Blog posts

Zero-knowledge encryption explained in plain English, and what to look for so your digital legacy vault stays private, even from the company storing it.

A step by step guide to the AncestryDNA chromosome painter, including how to tell whether Parent 1 or Parent 2 is your mother or your father.

Learn what Sanborn fire insurance maps recorded about old buildings and neighborhoods, and where to find these detailed historical maps online.

A decade by decade guide to dating old family photos using hemlines, collars, hats, and fabric patterns from the 1840s through the 1960s.

A step by step civil war ancestor search using military records, pension files, and state archives to confirm service and uncover family history.

A step by step guide to how to find ship passenger lists for immigrant ancestors, plus why the Ellis Island name change myth is not actually true.

Find free historical newspapers online through Chronicling America, state digital archives, and library card access, no Newspapers.com subscription needed.

Learn how to use Google Earth for genealogy, including how to overlay old historical maps onto modern satellite views to find your ancestors' land.

Learn what gravestone symbols mean in genealogy research, from weeping willows and clasped hands to broken columns and carved anchors in old cemeteries.

Learn how to search the 1950 census by name, address, and enumeration district, plus how to work around AI indexing errors that hide your relatives.