Genealogy

Take your genealogy research a step further and turn it into family stories. Profile a person or a family in a compelling story to share with family or put in a blog.

I share how I made my family history research more productive, more educational, and more fun by using commonly available GPS tools.

Make the magic of Facebook groups work for you. You can find lots of help from other genealogists, create your own family groups, get photos restored or colorized by volunteers, research in history groups, and contact museums and libraries through this social media platform.

Unidentified photos of mystery ancestors are tempting to toss. Don't do it! Here are suggestions for what to do with those.

Newspapers.com is a wonderful resource for researchers. Genealogists love it! Here are tips from a librarian for getting the best results from your searches.

How do you use ThruLines and other new tools on Ancestry? Here's what I've figured out about these new features added by Ancestry in beta form in March 2019.

Learn how to research for gateway ancestors through the old Magna Carta Surety Barons whose descendants are the missing links to royal ancestry.

Will a subscription to Newspapers.com give you valuable information for your family history research? Here are examples of how it helped me, and why I recommend it.

Here's how to connect your DNA to your family tree on Ancestry.com so you can learn how you're related to your DNA relatives and unlock more about your heritage.

Since August 2016, I have been building a family tree and trying to identify my ancestors who originated in Europe. Based on successes and failures, I suggest a number of tips for doing genealogy research.

In this article, learn how you can download your raw DNA data from My Heritage, which you can then upload to various websites so you can compare results.

We had no control over our birth order, but scientists say the order in which we were born has a great deal to do with how successful we will become. Is that really true? Let's discuss birth order psychology research.

Puzzled about how to get the most out of your Ancestry DNA test? Here are some tips from an experienced genealogist.

Learn about what a typical consumer DNA kit requires, how much it costs, and what it can do for you. Get help deciding whether Ancestry, 23 and Me, or FamilyTree DNA is the best choice.

Do you know what a pedigree chart is? Know how to use one? Building your pedigree chart will have you on your way to building your family tree in no time. It's simple to make and a great way to "branch out" from your direct lineage to grow your tree.

Historical newspapers have been a great aid in my genealogy research. I have identified many cousins, great-uncles, great-aunts, and also discovered some very surprising news about my great-grandpa.

This article presumes that the research will produce knowledge of at least three generations past. How can this affect the well-being of older people? Probably in more ways than expected. Consider learning about your genealogy today!

How to use the various census records when researching your family's history.

Learn to fill out the most basic form used in tracing family history. Capture the details of your ancestors' families in an easy-to-find format.

How to determine if your aunt is your great aunt or grand aunt, and whether you have met a first cousin or second cousin at the family reunion.

Tips for beginners on where to look for genealogical information, where to start, and how to get it all organized.

Building a family tree can a be stressful, yet fulfilling endeavor. Here I give some tips that I learned in my journey to create my family tree.

This article describes my experience of searching for ancestors in Austria, Germany, and Switzerland. It also lists some of my joys and sorrows in using online genealogy services.

Did you know that not all genealogy information is posted online? Use these tips to collect what your family members know before it's too late and the information is lost to time.

When researching your ancestry, you must look past the story of your ancestors' lives and study the events that were happening around them during the era in which they lived. The knowledge of simple historical facts can open up avenues in your research that you may not have otherwise considered.

Tracing one’s family history is one of the most popular hobbies among Americans. I have assembled 10 genealogy sites that can greatly help your family history search.

It's difficult explaining a complex family history. Using screenshots with vintage photos or with a family tree lets you add notes, arrows and boxes to clarify. It's a great way to feature research.

Applying for Italian citizenship jure sanguinis isn’t easy, especially when you need birth certificates from Italy. Here’s how to request birth certificates from Italy.

Do you have Irish roots? Have you put off trying to trace them because you thought tracing Irish ancestry was impossible? With more records appearing online, it is becoming easier to trace your Irish ancestors.

A great way to find new clues while researching your family history is to visit old cemeteries. A lot of regions may not have death records available, so gravesites are the next best thing for family history investigators to find out more information.

This guide shows you how to use the numerous historical records that are now available free online, including the 1901 and 1911 censuses, church and civil records, gravestone inscriptions, ship passenger records, and large-scale townland maps.

Second cousins, third cousins, once removed, twice removed - find out what it all means. You do not have to be an expert genealogist to figure out which cousin is which. Family Relationship Chart breaks it all down.

A list of interview questions is provided for conducting a genealogy or family history interview. It is geared towards getting information about the individual, about the family, and about history.

Looking for a long-lost relative? Sometimes even the pros hit a brick wall. Here are some of the places they search for ancestors from way back when, including the census, church records, online databases, court and criminal records, and more.

A family crest or coat of arms distinguishes an individual or a family from others and is often displayed proudly on clothing, flags, and other items. Learn how to find your family's coat of arms or how to create your own!

Variations in the spelling of your ancestors' first names and surnames can cause a lot of trouble for you when you are researching your family history. This article shares tips for overcoming the hurdles caused by spelling variations and nicknames.

Learning how extended families moved from place to place in the past can become a key to unlocking missing parts of your family heritage. Here are tips for researching your ancestors based on how their extended family migrated.

Did you know that you can use online tools to gather information for official military records? All you need is some information about your veteran to discover fascinating details from their service records.

Need help with genealogical research? The maternal lines of your ancestry may be difficult to research, but there are ways to uncover these branches in your family tree. Here's some advice on how to overcome "brick walls" in your family tree related to missing maiden names.

A beginner's guide on how to do genealogy research online. Researching your ancestry is an interesting pastime and can lead to many fascinating discoveries. The internet can be a very useful tool for those who would like to learn more about their family history.

Tips for how to find out whether your ancestors fought in the Civil War. The Civil War impacted the lives of a large part of the American population. There are many resources online that can help you discover whether any of your ancestors played a part in this conflict.