In-depth guides, research strategies, and methodological advice for family historians at every level. No account required — just good, honest genealogy guidance.
Every family historian hits a brick wall eventually. Before you reach for a new database or order a DNA kit, there are some foundational steps that experienced researchers take first — and they cost nothing but time.
DNA testing has transformed family history research — but the results can be baffling at first. This guide explains what autosomal DNA is, what it can and cannot tell you, and how to start making sense of your matches.
Most genealogists search online first — and stop there. But the most valuable records for breaking brick walls are often sitting in local archives, church basements, and private collections. Here's how to reach them.
The trail went cold when they stepped off the ship. Identifying the exact village your immigrant ancestor came from is one of genealogy's most satisfying puzzles — and there are more ways to solve it than you might think.
The belief that African American genealogy cannot go beyond 1870 is a myth — a discouraging one. With the right records and strategies, many researchers have traced their families back generations further.
Elizabeth Shown Mills' concept of researching Friends, Associates and Neighbours has helped genealogists solve problems that decades of direct-line research could not. Here's how to put it into practice.
You traced your family to the 16th century but other families with your surname are in the rolls. Who is related? This article is about what to do next.
