Genealogy Research Help and How-To

Whether you just started building your family tree or having been conducting family history research for years, our guides will help you find more details about your ancestors.

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Hidden Clues in First Names

In this guide, we will take a look at just a sample of the cultural naming patterns for various regions and groups in Europe, a Colonial American tradition, as well as some Jewish traditions from the Middle East.

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10 Minutes to Improve Your Tree

Tracing your family’s history can easily become a lifelong pursuit. Locating relevant records, uncovering family stories and overcoming brick walls can take years, or even decades. Therefore, you may wonder what you can possibly accomplish in a mere ten minutes. In reality, though, this short amount of time can be more than enough to make real improvements to your family tree.

a person raising their arms in the air with text overlay that reads unleash the power of research logs

The Power of Research Logs

Research logs have long been one of the most important tools for the organized genealogist, for good reason.

the cover of how to start your international geneatoy research, with colorful flags

International Research

Much like an ancestor disembarking in New York City and asking “What are my next steps in this new land?” international research can be confusing and daunting. But the journey is worth the trouble, and with some guidance you might be surprised what you can discover.

a pile of papers with the words, here's what to do when you infert someone else's geneal

Inherited Genealogy? Here's What to Do

Inheriting someone else’s genealogy research can be both a gift and a curse. So before you dig into Great Aunt Martha’s trove of tattered treasures, check out these tips and best practices.

a woman sitting in front of a laptop computer with the words, 10 genealy frustrations and how to overcome them

We've All Been There ...

If you’re just starting to build your family tree, or if you’ve simply put it aside due to frustration or defeat, listen up. You’re not alone in your family history challenges, and perhaps having a better understanding up front of what to expect down the road will help you overcome them.

an image with the words, did you know? you can access info from the 1960 - 2010 u s census

Family History Projects

Genealogy Organization

Genealogy Scrapbooking

Genealogy Search

You Can Access Info From the 1960 - 2010 Census?

What if I told you there’s a way to access certain details of the next six yet-to-be-released census records — namely, the 1960 through 2010 versions? Wouldn’t that raise your genealogical curiosity?

there's everything you need to know about the 1950 u s census

Exploring the 1950 Census

The 1950 United States Federal Census was released by the National Archives and Records Administration on April 1, 2022. Use this guide to discover how to find and use these fascinating records in your family history research.

a red marker with the words start here and an image of a map on it

Stop Spending

Genealogy Free

History Timeline

Stop Wasting Valuable Research Time

As it turns out, there is an incredibly straightforward and comprehensive resource that can tell you exactly what records are available for every county in every state in the United States — and plenty of other geographical areas, too.

a tree with the text beyond the tree 4 enduring ways to share your family history research

Pedigree Chart

4 Ways to Share Your Genealogy Research

Family history research is never complete. There are always more records to be discovered, photos to be identified, and additional connections to uncover. But maybe you’ve reached the point when you want to share what you’ve learned so far.

tax records with the title how to research your ancestor's using tax records

Finding Your Family in Tax Records

United States tax records date back to colonial days and can bridge gaps left by decennial censuses and other types of record keeping. The annual nature of tax collection gives researchers an excellent source that can be used to trace their ancestor’s lives and discover valuable details not apparent in other kinds of documents.

Free Genealogy Records

Japanese Internment

List Of Websites

9 Places to Find Military Records

We’ve pulled together a helpful list of websites where you can find military and war related record access free of charge.

a poster with the words who counts as family in your family tree?

Step Parenting

The Question

To Leave

Who Counts As Family?

As we all know, family is an incredibly complex concept with biological, legal, social and emotional elements. And, for this reason, the question of who counts as family in a family tree is far from simple.

Deciphering Old Handwriting

Depending on the condition of the document, its date and the handwriting therein, these joyous finds can be beyond frustrating to read. Upon first glance, they seem to have been written in a foreign language, even though you know they are in English. Here are some tips to make the job of reading and transcribing old documents easier.

a printer with the text 4 ways to print your family tree and reason you shouldn't

Cloud Based

Move On

To Print, Or Not To Print?

In this article I will walk you through how to print off your family tree, for those moments when it is needed, and then move on to easier and better ways to share your valuable research that aren’t so taxing on the environment (and your time).