Research Strategies
The following articles are about Research StrategiesResources for Examining Your Ancestors' Neighborhood
Author - Jennifer HolikBeyond the facts surrounding your ancestor, have you considered putting the person or family into historical context? By examining the neighborhood or the town in which your ancestor lived, you may discover information you never considered before or knew existed. Read More
Epidemics and Pandemics: The Records Left Behind
Author - Thomas MacEnteeResearch related to epidemics and pandemics takes skill in unearthing not-so-obvious records and connecting the dots. Read More
Best Resources for Urban Research
Author - Lisa AlzoMany of us have ancestors who put down roots in the city. People who lived in cities tended to be more mobile; they may not move as far, but they seem to move more often. Luckily for genealogists, there are several resources you can use specifically for urban research. Read More
Curb Your Enthusiasm and Grow as a Genealogist
Author - Harold HendersonWe're all enthusiasm and energy when we begin in genealogy. We want it all, and all at once. And at first, we can get it. Enthusiasm is indispensable, but it can only carry us so far. Read More
The Weather and Your Ancestors
Author - Jen BaldwinSociety has been affected greatly by natural weather patterns and extreme events throughout recorded history. Have you ever thought to research how the weather affected your ancestors? Read More
Beginner Mistakes and How to Avoid Them [video]
Author - Amy Johnson CrowThere are some common traps that beginners fall into when they are working on their family history. If you've made these mistakes, it's alright. It's never too late to learn to avoid them. Read More
How To Handle Conflicting Evidence: A Six-Step Program
Author - Harold HendersonConflicting evidence is a bit like hearing Grandma tell a lie. Or did she just tell the truth, and everything we thought we knew to the contrary was the lie? Read More
Why You Can't Find Your Ancestor in That County: Boundary Changes [video]
Author - Amy Johnson CrowBeing able to place an ancestor in a specific place at a specific time is crucial to finding records about that person. What can trip up genealogists is when a family didn't move, but their location did. Read More
Creative Thinking for Genealogy
Author - Jen BaldwinWhat do dog licenses, water permits and bawdy houses have in common? They are all resources that can - and... Read More
Your Homesteader Ancestors: Getting Past the Legends
Author - Jen BaldwinOwning land has always been part of the American Dream. For many, homesteading was an opportunity that could not be missed. Read More
Timelines as Genealogical Research Tools
Author - Diane L. RichardWhen I work on complex research problems or receive a thick packet of research from a client, one of my... Read More
Exploring Your Ancestors' World with Geography
Author - Jen BaldwinGeography is more than just maps, and there is substantial value in utilizing this science in your genealogy. Read More
Rip & Run vs. Write as You Go
Author - Harold HendersonBack when I was a journalist, research was part of the job, but footnotes were forbidden. I developed a factory-like mass-production system for visiting libraries. "Rip and run" may not have been the best strategy even then. There is an alternative to ripping and running: Write as you go. Read More
Use Your Ancestors' Social History to Your Advantage
Author - Stephanie Pitcher FishmanBy studying social history we can learn about the type of lives our relatives may have had. It can tell us a lot about the places, spaces, and faces that may have crossed their paths. Read More
Border Jumping: Researching Across State & County Borders
Author - J. Mark LoweMany state borders are defined by a natural land feature or river like the Ohio River serving as the border... Read More
How Good Is That Record? Evaluating Sources [video]
Author - Amy Johnson CrowAs you continue climbing your family tree, it is only a matter of time before you find records that don't... Read More
Tips for Applying to a Lineage Society
Author - Diane L. RichardWhether you are applying to honor an ancestor or as an exercise in compiling documentation, working on a lineage society application is a great way to hone your research skills. Read More
Moving Right Along: Migration Trails
Author - Sunny McClellan MortonWhen we learn how and why people moved around, we have a better chance of finding those whose trails we've lost (and we're more confident it's actually them when we find them). Read More
Did I Prove It? Ten Questions To Ask Along the Way
Author - Harold HendersonProof is social. And I don't mean that we have to post it on Facebook or compress it into a... Read More
Source Citations: They're Not As Hard As You Think [video]
Author - Amy Johnson CrowIf source citations are scary to you, relax. They're really not as frightening as you think. Plus, there are good reasons for getting over your fear. Read More
Indecision as a Genealogical Virtue
Author - Harold HendersonThe research road leads from ignorance to knowledge. But that trip takes time. During that time, we need to be able to keep our minds open and not get too attached to any particular route. Read More
Not Your Grandmother's Diary
Author - Diane L. RichardWe crave personal details of our ancestors' lives. Diaries are a great source, but don't always look like we expect. Read More
Building a Case With Your Genealogy
Author - Claudia BrelandThere have been times in my research when an answer hasn't been found immediately. Over the years, I have learned... Read More
Seven Ways to be a Lucky Genealogist
Author - Lisa AlzoCertainly the old adage of "knowledge is power" rings true when it comes to tracing elusive ancestors, but it's just... Read More
Five Ways to Find Your Female Ancestors
Author - Lisa AlzoTracing female ancestors is often one of the brick wall problems many genealogists face. With missing maiden names, lack of... Read More
Directory Assistance: Discovering Ancestors in City Directories
Author - Sunny McClellan MortonWe often learn about our American ancestors in ten-year intervals from the federal census. To that timeline we add milestones... Read More
Keeping Track on the Road to Proof
Author - Harold HendersonSigh. A few months or years from now, some dimwit is going to read my genealogy notes. That dimwit will... Read More
Researching Poor Ancestors
Author - Diane L. RichardProviding relief to those in need is not a modern concept. All through history, records reflect the providing of assistance... Read More
New Views of Your Ancestors in Spreadsheets and Maps
Author - Jennifer HolikAs a genealogist, do you always know exactly what information you have, or do not have, for each person within... Read More
Researching Black Sheep Ancestors
Author - Gena P. OrtegaDo you hear that rattling? That's the skeleton in your ancestral closet. While some people may feel embarrassed by an... Read More
Six More Ways to Find Your Family History Muse
Author - Lisa AlzoIs finally writing that family history one of your goals or resolutions for 2013? For many genealogists, getting started is... Read More
Ancestors on the Job
Author - Sunny McClellan MortonAn ancestor's occupation can be one of the most telling details of their lives. Jobs hint at training, daily workload,... Read More
Solving the Paradox of Research Planning
Author - Harold HendersonGenealogy starts simple for most of us. We interview relatives, we look up dates in known records Read More
Taking the Roll: 19th Century School Censuses
Author - Diane L. RichardWhen doing 19th century research, we often look at Federal census records, deeds, and tax records, but many researchers don't... Read More
Why We Don't Write, and How We Can
Author - Harold HendersonI've done it, and you have too. After a wonderful day of discoveries on line or at the library or... Read More
Getting The Most When Hiring A Professional Genealogist
Author - Harold HendersonWhy would anyone who loves research hire a genealogist to help find their own family? Most of us would as... Read More
Making Heritage Happen: Planning a Fantastic Family History Research Trip
Author - Lisa AlzoWhile the Internet has made genealogical data available to us without leaving home, many researchers still dream of visiting the... Read More
The (Not So) Private Lives of Our Ancestors
Author - Thomas MacEnteeWith all the news about privacy, identity theft, and the role of access to vital records, have you ever considered... Read More
Getting Creative: Using Genealogy to Teach Writing Skills
Author - Stephanie Pitcher FishmanAs genealogists, we tend to have several passions in common: We love our family's history and we want to share... Read More
Noble Family Histories Demystified: The German and Austrian Example
Author - Glen CovertDiscovering that you descend from nobility is not always a genealogical goldmine. Making such a connection will not automatically have... Read More
Writing The Story Of Stories
Author - Lou LibertyMy maternal grandmother was a natural storyteller. From the time I was born she filled my ears with stories.... Read More
Fitting Genealogy Into Your Busy Life: Ten Tips To Maximize Your Research Time
Author - Lisa AlzoGenealogy is a time-consuming activity. We can get lost for hours in microfilm, online databases (1940 census, anyone?), and... Read More
What Life Was Like In The Living Of It
Author - Lou LibertyThe historian, Will Durant, once indicated that a definition of "history" could be "human activity through time." The truth... Read More
Athletic Ancestors? Relive Their Glory Days
Author - Sunny McClellan MortonThere's a star athlete in every clan, if you believe what you hear at family reunions. Grandpa played wide... Read More
What You Should Know About Copyright And Genealogy
Author - Thomas MacEntee[Note: the author is not an attorney and the information contained in this article should not be construed as... Read More
Tips for Removing Stubborn Genealogy Research Blockers
Author - Lisa AlzoBrick walls are an inevitable part of a genealogist's research life. In the simplest terms, brickwalls are often defined as... Read More
Tales From The Courthouse
Author - Harold HendersonCourt records are a form of postmodern literature - they drop us into the middle of stories with no known... Read More
Case Study Excerpts: Expect The Unexpected
Author - Peggy PatrickAs a beginning genealogy researcher, my only expectation was to learn about my family. I began searching my paternal... Read More
Where Do I Find...? Identifying Place Names and Their Possible Significance
Author - Michael PollockOne problem many genealogists will encounter is being unable to find records when they cannot identify a place associated... Read More
Reborn Records!
Author - Don EdwardsHow do you find alternate records for those destroyed by fires, floods, storms, earthquakes or wars? Can Civil War era... Read More
Genealogy Research vs. Privacy Restrictions
Author - Kathleen BrandtAs family historians we know the importance of vital records - birth, death, marriages, and divorces. These life events, recorded... Read More
The Stories Your House Could Tell: Researching The History Of Your House
Author - Ruth LangIf you live in or have recently purchased an older or historic house, you might be curious about the history... Read More
Climbing The Spiral Staircase: Learning Genealogy
Author - Harold HendersonAs genealogists, we have all spent time learning which records to trust and which not to trust. We might start... Read More
10 Genealogy New Year's Resolutions for 2012 You Can Keep!
Author - Thomas MacEnteeThe end of one year and the beginning of another is often a time for reflection. Most people ponder breaking... Read More
Brick Wall Breakthrough: Follow The Breadcrumbs On & Offline
Author - Claudia BrelandWhen I first started exploring my family history, I was insatiable - I couldn't find enough family records. When... Read More
Howell To Reed Difficult Handrighting
Author - Michael PollockThree words in the title to this article, "howell", "reed" and "handrighting", are intentionally misspelled to call my readers'... Read More
Getting To The Good Stuff: Locating The Richest Genealogical Resources
Author - Lisa AlzoBeginning genealogists often make the mistake of plugging the names of their ancestors into online databases, looking for any type... Read More
Become A Searchologist: How To Conduct Better Searches That Yield Results
Author - Gena P. OrtegaBeginning genealogists are introduced to research by typing a surname or a full name into a genealogy website and... Read More
Borders: Just A Line On a Map
Author - Diane L. RichardMore often than not, whether you had a family living near a county or stateborder, there is a good chance... Read More
Where Is Your Proof?
Author - Susan JackmanSo you have all the evidence, but now you need to organize your findings in a way so that... Read More
How To Collaborate With Other Genealogists
Author - Thomas MacEnteeA sense of connectedness is what many of us in the field of genealogy experience once we get started... Read More
Dusting The Ash Pile: Creating Ancestor Profiles From Burned Counties
Author - Heather KramerWhen conducting research many genealogists encounter burned counties which can make it difficult to locate ancestors. Burned counties are counties... Read More
Indirect Evidence To The Rescue
Author - Harold HendersonHow I wish I could talk with my wife's great-great-great grandfather Samuel Wesley Boren (1828-1897) for a few minutes.... Read More
Digging Up Bones: Locating Cemeteries And Identifying People In Them
Author - Michael PollockMost people who have done any significant amount of genealogy research will have visited at least one cemetery. Such... Read More
Postage Stamp Genealogy
Author - Patricia ThompsonWhat can you buy for 44� in today's economy? Not a cup of coffee or a soda or even a... Read More
The Importance Of Using Original Records
Author - Michael PollockMost people have been taught in school to find information primarily in a published source, be it a newspaper, magazine,... Read More
Where is That? Strategies for Finding Your Ancestral Town or Village
Author - Lisa AlzoMany 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
Getting A Genealogical Education
Author - Gena P. OrtegaWhen 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
Diseases, Disasters & Distress: Bad For Your Ancestors, Good For Your Genealogical Research
Author - Lisa AlzoWouldn't it be nice if all the branches on our family trees were filled with bright shiny leaves that... Read More
Genealogical Societies: They Do Your Genealogy Good
Author - Thomas MacEnteeJust as humans were not meant to lead solitary lives, it is also true that genealogists can't function without some... Read More
What Is Forensic Genealogy?
Author - Colleen FitzpatrickWho? What? When? Where? Are these the words of a genealogist researching his family tree or a forensic scientist solving... Read More
A Trip To Bountiful Genealogy Research
Author - Thomas MacEnteeAs you progress from beginning genealogist to the intermediate level, you realize that not all research can be done... Read More
Tips To Help You Find Seemingly "Lost" Ancestors
Author - Diane L. RichardSo, 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
Family Reunion Sense and Sensibility
Author - Maureen A. TaylorEvery 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
Five Strategies For Finding Forgotten Females
Author - Lisa AlzoEvery 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
Volunteer Projects Help Family Historians
Author - Sherri BradleyPicture 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
Mobile Ancestors: Why They Moved And How To Find Them
Author - Diane L. RichardOur 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
Planning A Genealogy Research Trip
Author - Kathleen BrandtYou 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
Reversing Gears: How To Find Living Relatives
Author - Martin FischerBuilding your family tree begins with yourself and your parents, and progresses generation-by-generation into the past. At some point every family history researcher, novice or experienced, hits a roadblock in that process. Read More
Fear Of Citing
Author - Melody K. PorterFear 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
Source Citation: A Genealogist's Best Friend
Author - Melody K. PorterHave you heard the saying that "Diamonds are a girl's best friend?" Well, source citations should be considered a genealogist's... Read More
Finding Ancestors with Common Names
Author - Charles S. Mason, Jr.Common names present a problem for every genealogical researcher, regardless of their level of experience. For researchers with less experience... Read More
"You'll See It When You Believe It"! Your Outlook Can Result in Research Success
Author - Linda LordaYou've heard the skeptical announcement, "I'll believe it when I see it!" Such a critical attitude is understandable when the... Read More
You Found Them Where? Getting Around Misspelled Names.
Author - George JoynsonContinuing your genealogy research despite misspellings can be quite a challenge. Years ago our ancestors' names were commonly misspelled. Maybe... Read More
Medieval Genealogy for the Medievally-Challenged (Like Me)
Author - Martin E. HollickMany genealogical breakthroughs necessitate a re-education for the researcher. Suddenly you are in a new geographic location, dealing with a... Read More
Adoption Research: The Agony of the Search; the Thrill of Success
Author - Jeanne Larzalere BloomAdoption research can be exhilarating. With the secrecy surrounding many adoptions, it can be frustrating. It sometimes seems that you... Read More
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