Category Archives: Tips & Tricks

190 Genealogy articles to help you search the U.S. federal census

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190 Census mastheadBy Barry J. Ewell

I have written and assembled 190+ articles and resource aids to provide you a more in-depth understanding of the census research process.  I have tried to cover every possible question and angle that you are likely to face in your U.S. census research.  I would encourage you to use the resources often.

You will be introduced to what I have used and shared with thousands to successfully find generations of family. Begin by learning how to use the census as a foundation to effective research, identify, map, and follow family through generations. Continue reading →

Genealogy Tips & Tricks: Setting realistic goals for your genealogy research

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Setting realistic goals for your genealogy researchBy Barry J. Ewell

If you are going to spend a half-day traveling across town to interview a family member, a full day traveling to a cemetery two hundred miles away to take pictures of family headstones, or several weeks abroad searching your family roots, having clearly defined goals will help you focus on desired outcomes for your research. Being able to state your goals will require research, preparation, and prioritization. Continue reading →

Genealogy Tips & Tricks: Research with fresh eyes

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Research with fresh eyesBy Barry J. Ewell

Whenever possible, I make it a prac¬tice to collaborate with other genealogists on researching specific family lines. As a team, we will review our research, analyzing docu¬mentation, notes, and logs; identify the key questions we want to research; develop a research task list for researching each question; assign tasks and deadlines; and schedule regular meetings to review, compare, and discuss projects and research. Continue reading →

Genealogy Tips & Tricks: Verify every source

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Verify every sourceBy Barry J. Ewell

Ask for documentation. Never be shy about asking for documentation from another researcher when they have shared information with you. Again, without the paper records in hand, nothing is proven.

Always verify. There is never a time when you should not verify information you have received.

Through the years, I have found critical errors in what I downloaded. It often appears that genealogists wanted so desperately to extend the line or make a connection that they jumped to conclusions in their research, which caused other genealogists to research Continue reading →

Genealogy Tips & Tricks: Build an identity profile about ancestors lives

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Build an identity profile about ancestors lives 2By Barry J. Ewell

The identity of the ancestor is more than a name. It is every known detail of a human life, which includes information about the individual, their relationships, and their origin. Begin by targeting your research location. Search for any document created during the time your ancestor lived. Make sure you understand the circumstances under which every document Continue reading →

Genealogy Tips & Tricks: Search the US Census, vital records, and other records

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Search the US Census, vital records, and other By Barry J. Ewell

US Census records are available for the years 1790-1940 and can include names, dates, locations, and occupations. You can also discover and verify vital information through the Social Security Death Index and birth, marriage, and divorce records. Additional life information can be found in immigration, naturalization, and military records.
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