MyHeritage DNA Matching Update AND a New Chromosome Browser!
We have a MyHeritage DNA matching update! Not only has MyHeritage DNA released a much better matching algorithm, the company that lets you upload your DNA for free has also introduced a chromosome browser. Your DNA Guide Diahan Southard shares the good...
New Records Include German and Holocaust Records Online
You can now find more Holocaust records online. Read here about the 1939 German Minority Census and Polish and Czech Holocaust records. Also featured this week: German vital records, new collections from Belgium and Estonia, and an update to the US War of...
RootsTech questions: Tips for attending world’s biggest genealogy event
Your RootsTech questions answered here! Attending RootsTech 2018 in Salt Lake City, Utah for the largest genealogy conference in the world can be a bit overwhelming. First-time attendees have questions and we have answers. Learn what to expect, where to...
Understanding Genealogy Sources: Why “Provenance” Matters
Before you rely on any genealogical sources for your family history research, you should know their provenance. Ask these questions about the records you find—and you’ll better understand the source and what it may (or may not) be telling you. In the art world,...
Mayflower Ancestors and More in New Genealogy Records Online
Discover your Mayflower ancestors--or more about your family history from around the world--in new and updated genealogy records online. Among them are the Welsh National Book of Remembrance for WWI and various records for Indiana, Massachusetts, Montana, Ireland, New...
Declutter Your House: 3 Questions for the Family Archivist
To declutter your house, you may have to ask yourself hard questions--especially if you're the family archivist. Is that old apron or state fair ribbon just clutter or is it history? If it's a nice piece of history but you can't keep it, where can you...
Understanding DNA Ethnicity Estimates
DNA ethnicity estimates are fun conversation-starters. But the "pie charts" become more meaningful genealogically when you can assign timelines to the places your ancestors were from. Here's an update to our ongoing conversation about what DNA ethnicity results really...
How to find the full text of a book in Google Books
I love Google Books research tips for genealogists--and this researcher sent me a fabulous one! Here's what she did when Google Books didn't give her everything she'd hoped for. And here's where she finally found the full text of a book that wasn't on Google Books. ...
New year, new records for genealogy!
Kick off 2018 with a diverse group of new genealogy records to explore online this week! Included are historical and vital records for British genealogy, Irish newspapers, Scottish records, and Palestine naturalization applications. British Historical & Vital...
DNA Testing News: 2017 Year in Review
Plenty of DNA testing news crossed our desks in 2017! Advances in genetic genealogy include an AncestryDNA database that doubled in size, new options for participants, more health-related information and a new global genetic tree. Catch up on these...
6 Tips to Create Family History Books They Can’t Put Down
I started creating family history books a decade ago. These 6 strategies helped me share my genealogy research findings in books that made fascinating, affordable and easy-to-mail gifts. My Dilemma: How to Share My Family History Several years ago, I began sharing my...
RootsWeb Is Down: Data Recovery Strategies for the Genealogist
RootsWeb is down! This important free genealogy platform hosts millions of names on hundreds of genealogy-related websites for locales, societies, and even individual family trees. Here's what you should know about the situation--and how you may be able to access...
New and Updated Genealogy Records – United States
Though the United States is a relatively young country, its history is a rich source of genealogical information! This week we're featuring new collections available for United States family history, from the big and exciting to the small and fascinating....
How to Identify Old Cars in Photographs
Follow these tips to identify old cars in photographs from your family albums. You can often identify the make and model of the automobile; decipher and date the license plates, and even discover additional documents relating to the earliest drivers on your family...
The Christmas List that Continues to Speak to My Heart
Some family Christmas traditions carry over easily from generation to generation, and some don't. Here's one tradition I tried passing on to my children, and how it has played out. It reminds me that traditions themselves can be unexpected--which ones have staying...
Find Old Film Footage Online: YouTube and Google Video Search
Old film footage can make your family stories truly unforgettable--even for those relatives who seem to forget every fact you tell them about your genealogy! Follow these tips to find old film footage and video online. If a picture's worth a thousand words when you...
Cemetery Research for Genealogy: 4 Steps for Finding Your Ancestors’ Graves
Cemetery research is a crucial family history skill. Tombstones are monuments to our ancestors lives and may have key genealogical clues engraved in the stone. Follow these four steps to finding your ancestors' burial places and the records that complement them. Many...
Common Surnames: How Unique is Yours?
Common surnames can make genealogy research more challenging. But learning more about your last name (including how common it is) can also enrich your family history. Check out 4 free online tools for learning more about your family's surnames. Then share what you...