Research Strategies

The following articles are about Research Strategies

Don Edwards

Reborn Records!

by Don Edwards | Feb 21, 2012

How do you find alternate records for those destroyed by fires, floods, storms, earthquakes or wars? Can Civil War... Read More

David Haas

Magical Hidden Secrets In Your Old Photos

by David Haas | Feb 16, 2012

How tall was an ancestor in a photo? Does that location still exist? Here are the tools to find out.... Read More

Sarah More

Finding Those Elusive Ancestors In St. Lawrence County, New York

by Sarah More | Feb 9, 2012

If you have been doing genealogical research for awhile then you know there are several standard sources worth searching... Read More

Claudia Breland

Essential Records You Won’t Find Online

by Claudia Breland | Feb 7, 2012

Consider these words: "But Sir I would implore your Aid and assistance, as far as you can to A... Read More

Lisa Alzo

Using The iPad For Genealogy And Writing

by Lisa Alzo | Feb 2, 2012

The iPad 2 is one hot item. For the longest time, Apple and other retail stores couldn't keep them... Read More

Kathleen Brandt

Genealogy Research vs. Privacy Restrictions

by Kathleen Brandt | Jan 31, 2012

As family historians we know the importance of vital records - birth, death, marriages, and divorces. These life events,... Read More

Lou Liberty

Past The Guardian, Through The Labyrinth: Navigating School Archives

by Lou Liberty | Jan 26, 2012

All adventures begin with a "call", an urge to explore, discover and bring back Treasure. If the call is answered,... Read More

Ruth Lang

The Stories Your House Could Tell: Researching The History Of Your House

by Ruth Lang | Jan 24, 2012

If you live in or have recently purchased an older or historic house, you might be curious about the... Read More

Heather Kramer

Ancestral Archeology: Using Google Maps To Recreate Your Ancestor’s Neighborhood

by Heather Kramer | Jan 17, 2012

When researching family history, genealogists go to great lengths to find newspaper articles, records, photographs, and other items to... Read More

Harold Henderson

Climbing The Spiral Staircase: Learning Genealogy

by Harold Henderson | Jan 12, 2012

As genealogists, we have all spent time learning which records to trust and which not to trust. We might start... Read More

Diane L. Richard

FamilySearch Centers – Have You Visited One Lately?

by Diane L. Richard | Jan 5, 2012

My Love Affair With FamilySearch Centers I am writing this as I once again recently spend time at my local... Read More

Thomas MacEntee

10 Genealogy New Year’s Resolutions for 2012 You Can Keep!

by Thomas MacEntee | Jan 2, 2012

The end of one year and the beginning of another is often a time for reflection. Most people ponder... Read More

Lisa Alzo

Beyond The Arrival Date: Extracting More From Immigrant Passenger Lists

by Lisa Alzo | Dec 20, 2011

Passenger lists provide genealogists with key information about an ancestor's arrival in the New World. Once located, these records... Read More

Jeannette Piecznski

Learning From Great Grandmother’s Hope Chest

by Jeannette Piecznski | Dec 15, 2011

Great grandmother's hope chest holds beautiful old clothes and photographs. As a genealogist we love to learn about them... Read More

Lilly Cleveland

Following My Itinerant Minister Through Cyberspace

by Lilly Cleveland | Dec 9, 2011

When I began researching Seth Ewer, Baptist Minister, I was stumped. Nothing turned up in my favorite places using... Read More

Mike Henry

Keep Them Turning The Page: Creating Biographies Your Children Will Read

by Mike Henry | Dec 8, 2011

What is it about genealogy that makes people choke? I used to see it all the time - the... Read More

Susan Jackman

The Good News About Taxes: Finding And Using Tax Records In Your Genealogical Research

by Susan Jackman | Dec 6, 2011

Taxes go so far back that we read about them in the Bible. It would seem there could be... Read More

Gena P. Ortega

5 Maps Sites Every Genealogist Should Know

by Gena P. Ortega | Dec 2, 2011

Are you using maps when you research your ancestors? Maps are an essential part of your genealogical research for... Read More

David Haas

Photo Organization

by David Haas | Nov 17, 2011

Documentation, Forms and Proofs on Fire. ... Better off on "File"; Protect the contents and integrity of your work using... Read More

Claudia Breland

Brick Wall Breakthrough: Follow The Breadcrumbs On & Offline

by Claudia Breland | Nov 14, 2011

When I first started exploring my family history, I was insatiable - I couldn't find enough family records. When... Read More

Michael Pollock

Howell To Reed Difficult Handrighting

by Michael Pollock | Nov 3, 2011

Three words in the title to this article, "howell", "reed" and "handrighting", are intentionally misspelled to call my readers'... Read More

Lisa Alzo

Getting To The Good Stuff: Locating The Richest Genealogical Resources

by Lisa Alzo | Nov 1, 2011

Beginning genealogists often make the mistake of plugging the names of their ancestors into online databases, looking for any... Read More

Gena P. Ortega

Become A Searchologist: How To Conduct Better Searches That Yield Results

by Gena P. Ortega | Oct 20, 2011

Beginning genealogists are introduced to research by typing a surname or a full name into a genealogy website and... Read More

Tina Jones

Identifying Slave Ancestors In Famous Historical Oil Paintings

by Tina Jones | Oct 7, 2011

Early slave owner portraits reflect the complex and layered story of black people in the United States. Many early... Read More

Diane L. Richard

Borders: Just A Line On a Map

by Diane L. Richard | Oct 6, 2011

More often than not, whether you had a family living near a county or stateborder, there is a good chance... Read More

Lou Liberty

Hidden Treasures In Overlooked Repositories

by Lou Liberty | Oct 4, 2011

Question: What do the following have in common: 1) an American first edition of Winnie The Pooh accompanied by... Read More

Ruth Lang

Stake Your Claim In California Gold Rush Records

by Ruth Lang | Sep 29, 2011

The California Gold Rush was a pivotal time in American history. Soon after gold was discovered in January of... Read More

Susan Jackman

Where Is Your Proof?

by Susan Jackman | Sep 27, 2011

So you have all the evidence, but now you need to organize your findings in a way so that... Read More

Thomas MacEntee

How To Collaborate With Other Genealogists

by Thomas MacEntee | Sep 23, 2011

A sense of connectedness is what many of us in the field of genealogy experience once we get started... Read More

Harold Henderson

Genealogy & Property Records

by Harold Henderson | Sep 15, 2011

The property deeds,  mortgages, and other legal instruments filed in county courthouses are the superheroes of genealogy. They may... Read More

Harold Henderson

Indirect Evidence To The Rescue

by Harold Henderson | Aug 25, 2011

How I wish I could talk with my wife's great-great-great grandfather Samuel Wesley Boren (1828-1897) for a few minutes.... Read More

Michael Pollock

Digging Up Bones: Locating Cemeteries And Identifying People In Them

by Michael Pollock | Aug 2, 2011

Most people who have done any significant amount of genealogy research will have visited at least one cemetery. Such... Read More

Gena P. Ortega

Steps For Genealogy Research In Any State

by Gena P. Ortega | Jul 26, 2011

It can be difficult to research an ancestor who lived in a state that you are not familiar with. Maybe... Read More

Diane L. Richard

Civilian Conservation Corps: Records From The Great Depression Era

by Diane L. Richard | Jul 12, 2011

A group of records often overlooked by researchers are the records of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) programs, a "New... Read More

Kathleen Brandt

Coat Of Arms & Family Research

by Kathleen Brandt | Jul 1, 2011

If the coat of arms hanging prominently on your wall is authentic, it may offer some of the most interesting... Read More

Thomas MacEntee

How To Attend A Genealogy Webinar

by Thomas MacEntee | Jun 30, 2011

Often what seems "all the rage" and "so easy for others" can be confusing and new-fangled for others. Here's... Read More

Gena P. Ortega

Finding Newspapers: Digitized, Microfilmed And Indexed

by Gena P. Ortega | Jun 28, 2011

There's no doubt that newspapers are an important resource for genealogists. But the problem for most researchers is where to... Read More

Patricia Thompson

Postage Stamp Genealogy

by Patricia Thompson | Jun 23, 2011

What can you buy for 44¢ in today's economy? Not a cup of coffee or a soda or even a... Read More

Lisa Alzo

Spring Clean Your Genealogy: Six Steps to Getting Started

by Lisa Alzo | Jun 21, 2011

When springtime finally arrives many of us take to sprucing up our homes and yards. But it's also a good... Read More

Michael Pollock

The Importance Of Using Original Records

by Michael Pollock | Jun 16, 2011

Most people have been taught in school to find information primarily in a published source, be it a newspaper, magazine,... Read More

Thomas MacEntee

Google Books for Genealogy

by Thomas MacEntee | Jun 14, 2011

There have been many modern changes to the way in which we read books - just look at the popularity... Read More

Diane L. Richard

The Freedmen’s Bureau Records – Research Your Southern Ancestors

by Diane L. Richard | Jun 9, 2011

If your ancestors lived from DE to TX during and just after the civil War, you do want to check... Read More

Gena P. Ortega

Family History Research At University Libraries

by Gena P. Ortega | May 19, 2011

Go back to school! Well you won't really have to attend a school but one place overlooked by genealogists is the university library. Read More

Lisa Alzo

Where is That? Strategies for Finding Your Ancestral Town or Village

by Lisa Alzo | May 16, 2011

Many genealogists eventually hope to "cross the pond" to find out more about their ancestral origins. In order to successfully make that jump, there are two key pieces of information you will need. Read More

Maureen A. Taylor

Tots and Teens: Family History For Children

by Maureen A. Taylor | May 5, 2011

Genealogy is a hobby for the whole family. Gone are the days of it being an adults only pursuit. While there are no statistics on the number of kids involved in learning more... Read More

Gena P. Ortega

Getting A Genealogical Education

by Gena P. Ortega | Apr 28, 2011

When you first begin researching your family history everything is exciting; with all the instant matches on genealogy subscription sites and finding new cousins with the same interest in your ancestors... Read More

Lisa Alzo

Finding Clues About Your Ancestors In Fraternal & Social Organization Records

by Lisa Alzo | Apr 1, 2011

Using social media for genealogy is all the rage. We're flocking to Blogs, and sites such as Facebook, GenealogyWise, and... Read More

Craig Manson

How I Discovered That The First Shot Of The Civil War Fired In Michigan

by Craig Manson | Mar 25, 2011

Unraveling a family mystery can sometimes lead to a significant historical event. As I tried to understand a pair of... Read More

Maureen A. Taylor

Photos For Free...Or Nearly Free

by Maureen A. Taylor | Mar 18, 2011

In this visual society, pictures surround us, but knowing where to find pictures you can actually use in your... Read More

Debra Clifford

Genealogy Antiques: Finding Your 19th c. Antique Paper & Photography

by Debra Clifford | Mar 10, 2011

Was your Great Grandfather a shoemaker or carriage maker? Your Great Grandmother a seamstress? Did your family own a store,... Read More

Lisa Alzo

Diseases, Disasters & Distress: Bad For Your Ancestors, Good For Your Genealogical Research

by Lisa Alzo | Feb 3, 2011

Wouldn't it be nice if all the branches on our family trees were filled with bright shiny leaves that... Read More

Daniel M. Lynch

Google Filtering Techniques For Family History Research

by Daniel M. Lynch | Jan 28, 2011

Google has proven to be an indispensable tool for family history enthusiasts worldwide, but there are several filtering techniques... Read More

Kathleen Brandt

Accessing Family Treasures In The National Archives

by Kathleen Brandt | Jan 13, 2011

Visiting the National Archives Records Administration (NARA) in Washington D.C., or one of the regional NARA branches, can be... Read More

Amy Coffin

Genealogy Research In Special Collections

by Amy Coffin | Dec 16, 2010

Genealogy research often revolves around birth, marriage, death and census records. Find those details and move back to the next... Read More

Colleen Fitzpatrick

Your DNA Autobiography

by Colleen Fitzpatrick | Dec 2, 2010

Genealogists are familiar with the value of reference materials such as biographies and online databases. A will or probate record,... Read More

Thomas MacEntee

Genealogical Societies: They Do Your Genealogy Good

by Thomas MacEntee | Nov 4, 2010

Just as humans were not meant to lead solitary lives, it is also true that genealogists can't function without... Read More

Schelly Talalay Dardashti

The Myth: Truths Of Jewish Genealogy

by Schelly Talalay Dardashti | Oct 21, 2010

Sorry to burst your bubble, but it simply isn't true. Your family name was never changed at Ellis Island.... Read More

Colleen Fitzpatrick

What Is Forensic Genealogy?

by Colleen Fitzpatrick | Oct 7, 2010

Who? What? When? Where? Are these the words of a genealogist researching his family tree or a forensic scientist solving... Read More

Andy Likins

Digging Into Cemetery Research

by Andy Likins | Sep 23, 2010

Cemeteries give me chills. No, not because I think they are creepy or I fear a zombie attack. But chills, because they are such a tangible link to our ancestors. Imagine placing flowers at the grave of your fourth great-grandmother. You may be reenacting a scene that occurred Read More

Thomas MacEntee

A Trip To Bountiful Genealogy Research

by Thomas MacEntee | Sep 9, 2010

As you progress from beginning genealogist to the intermediate level, you realize that not all research can be done... Read More

Lisa Alzo

Introduction To Researching Eastern European Ancestors

by Lisa Alzo | Aug 26, 2010

Tracing ancestors back to Eastern Europe can be intimidating for first time researchers. Perhaps you've thought, "It's too difficult, or... Read More

Diane L. Richard

Tips To Help You Find Seemingly "Lost" Ancestors

by Diane L. Richard | Jul 30, 2010

So, for one reason or another, you have "lost" your ancestor - now what? What you do depends on some of the possible reasons that they are "lost" and the time period and locale(s) involved. Here are a few tricks and tips to help you find an ancestor that appears to be "lost". Read More

Lisa Lee

Tracing Your Ancestors From The Underground Railroad

by Lisa Lee | Jul 15, 2010

The Underground Railroad (UGRR) was an informal network of individuals loosely organized to aid the escape of American slaves out of slave-holding states and into free Northern states, Canada and South into Mexico. Read More

Thomas MacEntee

It’s 10 PM - Do You Know Where Your Genealogy Data Is?

by Thomas MacEntee | Jul 3, 2010

After years of researching your family history with visits to local repositories, field trips to ancestral lands or far-flung cemeteries, and hours spent online tracking clues, can you quickly answer the following questions Read More

Roberta King

Homestead Records: A Glimpse Into Your Ancestor's Past

by Roberta King | Jun 21, 2010

The Homestead Act of 1862, considered one of the most significant pieces of legislation in American history, persuaded eastern-European immigrants, adventure-seekers in the East, and women seeking independence to embrace the notion of founding a home place Read More

Colleen Fitzpatrick

How To Identify A Photograph Without Looking At The Picture

by Colleen Fitzpatrick | Jun 4, 2010

There are many ways to squeeze information from a photograph, some of which have nothing to do with the contents of the picture. So if you are expecting an article on how to identify a photo by the clothes the people are wearing (or anything else you see in the picture), you are in for a surprise. Read More

Maureen A. Taylor

Family Reunion Sense and Sensibility

by Maureen A. Taylor | May 21, 2010

Every other year, my husband's family gathers for a reunion. It's the glue that keeps the family together. They've been doing this since the 1950s. For the planners it's an exhausting two-year process that culminates in a week long hug fest that welcomes generations of cousins from around the globe. Read More

Lisa Alzo

Five Strategies For Finding Forgotten Females

by Lisa Alzo | May 6, 2010

Every genealogist has at least one. I'm talking about the "Lost Lizzie" or "Elusive Edna" whose maiden name is left blank in your family tree. Indeed researching female ancestors can be one of the most challenging tasks in genealogy, but yet one of the most important to help trace family lines to the previous generations. Read More

Sherri Bradley

Volunteer Projects Help Family Historians

by Sherri Bradley | Apr 23, 2010

Picture this...you're just starting your quest for information on your family. What you might not know is that there are many valuable free resources that can help you begin your search. I've listed several volunteer driven websites below that are dedicated to making family history resources free to everyone. I encourage you to use these tools and help out by becoming a volunteer! Read More

Amy Coffin

Genealogy Resources At The Public Library

by Amy Coffin | Apr 2, 2010

There is a great genealogy resource near you. It contains free accessed to the latest "how-to" books, magazines and historical materials. Computers with the latest genealogy databases are waiting for you to use them. There are classes, lessons, special events and a staff whose sole purpose is to help you find the information you need. Read More

Diane L. Richard

Mobile Ancestors: Why They Moved And How To Find Them

by Diane L. Richard | Mar 19, 2010

Our ancestors moved - A LOT! Though there were families who remained in the same town or nearby for generations, there were also a lot of people who moved. And, many of those people might have made a few stops along the way to their ultimate destination, only staying a few years here and there. Read More

Thomas MacEntee

Blogging Your Family History

by Thomas MacEntee | Mar 6, 2010

You may have encountered a "blog" during your last search on Google or a genealogy colleague may have mentioned an article they read on a well-known family history blog. You keep hearing the term blog and wonder: "Am I missing out on a way to improve my research?" Read More

Katrina McQuarrie

Using Social Media For Genealogy Research

by Katrina McQuarrie | Feb 5, 2010

Over the past few years, social media has received a lot of hype. But what is it, really? Why would you ever want to use social media? What kinds of Web 2.0 sites are there, and could they improve your genealogy? This article will answer all those questions. Read More

Kathleen Brandt

Planning A Genealogy Research Trip

by Kathleen Brandt | Jan 7, 2010

You have scoured bookshelves and archives at your local genealogy library, ordered periodicals and books through inter-library loans, and borrowed the Family History Library microfilms that hint to your ancestor's comings and goings. Read More

Melody K. Porter

Fear Of Citing

by Melody K. Porter | Oct 2, 2009

Fear of the unknown whether it is flying or citing sources can be paralyzing, so much so that many genealogy researchers avoid using source citations altogether. May be it seems too much like school or perhaps they think it unnecessary. Read More

Marjory Allen Perez

Added Value: Non-family Diaries and Letters

by Marjory Allen Perez | Sep 18, 2009

I love to read diaries and letters. I am fortunate that some of my ancestors actually kept diaries and their children and grandchildren saved the wonderful little books. They also bundled up letters with ribbons and passed them down to their children. Read More

Carolyn L. Barkley

Get Organized: Basic Forms For Beginning Genealogists

by Carolyn L. Barkley | Jul 31, 2009

A good genealogist is an organized genealogist. Consistent use of four organizational tools - pedigree charts, family group sheets, research logs and correspondence logs - will help you start out right. While many additional forms are available... Read More

James Tanner

Advancing Your Genealogical Research Into The Digital Age

by James Tanner | Jul 17, 2009

Go to any genealogical library and you will see people hunched over piles of papers and books, writing in notebooks retrieved from huge wheeled briefcases. In the past you would have found me in the same category... Read More

Melody K. Porter

Source Citation: A Genealogist's Best Friend

by Melody K. Porter | Jul 2, 2009

Have you heard the saying that "Diamonds are a girl's best friend?" Well, source citations should be considered a genealogist's... Read More

Charles S. Mason, Jr.

Finding Ancestors with Common Names

by Charles S. Mason, Jr. | Jul 2, 2009

Common names present a problem for every genealogical researcher, regardless of their level of experience. For researchers with less experience... Read More

Linda Lorda

"You'll See It When You Believe It"! Your Outlook Can Result in Research Success

by Linda Lorda | Jul 2, 2009

You've heard the skeptical announcement, "I'll believe it when I see it!" Such a critical attitude is understandable when the... Read More

George Joynson

You Found Them Where? Getting Around Misspelled Names.

by George Joynson | Jul 2, 2009

Continuing your genealogy research despite misspellings can be quite a challenge. Years ago our ancestors' names were commonly misspelled. Maybe... Read More

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