Family History Fanatics

Genetic genealogy can be confusing but there are a number of tools and strategies that can help us make more sense of it all. Sponsored by MyHeritage, all registrants have a chance to WIN one of 4 DNA kits and other door prizes. This conference will discuss the new Theory of Family Relativity tool from […]

Do you have a GEDCOM file on GEDmatch? If so, there are tree-matching tools that you can use to help you find other clues to help progress your genealogical research. Before we talk about the tools, first let’s make sure you know what a GEDCOM file is. GEDCOM stands GEnealogical Data COMmunication. It is a […]

You share some DNA with your siblings, which means if you have enough siblings you have all of your parents DNA, but how much DNA? In the Genetic Genealogy Tips and Techniques Facebook Group, there was a discussion a couple weeks ago about, “How much DNA do siblings, as a group, share with their parents?” […]

Have you had problems finding any matches with DNA? Do all of your close matches only share about fifty centimorgans or less with you? If so, you may suffer from the problem of small families. Family Sizes Throughout History Family sizes have varied a lot over history, but in the last 200 years, the trend […]

What can you learn while comparing two DNA kits on GEDmatch Genesis to assist in your genetic genealogy research? Discover the changes that occur when you match cousins of a known common ancestor, a parent-child, and a family with endogamy. As genealogists, one of the things we’re research is how people are related to us […]

Do you have Jewish ancestors and you’re unsure how to get started in Jews in Genealogy Research? Jennifer Mendelsohn, from the Jewish Genealogy Society of Maryland, shares a few tips on how to successfully trace this side of your family tree. To watch the full interview, visit this link. Tip 1: Begin Your Jewish Research […]

Many folks involved in genealogy research love to help you with your reserach questions. However, there is a right way and a wrong way to ask for that help. The following is not it and I’ll explain why. “Hello, I have posted once before and no one responded. This is my second post. I am […]

Need help busting through brick walls? Wonder how to begin researching Scottish or Polish Ancestors? Are you confused about how many genetic ancestors you’re reliably related to? These questions and more are discovered in this weeks collection of genealogy videos on YouTube. Check them out! Genealogy Research Tips: Several YouTube channels released great videos this […]

Another week has passed and genealogy videos on YouTube are definitely worth investigating. Be sure to watch, comment, like, and share! Genealogy Tips Interview Your Relatives for Family History (Part 5) – Road to Your Family History What is the Historical Records Survey? – Genealogy Works Ancestry’s New Tree Tags, ThruLines Q’s Answered. Bonus Hack!– […]

Ancestry.com member trees provide a useful platform to share genealogical data. However, not everything in an online tree is accurate and you shouldn’t accept information without validation. What do you do when you encounter individuals who post inaccurate information in online trees? Double check the accuracy of all information before you add it to your […]

Peer reviewing is the most important part of analyzing the research that you encounter or receive from others. However, it’s important that you evaluate your own work before you head off on a research quest. In the video Developing a Research Question, I explained the need to add specifics to your research question so you […]

Genealogists like to say that the hobby is as popular as porn or gardening. They couldn’t be further from the truth!

Question: What is your methodology for tracking down a birth date for an ancestor? – Newbie in Crawford, Nebraska Answer: Great question. Additionally, you don’t have to be a newbie to wonder about the best procedure for tracing down a fact like this. Before I answer the question, ask yourself, how deep do you want […]

How can you go to a specific place if you have not determined the destination you’re headed toward? In genealogy, your research should be headed somewhere if wish to conduct quality research. The destinations you head toward always begin with a research question. The fundamental step in quality genealogical research is to develop a research […]

Viewer Question: What do you do, when researching an ancestor, and you find his birthplace listed as a certain town that you know for a fact the town was not even established till a good 20 years or so after their birth? When researching your family history, you will run into errors and you have […]

Writing makes you a better researcher in genealogy, but how can you set yourself up for success? If you set up your files in such a way you’re ready to write as you make new discoveries about your ancestor, you will be better prepared to not only write but also have your content nearly formatted […]

Roses, chocolates, romantic getaways, and jewelry often top the list for expressions of the heart in love stories and romance movies. However, I have great-grandparents that exemplify true, lasting love – no merchandise required. Their story is worth recording, as are the love stories in your family history. Evaline Was Previously Engaged To understand George […]

Have you ever thought about writing a family history? Do you fear that no one will want to read it? You are not alone, but that shouldn’t stop you from writing a family history. Many of you have asked me at conferences, emails, and other social media this one question, “Why write a family history […]

Writing a family history that has excitement when you don’t feel like a creative writer is challenged. However, you can enrich your family history projects through pictures from the past, such as post cards! My Geiszler and Brown family lines have resided in Ohio for at least 100 years. A few years back, I wrote […]

Question: I noticed that you added a historical fact about Stalin banishing Trotsky to the marriage story of your ancestor who married in Utah. If she wasn’t Russian and not connected to Stalin or Trotsky, why on earth would you add this fact to your family’s history? ~ Maralee, Cypress, Texas Answer: Social and Political […]

Reader Question: Where should I put the photos in my writing? Should I put the images next to the paragraph I wrote? Should I put them at the end of a chapter? Or should I put all the photos in a photo section?  ~ Robert Murphy, PA Thanks, Robert. Great question. Having written over 120 […]