Blog
Genealogy guides, honest comparisons, and the case for AI-powered family history research.
How to Interview Elderly Relatives for Family History: A Complete Guide
The information in your grandparents' memories won't survive them. Practical techniques for capturing oral history — questions that work, recording setup, how to listen, and what to do after.
Father's Day Gift GuideFather's Day Gift for the Dad Who Never Asks for Anything
He won't tell you what he wants. But ask him about his grandfather — really ask — and you'll see it. The gift that costs $49 and gives him the answer to a question he's had his whole life.
Comparison GuideDNA Testing vs Genealogy Records: Which Actually Finds Your Ancestors
DNA tests and paper records work in completely different ways. Here's what each does, where they overlap, and when to use which — plus how they fit into a Father's Day gift.
Beginner’s GuideHow to Start a Family Tree: A Complete Beginner’s Guide (2026)
Most people know they want to trace their family history. Most don’t know where to start. Five practical steps — from talking to living relatives to building a full narrative from historical records.
Research GuideHow to Find US Census Records: A Complete Guide to Census Genealogy Research
US census records from 1790 to 1940 are the backbone of American genealogy research. Here’s how to find them, what each census recorded, and how to use them to trace your family across decades.
Research GuideHow to Trace Your Family’s Immigration Records — Ship Logs, Ellis Island, and More
Your ancestors left a paper trail when they crossed the ocean. Ship passenger lists, Ellis Island arrival records, naturalization papers — here’s how to find them, what each document contains, and how to use them to cross back into the country they left.
Surname ResearchWhat Does My Last Name Mean? How to Trace Your Surname Back Centuries
Your last name is more than a label — it’s a compressed history. Learn how surnames evolved, what yours likely means, and how to connect the name to actual ancestors across centuries.
Gift GuideThe Father’s Day Gift He Won’t Return: His Family’s Story
Dads are impossible to shop for. They say they don't want anything. They're lying. What they really want is to know where they came from — the story of his family’s ancestors.
Research Guide5 Free Ways to Research Your Family History (No Ancestry Subscription)
FamilySearch, county records, FindAGrave, newspaper archives, church registers — five genuinely free methods that can take your research surprisingly far.
Gift GuideThe Perfect Mother’s Day Gift: A Family History That Actually Means Something
Flowers wilt by Sunday. Chocolates are gone by Monday. A written narrative of your grandmother’s ancestors lasts a lifetime — and it’s the one gift nobody else thought to give.
Research GuideHow to Research African American Genealogy Without a Subscription
Most genealogy tools weren't built for Black families. The records are different. Free resources that actually work for African American ancestor research.
Comparison GuideFamilySearch vs Ancestry vs KinLore — What's Actually Free in 2026
FamilySearch is free but limited. Ancestry costs $300+/year. KinLore is $29 once. Side-by-side comparison of what each genealogy platform actually delivers.
Genealogy ResearchWhy Your Family History Shouldn't Cost $40/Month
Ancestry.com charges up to $479 a year on auto-renewal. Most people need the research done once. Here's why the subscription model is broken — and the one-time alternative.