For a fledgling family historian, receiving a collection like this might seem like the perfect ready-made foundation from which to build new branches. Even the experienced genealogist would consider it a windfall. However, inheriting someone else’s genealogy research can be both a gift and a curse if not handled properly.
Nearly every one of us has ancestors who lived, worked and died in a country not our own. And, for this reason, we sometimes need to leave our comfort zone behind and head into unfamiliar territory with our family history research.
A family history research log is a document that tells you what you’ve researched, what you’ve found, what you didn’t find, and what research you still need to tackle. Here’s how to find one and put it to use.
Unlike most projects, you’re never truly “done” with genealogy. 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.
Depending on the condition of the document, its date and the handwriting therein, original records can be beyond frustrating to read. These tips will help you make use of them in your family history research.
As original as a child’s first name might seem, it often offers clues into a family’s near and, sometimes, very distant past. Given names link generations of family through repetition and can be a powerful tool to push our research to greater depths. To shed an even brighter light on this research opportunity we must understand the influences behind naming traditions.
Abbreviations are frequently found in genealogical research, but they can be incredibly confusing. This guide will help you make sense of them, with definitions for more than 300 commonly found selections.
We’ve just created a fun, quick quiz to help you test your family history knowledge in our newly updated Course Center! How many of the questions can you answer correctly?
This special checklist contains nearly every major record type that could hold detailed information about your ancestors. Use it as a reference to help you discover more about their lives and overcome stubborn brick walls.
It’s every family historian’s dream to devote all of our waking hours to genealogy. Unfortunately, many of us don’t have the luxury of unlimited time – work, family, school, and other obligations often leave little room for hobbies. But that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t pursue our goals with gusto. Here’s a plan to help.