The last of the 13 colonies, Georgia was established in 1732 and founded and ruled by a Board of Trustees. Georgia was the only colony where slavery was banned at it's formation. After the trustees lifted the ban on slavery, Georgia moved forward establishing a coastal plantation economy based on rice and cotton. Georgia's Native American population was forced into exile during the 1830's which become known as the "Trail of Tears." By 1860, Georgia was more industrialized and was the second largest state east of the Mississippi River. Georgia became the fifth state to secede from the Union, playing a crucial role in the secession crisis and the formation of the Confederacy.

This guide offers a selection of resources and strategies for Georgia local history and genealogy research. These include the print and digital collections of the Library of Congress, as well as external repositories and web sites key to finding forebears in the Peach state.