The Blog
Guides, tutorials, and deep dives into genealogy research, DNA testing, and family history.
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Adoptee’s Guide to DNA Matches: Decoding Shared DNA in Your Results
You took the test. The results arrived. Now what? For adoptees and those with unknown parentage, those DNA match lists...
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The Sideways Strategy Most Family Historians Miss
Most family historians get it wrong from day one. I did too. We obsess over extending our ancestry into the...
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Was Your Family Name REALLY Changed At Ellis Island?
Grandpa swore his original last name was 9 syllables and 17 letters long until that harried Ellis Island clerk scribbled...
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Old School vs. New Tech: The Genealogy Methods That Define Generations
Nothing reveals the gulf between generations quite like watching a Boomer and a Zoomer tackle the same family mystery with...
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Cold Cases Cracked: The 10 Biggest Serial Cases Solved Through Investigative Genetic Genealogy
Investigative genetic genealogy has revolutionized cold case investigations, helping identify perpetrators of violent crimes through DNA evidence. These ten cases...
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Unlock the Magic of AI Images for Your Family History
Ever stared at a family tree and wished you could actually see what your ancestors' lives looked like? Well, now...
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What 23andMe’s Chapter 11 Really Means for Genealogists
Genealogists worldwide are asking: what happens to my data now? This weekend, 23andMe entered Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. What does...
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Quality vs. Quantity: The Psychology Behind Tree Building
Ever notice how some family trees have 200 people while others have 200,000? Weird, right? I've spent years observing this...
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Tips for Attending Genealogy Conferences: Making the Most of Your Experience
This week marks RootsTech week, the largest genealogy conference in the world! But whether you're attending this event or planning...
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Hidden Clues in Death Records That Most Genealogists Miss
You've hit the genealogy wall. Names and dates aren't enough. The real stories—the lives your ancestors actually lived—are hiding in...
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Dear Grandma, I Love You But Your Dates Are Wrong: When Family Stories Conflict with Records
Here's the truth about family history: Everyone's lying. Not intentionally. But they are. Want to know the biggest obstacle to...
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Valentine’s Day: A Love Letter to Small Town Love’s Greatest Witness
Every love story has its witness. And for generations, there was no witness more vigilant - or more deliciously indiscreet...