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.
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.
Ask any seasoned genealogist and they will tell you just how important old maps are to their research. In fact, almost no other resource paints a better picture of your ancestor’s world. Here’s where to find them online.
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.
Every family has one great champion, and mine was Minnie Doyle. Had it not been for her story my family history might still be a mystery. Yet, Minnie was not my great-grandmother…she was my great-aunt.
Having a hard time finding an ancestor, or two, or three? Some individuals can be nearly impossible to locate, but there are strategies that will make your job easier. Expert Bridget Sunderlin shares her ten favorites.
When you are new to family history research, it’s easy to imagine that every ancestor will fit neatly into a perfect family group: married father and mother – and their children. It doesn’t take long to discover, however, that our ancestors’ lives were as complicated as ours are today.
No matter how many years you’ve spent building your family tree on Ancestry, there’s always something new to learn. Whether it’s a brand new feature that’s just been introduced or a hidden gem you’ve never noticed, there are plenty of ways to improve your searches. Here are 7 tactics the experts use to get the most out of Ancestry.com.