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Find Anyone: People Search Toolkit

Every tool you need to locate, verify, and contact sources. From genealogy databases to professional directories, track down the people who make the story.

5 steps

1Family Tree Now

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2Ancestry Library Edition

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3Leadership Connect

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4ProfNet

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5Working Sources

Start with a free people search

Free tool that pulls addresses, phone numbers, relatives, and associates from public records — great first step.

💡 Pro tip: Note the listed relatives and associates — they can help you verify identity or find alternate contacts.

WebsiteFree

Family Tree Now

Journalism & Investigative Research

Free people search tool for journalists. Look up anyone by name, phone, or address to find contact info, relatives, and addresses. Useful for locating sources and verifying identities.

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Dig into historical records

Birth records, immigration documents, military records, and more — trace anyone's background across generations.

💡 Pro tip: NYU Library provides free access — don't pay for a personal subscription.

Database$229/yr value

Ancestry Library Edition

Social Sciences

Trace your family history through billions of genealogical records: census data, immigration records, military records, birth/death records, and historical newspapers. Free on campus — the full Ancestry.com experience without the subscription.

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Find government and nonprofit contacts

Detailed profiles of leaders in government, nonprofits, and public affairs — with direct contact info.

💡 Pro tip: Use the org charts to understand reporting structures and find the right person to contact.

Database$500/yr value

Leadership Connect

Journalism & Investigative Research

Database of leadership and staff profiles for government agencies, Congress, nonprofit organizations, and major U.S. corporations. Find decision-makers and their contact info.

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Send queries to experts

Submit a query describing what you need and get responses from credentialed experts — like Tinder for sources.

💡 Pro tip: Be specific about your deadline and story angle — you'll get more relevant responses.

WebsiteFree

ProfNet

Journalism & Investigative Research

Connect with expert sources for news stories. Create a free account to submit queries and receive responses from subject matter experts at universities, corporations, and organizations worldwide.

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Access journalist source database

Curated database of sources who have agreed to talk to journalists — saves hours of cold-calling.

💡 Pro tip: Check if sources have been quoted recently in other outlets to gauge their media comfort level.

WebsiteFree

Working Sources

Journalism & Investigative Research

Database of working-class people willing to speak with journalists, maintained by the Economic Hardship Reporting Project. Find authentic voices for stories about economic issues.

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