From your first search to finding real ancestors in real records. 3 free lessons to start — no experience needed.
Start Free →Genealogy standards and guidelines: what you need to know first
Covers the five essential genealogy standards and guidelines every researcher must know before starting.…
Beginning your genealogy research journey
First practical steps for beginning your genealogy research: organizing what you know, talking to family, and collecting documents.…
Systems to keep your research manageable and accurate
How to organize your genealogy research with filing systems, tracking forms, and methods to prevent overwhelm.…
Starting your search with pedigree charts and family structures
Mastering pedigree charts and family tree structures. Learn to read, create, and fill out various chart styles.…
Understanding surname origins and research strategies
Understanding surname origins, changes, and research strategies. How surnames evolved and what they reveal about ancestry.…
Using given names as genealogy research clues
Researching first/given names in genealogy. How naming conventions varied by culture, time period, and region.…
Using geographic information to advance your research
How to use geographic information to advance genealogy research. Understanding jurisdictions, boundary changes, and location-based repositories.…
Choosing the right tools to manage your research
Overview of genealogy software options. Helps beginners decide if they need specialized software and how to choose the right program.…
Birth, marriage, and death certificates — your foundation
How to find and use local vital records — birth, marriage, and death certificates — from county courthouses, churches, and local repositories.…
Harnessing state archives and census collections
Using state-level archives, census records, and collections. How state vital records registration changed genealogical documentation.…
Federal archives, military records, and national databases
Navigating the National Archives, military pension files, naturalization records, and federal databases that span the whole country.…
Researching ancestors across borders and oceans
How to research ancestors in other countries. Key archives, repositories, and strategies for England, Ireland, Germany, Scandinavia, and more.…
Writing to archives, relatives, and repositories effectively
How to write effective letters and emails to archives, county clerks, distant relatives, and genealogical societies to get the records you need.…
DAR, Colonial Dames, and societies that document lineage
How hereditary organizations like the DAR, SAR, and Colonial Dames have documented lineages — and how their records can help your research.…
The universal language of genealogy data
Understanding GEDCOM files — what they are, how they work, and how to use them to share, preserve, and migrate your genealogy data.…
Using DNA testing to confirm and extend your research
How DNA testing works for genealogy, the major testing companies, types of DNA tests, and how to interpret matches to confirm and extend your paper trail.…
Navigating Scotland's pre-civil-registration baptism and marriage records
A comprehensive guide to Scotland's Old Parochial Registers (OPR) — the primary source for Scottish genealogy before 1855 civil registration.…
Beyond the OPR — Scotland's richest genealogical source
Kirk session records, testaments, Scottish census records, and the local archives that reveal daily life in Scottish parishes from the 1600s onwards.…