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Family history guides
Genealogy Basics: start here
How to Start Your Family Tree: The First Five StepsNew to genealogy? Start with yourself, gather what's already in the house, talk to relatives, write it down properly, then search records one generation at a time.Free Genealogy Websites Worth Using First (and What Each Is Best For)You don't need a subscription to start. These free genealogy sites cover census, vital records, cemeteries, newspapers and military records, and here's what each does best.How to Read a U.S. Census Record, Column by ColumnThe U.S. census is the backbone of American family history. Learn what each census year asks, how to read the columns, and what to do when the details don't match.Birth, Marriage and Death Records: Where to Find Them and What They ProveVital records give exact dates and parents' names, but not every fact on them is equally reliable. Here's where to find them and how to weigh what they say.Which DNA Test Should You Take for Family History?Autosomal, Y-DNA or mitochondrial? Here's what each DNA test can and can't tell you, which one most people should take first, and why your match list matters more than your ethnicity estimate.How to Interview Older Relatives Before Their Stories Are LostYour oldest relatives know names, faces and stories no record holds. Here's how to prepare, what to ask, how to use old photos as prompts, and how to save what you hear.Pedigree Charts and Family Group Sheets: How to Keep Your Research OrganizedTwo simple forms keep a growing family tree organized. Learn what a pedigree chart and a family group sheet are, how the numbering works, and how to record dates, places and sources.Cousins, "Removed" and In-Laws: How Family Relationships Are NamedWhat's a second cousin once removed? Here's a plain-English guide to cousin relationships, what "removed" means, and how to work out any relationship from a shared ancestor.Hit a Brick Wall? Ten Places to Look NextStuck on an ancestor? Here are ten record types and strategies genealogists use to get past brick walls, from neighbors and siblings to land, probate, church and newspaper records.How to Find an Ancestor's GraveLooking for where an ancestor is buried? Start with the death certificate and obituary, then search Find a Grave, BillionGraves, veterans' records and cemetery offices. Here's the order that works.
Photos, evidence and lineage
What Can the Back of an Old Photograph Tell You?Studio imprints, handwritten names, Civil War tax stamps and paper maker marks on the back of an old photo can help you date it and work out who's in it.How to Date an Old Family Photograph by Its TypeDaguerreotype, tintype, carte de visite, cabinet card or real photo postcard? The kind of photo narrows down when it was taken. Here's how to tell them apart.