cried, had great triumphs and endured hardships, who loved and grieved as we do, is of utmost importance to me, and I hope to you. It is this quest, this search for people whose existence should be remembered, that motivated me to create The Olive Tree Genealogy pages -- and to bring as many primary sources online as possible.

If you would like to be a part of the Olive Tree's committment to the free sharing of resources, please read how you can become a Friend of The Olive Tree.

Disclaimer: Although every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy and reliability of the information on The Olive Tree Genealogy pages, all transcriptions are subject to human error, and researchers should always check the original source of any list.