In this episode of Best Websites, Kathy Meade walks us through ArkivDigital, an extensive site that offers many valuable materials for genealogists to explore.
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Feature: Making Use of ArkivDigital for Genealogy Research
ArkivDigital is a Swedish gnealogy website that boasts a robust collection of aerial photos, digitized church books, and more. In this interview, Swedish Genealogy Expert and North American Representative Kathy Meade offers a behind-the-scenes look at the website and shares what genealogists can gain from taking advantage of its resources.
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In this episode of the Family Tree Magazine podcast, Michael Strauss talks about the American Revolution and what genealogists should know as they research their ancestors.
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Feature: Understanding the American Revolution
America’s 250th birthday is on the horizon. With that in mind, some genealogists may be curious about their ancestors who lived through or fought during the American Revolution. Michael Strauss offers an overview of the American Revolution and provides resources that may prove valuable.
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In this episode of Family Tree Magazine’s Best Website, Katharine Korte Andrew explains what the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) is and the resources it offers genealogists who are researching American Revolutionary-era ancestors.
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Feature: Using the Daughters of the American Revolution’s Databases
Though it’s created from application documents, DAR’s “Genealogical Research System” (GRS) isn’t just for active members. The collections there can provide valuable details about family members from a few generations ago back to the American Revolution—whether or not you or a qualifying ancestor actually joined the DAR. This interview with DAR member (and Family Tree digital editor) Katharine Andrew gives an overview of the free-to-search GRS portal and the records you can find there.
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In this episode of the Family Tree Magazine, Andrew Koch interviews Lindsay Fulton about the 10 Million Names Project, its mission, and its current progress.
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Feature: 10 Million Names ProjectAmerican Ancestors, also known as the New England Historic Genealogical Society is proud to announce the 10 Million Names Project, a central database that includes all 10 million people who were enslaved in what is now the United States. American Ancestors Chief Research Officer and head of the 10 Million Names research project offers some insight into the project and its current development.
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In this interview, MyHeritage’s senior product manager Alon Ehrenfeld gives a behind-the scenes look at how ScribeAI was developed and what it can do for your research.
https://media.blubrry.com/family_tree_magazine/media.blubrry.com/family_tree_magazine/content.blubrry.com/family_tree_magazine/BW-04-15-26.mp3
Best Websites Episode 38: ScribeAI
One of the most exciting announcements from RootsTech 2026 was ScribeAI, MyHeritage’s new tool for transcribing and analyzing user-uploaded photos and documents.
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In this episode of Best Websites, Andrew Koch speaks to Mitchell Lewis and Matt Wheeler about using newspapers for genealogy research using the tool Newspaper Finder.
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Newspaper Finder
Newspapers are excellent resources for genealogists searching for clues about their ancestors. Newspaper Finder makes discovering historical newspapers easier.
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Newspaper Finder: A New Tool for Searching Old Newspapers (Review and Tutorial) Locate online newspapers relevant to your genealogy with this tool for searching Newspapers.com, GenealogyBank and more. Family Tree Magazine
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In this episode of the Family Tree Magazine Podcast, Brook Schreier-Ganz and Alec Ferretti explain how Reclaim the Records fights for record releases and what that means for genealogists.
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Feature: Reclaim the Records and Record ReleasesMost records of interest to genealogists in the United States are created by government agencies; however, not all government agencies are cooperative about releasing these records. Non-profit organization Reclaim the Records that advocates for these records to be released, sometimes with legal action.
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Your HostAndrew Koch is the Editor of Family Tree Magazine.
In this interview, MyHeritage’s senior product manager Alon Ehrenfeld gives a behind-the scenes look at how ScribeAI was developed and what it can do for your research.
https://media.blubrry.com/family_tree_magazine/media.blubrry.com/family_tree_magazine/content.blubrry.com/family_tree_magazine/BW-04-15-26.mp3
Best Websites Episode 38: ScribeAI
One of the most exciting announcements from RootsTech 2026 was ScribeAI, MyHeritage’s new tool for transcribing and analyzing user-uploaded photos and documents.
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Andrew Koch is the Editor of Family Tree Magazine.
Join host Andrew Koch in an interview with Jonny Perl, founder of DNA Painter, who shares tips for using this popular genetic genealogy platform to more deeply analyze your DNA test results.
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Feature: DNA Painter and Genetic Genealogy
The major testing companies each provide tools that analyze your results and provide insight into how you’re related to matches. But you can get even more out of your DNA by turning to specialized third-party platforms.
One of the most-popular is DNA Painter, which specializes in chromosome-mapping, identifying family clusters, and investigating family mysteries. In this episode of the Family Tree Magazine podcast, the site’s founder Jonny Perl provides expert guidance to the tools he’s created and what they can do for users.
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Andrew Koch is the Editor of Family Tree Magazine.
RootsTech is a large, multi-day genealogy conference that takes place annually in Salt Lake City, Utah. But not being able to make the trip doesn’t mean you have to miss out on excellent talks, groundbreaking news, and more. Andrew Koch explores the RootsTech website in this episode of Best Websites.
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RootsTech WebsiteRootsTech 2026 was a hit! But even if you couldn’t attend in-person, you can enjoy a good number of talks simply by navigating the RootsTech website (https://www.familysearch.org/en/rootstech/).
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In this episode of the Family Tree Magazine podcast, Andrew Koch speaks with Daniel Loftus (Irish genealogist and founder of Project Infant) about the upcoming release of the 1926 census of Ireland.
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Feature: 1926 Census of IrelandTaken just after Irish independence, the census provides a snapshot of a young country and the people living in it.
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What if your family tree could speak? VoiceGift helps preserve the voices and stories that define your family — so they’re never lost to time.
Record memories from parents and grandparents… and link them to photos, albums, and heirlooms. Inspired by museum audio guides and designed to last, VoiceGift PLAY is an audio time capsule — for generations.
In this episode, Andrew Koch interviews Geoffrey Stern, the Founder and CEO of VoiceGift.
Find your voice at www.voice.gift
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Andrew Koch is the Editor of Family Tree Magazine.
In this episode of Best Websites, Andrew Koch walks listeners through FreeBMD, a free online index that houses over 300 million UK birth, marriage and death records.
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Feature: FreeBMD OverviewFreeBMD offers exactly what its name suggests: A vast array of birth, marriage and death records for the United Kingdom and Wales. Andrew Koch offers a detailed tour of the website, highlighting its features and benefits and how the website can be used for genealogy research. He also offers tips for navigating the website.
Resources mentions in this episode:
FreeBMD
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What if your family tree could speak? VoiceGift helps preserve the voices and stories that define your family — so they’re never lost to time.
Record memories from parents and grandparents… and link them to photos, albums, and heirlooms. Inspired by museum audio guides and designed to last, VoiceGift PLAY is an audio time capsule — for generations.
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Andrew Koch is the Editor of Family Tree Magazine.
In this episode of the Family Tree Magazine podcast, Andrew Koch speaks with David Fryxell about how genealogists can optimize their searches for the best results as they seek out information about their ancestors.
https://media.blubrry.com/family_tree_magazine/media.blubrry.com/family_tree_magazine/content.blubrry.com/family_tree_magazine/2026-02-FTM.mp3
Feature: Online Search Strategies for Genealogists
Finding the information you need as a genealogist can be tricky, especially when it comes to searching online. Sometimes you just need a couple of tricks to get search engines to yield the results you seek. In this episode of the Family Tree Magazine podcast, David Fryxell provides some of those tricks.
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21 Search Tips for Google, Ancestry and Other Genealogy Websites Think your ancestors are a lost cause? Not with our search tips for finding your family history online on Google, Ancestry and other websites. Family Tree Magazine
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VoiceGift
What if your family tree could speak? VoiceGift helps preserve the voices and stories that define your family — so they’re never lost to time.
Record memories from parents and grandparents… and link them to photos, albums, and heirlooms. Inspired by museum audio guides and designed to last, VoiceGift PLAY is an audio time capsule — for generations.
In this episode, Andrew Koch interviews Geoffrey Stern, the Founder and CEO of VoiceGift.
Find your voice at www.voice.gift
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Andrew Koch is the Editor of Family Tree Magazine.
In this episode of Best Websites, Andrew Koch interviews DNA expert Diahan Southard to learn more about the latest news from AncestryDNA.
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Feature: The Latest Updates to AncestryDNA
AncestryDNA has recently made some major updates to its ethnicity updates! In this interview, Diahan Southard tells us genealogists what they can expect as they explore their DNA test results and uncover more about their heritage.
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VoiceGift
What if your family tree could speak? VoiceGift helps preserve the voices and stories that define your family — so they’re never lost to time.
Record memories from parents and grandparents… and link them to photos, albums, and heirlooms. Inspired by museum audio guides and designed to last, VoiceGift PLAY is an audio time capsule — for generations.
Find your voice at www.voice.gift
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Andrew Koch is the Editor of Family Tree Magazine.
In this episode of the Family Tree Magazine podcast, Andrew Koch talks to Rick Crume about the exciting features offered in Family Tree Maker 2024.
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Feature: Family Tree Maker 2024
Family Tree Maker 2024 is here! Rick Crume (Family Tree Magazine contributing editor and founder of Inside Genealogy) and Andrew Koch talk about the many features this program offers compared to earlier versions of the program and how genealogists can benefit from them.
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VoiceGift
What if your family tree could speak? VoiceGift helps preserve the voices and stories that define your family — so they’re never lost to time.
Record memories from parents and grandparents… and link them to photos, albums, and heirlooms. Inspired by museum audio guides and designed to last, VoiceGift PLAY is an audio time capsule — for generations.
Find your voice at www.voice.gift
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Andrew Koch is the Editor of Family Tree Magazine.
In this episode of Best Websites, genealogist Caitlin Hollander Waas talks with Lisa about Jewish genealogy and the tools at JewishGen that can help with the process.
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Best Genealogy Websites: JewishGen.org
In this episode, Lisa Louise Cooke welcomes Caitlin Hollander Waas, the chief genealogist at JewishGen.org, to the podcast. They discuss the intricacies of researching Jewish ancestry and the invaluable tools and resources available at JewishGen.
Guest: Caitlin Hollander Waas, Chief Genealogist at JewishGenVisit the website:https://jewishgen.com/
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Listen to Lisa Louise Cooke’s Genealogy Gems podcast available at her website and all major podcasting services, or download the Genealogy Gems Podcast app.
In this episode of the Family Tree Magazine podcast, Andrew Koch and Lisa Louise Cooke look back on all that has happened in the world of genealogy in 2025.
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Feature: 2025 – The Genealogy Year in Review
As we close out the year, we’re taking a look back at the moments that shaped our pursuit of genealogy in 2025. Lisa Louise Cooke’s guest is Andrew Koch, editor of Family Tree Magazine.
He’s here to share his expert perspective on the biggest genealogy news stories of the year and what they mean for you, the family historian, moving forward.
Mentioned in this episode:
New/significantly updated websites for several important genealogy resources include FamilySearch Catalog, Chronicling America, the Atlas of Historical County Boundaries, WikiTree, and the Irish National Archives.
FamilySearch Full-Text Search moved out of beta and into main part of the site. Records are continually being added so it’s worth checking regularly.
MyHeritage finishes Name and Stories Indexes added French-language papers from Canada.Elephind.com has been relaunched. It’s a great resource for searching multiple disparate newspaper collections at once. Watch Lisa Louise Cooke’s interview with the founder of Elephind.com for the story behind the relaunch and recommended search strategies.
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Listen to Lisa Louise Cooke’s Genealogy Gems podcast available at her website and all major podcasting services, or download the Genealogy Gems Podcast app.
In this episode of Best Websites, Katherine Schober highlights how Matricula Online can help you locate church registers.
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Best Genealogy Websites: Matricula Online
Matricula Online is a specialized digital archive where you can find church registers (mostly books of birth, marriage and death) from various European countries (currently Austria, Germany, Poland, Serbia and Slovenia).
German genealogy expert and translator Katherine Schober of Germanology Unlocked joins Lisa Louise Cooke on the podcast to explore this valuable and free website.
Visit Matricula Online at https://data.matricula-online.eu/en/
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In this episode of the Family Tree Magazine podcast, Rhonda Lauritzen offers practical tips for organizing your family history writing projects.
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Organizing Your Family History Writing ProjectsRhonda Lauritzen is a professional biographer at Evalogue.Life and a regular speaker at international conferences. She has written a dozen books and has been hired to help tell the stories of families, cities, and nonprofits. As an expert storyteller, Rhonda is joining us today to share how to efficiently write well-organized, gripping family history projects.
Read In the Write Order by Rhonda Lauritzen in the Nov / Dec 2025 issue of Family Tree Magazine.
Organizing Your Family History Writing Projects In this article, Rhonda Lauritzen offers strategies for managing family history writing projects to avoid overwhelm. Family Tree Magazine
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Listen to Lisa Louise Cooke’s Genealogy Gems podcast available at her website and all major podcasting services, or download the Genealogy Gems Podcast app.
In this episode of Best Websites, Daniel Loftus offers some valuable tips for using Find a Grave with more efficiency and respect for others in mind.
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Best Genealogy Websites: Find a Grave Daniel Loftus, Genealogist and Creator of Project Infant,joins Lisa Louise Cooke to discuss best practices for using the Find a Grave website for genealogy. At Find a Grave you can search for the graves of your ancestors, create virtual memorials,add photographs,leave virtual flowers and a note on a loved one’s memorial, and even search graves of famous people from around the world.
Guest: Daniel Loftus
Websites and Links
Visit Find a Grave: https://www.findagrave.com/
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In this episode of the Family Tree Magazine podcast, Robbie Gorr provides tips for the mastering the cemetery transcription.
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Feature: Cemetery Transcription
Amateur genealogist and historian Robbie Gorr explains everything you need to know for successful Cemetery Transcription.
Read Zen and the Art of Cemetery Transcription by Robbie Gorr in the September / October issue of Family Tree Magazine.
How to Research Marriage Records for Genealogy
Online resources mentioned in this episode:
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Listen to Lisa Louise Cooke’s Genealogy Gems podcast available at her website and all major podcasting services, or download the Genealogy Gems Podcast app.
In this episode of Best Websites, Lisa Louise Cooke highlights some of the most valuable features of Veridian, an excellent resource for finding historical newspapers.
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Best Genealogy Websites: VeridianIn this episode of the Best Websites for Genealogy Podcast, host Lisa Louise Cooke explores Veridian, and its millions of historic newspaper pages searchable and accessible online. Learn what Veridian, the scope of the collections and strategies for accessing the archival content. Whether you’re hunting for obituaries, wedding announcements, or everyday details that bring your ancestors’ lives into focus, Veridian offers a unique and free resource for your research.
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Listen to Lisa Louise Cooke’s Genealogy Gems podcast available at her website and all major podcasting services, or download the Genealogy Gems Podcast app.
In this episode of the Family Tree Magazine podcast, Lisa Louise Cooke speaks to Katie Merkley about homestead records and what they can tell us about ancestors.
https://media.blubrry.com/family_tree_magazine/content.blubrry.com/family_tree_magazine/09-2025-FTM.mp3
Feature: Homesteading Records and ResearchIn this episode, we’re digging into the lives of our American ancestors through land records—specifically, homestead records.
When President Abraham Lincoln signed the Homestead Act into law in 1862, it offered settlers a bold promise: free land in exchange for a commitment to improve it. This opportunity drew thousands of families westward in pursuit of a new beginning. But there was a catch—qualifying for that land required detailed documentation and years of effort.
While it may have been a bureaucratic challenge for our ancestors, that very paperwork has become a treasure trove for today’s genealogists. Homestead applications often include personal details, affidavits from neighbors, naturalization records, and more, providing an extraordinary window into our family’s past.
Websites mentioned in this episode:
A Genealogist’s Guide to Homesteading Records and Research This article explains what homesteading entails and how genealogists can find and use homesteading records in their own research. Family Tree Magazine
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Listen to Lisa Louise Cooke’s Genealogy Gems podcast available at her website, and all major podcasting services, or download the Genealogy Gems Podcast app.
In this episode of Best Websites, website founder Jenny Joyce of Cite-Builder.com shows the value of a proper citation and how Cite-Builder makes citation more manageable.
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In this episode, we dive into the world of genealogy with Jenny Joyce, the creator of Cite-Builder, an online citation generator designed specifically for genealogists.
Discover how Cite-Builder streamlines the often daunting task of creating source citations, making it easier for researchers to track and verify their findings.
Jenny shares insights on the importance of proper citation, the variety of templates available, and how her platform supports different citation styles.
Visit Cite-Builder.com Use coupon code FTM20 to receive a 20% discount on your first-year subscription.
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Listen to Lisa Louise Cooke’s Genealogy Gems podcast available at her website and all major podcasting services, or download the Genealogy Gems Podcast app.
In this episode, host Lisa Louise Cook interviews David Fryxell about the best online tools for genealogy research.
https://media.blubrry.com/family_tree_magazine/content.blubrry.com/family_tree_magazine/FTM-08-2025.mp3
Feature: 101 Best Genealogy Websites of 2025Lisa Louise Cooke and David Fryxell discuss the impact of AI on genealogy, the importance of newspapers as sources, innovative tech tools for genealogists, and international resources.
101 Best Genealogy Websites of 2025
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Join the thousands of genealogists who rely on Family Tree Magazine for the latest news and advice. Follow us today and start your journey of discovery!
Listen to Lisa Louise Cooke’s Genealogy Gems podcast available at her website, and all major podcasting services, or download the Genealogy Gems Podcast app.
In this episode of Best Websites, Lisa Louise Cooke walks through the National Archives and all there is to discover.
https://media.blubrry.com/family_tree_magazine/media.blubrry.com/family_tree_magazine/content.blubrry.com/family_tree_magazine/2025-07-BW.mp3
Best Genealogy Websites: The National Archives
In this episode of Family Tree Magazine’s Best Websites podcast, host Lisa Louise Cook dives into the National Archives website, a vital resource for genealogists. She discusses the vast array of free records available, including census, military, and immigration documents, and highlights unique collections such as the Freedmen’s Bureau records and Dawes Rolls. Lisa also shares tips for navigating the site and utilizing its features, including the History Hub and webinars, making it an essential tool for anyone researching their family history.
Resources Mentioned in This Article:
National Archives
Visit the National Archive’s Genealogy page.
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Listen to Lisa Louise Cooke’s Genealogy Gems podcast available at her website and all major podcasting services, or download the Genealogy Gems Podcast app.
In this episode of the Family Tree Magazine podcast, Andrew Koch offers tips for researching ancestors across the United States.
https://media.blubrry.com/family_tree_magazine/media.blubrry.com/family_tree_magazine/content.blubrry.com/family_tree_magazine/07-2025-FTM.mp3
Feature: How to research ancestors in any US state.
In this episode of the Family Tree Magazine podcast, host Lisa Louise Cooke welcomes Andrew Koch, the editor of Family Tree Magazine, to discuss the intricacies of genealogy research across the United States. They explore the importance of understanding U.S. history, the significance of vital records, the role of census records, and the value of land records in tracing family history. Andrew shares insights on the state-specific research guides published in the magazine and how they can aid genealogists in their quest to uncover their family histories.
Resources:
Takeaways:
It’s important to stay updated on privacy restrictions for records.
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Listen to Lisa Louise Cooke’s Genealogy Gems podcast available at her website and all major podcasting services, or download the Genealogy Gems Podcast app.
In this episode of Best Websites, Rick Crume highlights some translation tools for making sense of foreign-language records.
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Best Genealogy Websites: Translation Tools
One of the biggest challenges that genealogists face is translating foreign-language records, especially if the handwriting is hard to read. Author Rick Crume joins Lisa Louise Cooke on the podcast to discuss navigating a variety of tools that can get the job done.
Read Found in Translation by Rick Crume in the May / June 2025 issue of Family Tree Magazine.
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One of Family Tree Magazine’s best of 2024 is genealogy research software called Goldie May. It can help you speed up your research, untangle your family tree, and stay organized. It even has an automatic research log. It does not replace your genealogy programs, but it might replace the sticky notes on your monitor and papers on your desk — all those places where you keep notes and figure out your research.
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Family Tree Magazine May/June 2025 Digital Edition
In this episode of the Family Tree Magazine podcast, Lisa talks with Rhonda Lauritzen about to approach sensitive topics when interviewing relatives.
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Feature: Handling sensitive family interviews.
It can be a challenge to navigate hard-to-talk-about subjects in family history interviews. Author Rhonda Lauritzen shares interviewing tips from journalists, storytellers, and her own professional experience as a professional biographer at Evalogue.life.
Read Speaking Softly by Rhonda Lauritzen:
7 Steps for Handling Sensitive Subjects in Family History Interviews Navigate hard-to-talk-about subjects in family history interviews with these tips from journalists and other storytellers. Family Tree Magazine
Visit Our Sponsor: GoldieMay.com
One of Family Tree Magazine’s best of 2024 is genealogy research software called Goldie May. It can help you speed up your research, untangle your family tree, and stay organized. It even has an automatic research log. It does not replace your genealogy programs, but it might replace the sticky notes on your monitor and papers on your desk — all those places where you keep notes and figure out your research.
There’s lots to do for free. Get started at goldiemay.com.
In this episode of the podcast, Lisa Interview Richard Miller about all Goldie May has to offer.
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Listen to Lisa Louise Cooke’s Genealogy Gems podcast available at her website and all major podcasting services, or download the Genealogy Gems Podcast app.
In this episode of Best Websites, Lisa Louise Cooke offers tips for using Google Earth for genealogy.
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Best Genealogy Websites: Google Earth for Genealogy
Lisa Louise Cooke, author of The Genealogist’s Google Toolbox, 3rd edition and Family Tree University instructor explains the value of the Google Earth website to genealogists.
Download Google Earth for free.
Discover why Google Earth is an essential tool for every genealogist’s toolkit in this engaging episode. Lisa explores how this powerful platform brings your family history to life by:
Lisa dives into practical applications, highlighting features like:
Tune in to learn how Google Earth can transform your genealogy journey.
Visit Our Sponsor: GoldieMay.com
One of Family Tree Magazine’s best of 2024 is genealogy research software called Goldie May. It can help you speed up your research, untangle your family tree, and stay organized. It even has an automatic research log. It does not replace your genealogy programs, but it might replace the sticky notes on your monitor and papers on your desk — all those places where you keep notes and figure out your research.
There’s lots to do for free. Get started at goldiemay.com.
Stay in the Know
Sign up now for our FREE daily newsletter and get:
Plus, find Family Tree Magazine on your favorite social channels!
Your Host
Listen to Lisa Louise Cooke’s Genealogy Gems podcast available at her website and all major podcasting services, or download the Genealogy Gems Podcast app.
In this episode of the Family Tree Magazine podcast, Judy Russell tells us what genealogists can expect to find in divorce records.
In this episode of Best Websites, Diahan Southard walks through some of the most recent updates to AncestryDNA and MyHeritage DNA.
Listen for expert advice on overcoming common obstacles in learning about the women in your family tree.
In this episode, Dr. Brendan Scott, manager of RootsIreland, discusses the importance of the RootsIreland.ie website for Irish family history research.
Sunny Morton takes a look at three popular genealogy websites (Ancestry.com, FamilySearch.org and MyHeritage) and compares them and their features.
Sunny Jane Morton introduces us to WorldCat, a site that allows users to search libraries across the country in just a couple of clicks.
In this episode of the Family Tree Magazine podcast, photo expert Maureen Taylor offers tips for preserving cherished family photos for years to come.
The Newberry Library’s Atlas of Historical County Boundaries is a free website that helps you identify changing county boundaries throughout history. Listen, and learn how to use this interactive site as well as how to download files for later use.
In this episode of the Family Tree Magazine podcast, Editor-in-Chief Andrew Koch reflects on 25 years of Family Tree Magazine and discusses what the future holds.
In this episode, Lisa Louise Cooke’s guest is Stephen Morse, the founder of the One-Step Webpages website. Since 2001 genealogists have been using the site’s innovative tools to more effectively find immigration records, census records and vital records. Morse shares some tips on how you too can use these tools.
In this episode of the Family Tree Magazine monthly podcast, YouTuber Lisa Lisson explains what makes a person a cousin and offers tips for determining cousinhood.
Staff historian for the American Battle Monuments Commission shares tips for successfully searching online for information about burials overseas and suggestions for how genealogists can fully utilize ABMC's resources.
In this episode, author Laura Hedgecock explains how to write about places as you tell stories about your ancestors. Also, an interview with Jenny Ashcraft of Newspapers.com.
Lisa Louise Cooke speaks with Katherine Borges of the International Society of Genetic Genealogy (ISOGG) about using DNA test results to inform your genealogical research.
In this episode, Robbie Gorr introduces us to the morose but fascinating world of death heirlooms, explaining what they are and what we can learn from them. Feature: Death-related Family Heirlooms Death-related family heirlooms may seem a bit macabre by today’s standards, but they may actually hold details that are valuable to your genealogy research. Robbie Gorr…
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In this episode of Best Websites, Lisa Louise Cooke chats with Randy Seaver of Genea-Musings, a long-running genealogy blog packed with genealogy tips, stories and even a little bit of humor. One of the longest running genealogy blogs, Genea-Musings features genealogy research tips and techniques, genealogy news items and commentary, genealogy humor, family history research and…
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In this episode of the Family Tree Magazine Podcast, Lindsey Harner offers tips for navigating census records before 1850. Feature: Strategies for Using Pre-1850 US Censuses The census is one of those records that serves as the backbone of genealogy. However, not all census records are the same. Have you run into the dreaded “1850 brick wall”? Lindsey Harner is here to help us…
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In this episode of Best Websites, Lisa Louise Cooke talks with Brooke Schreier Ganz from Reclaim the Records, a group that aims to make genealogical records more accessible to researchers. Have you ever tried to access a record only to be told by a government agency or archive that you can’t? What can you do in those situations? Brooke Schreier Ganz figured out that there was a…
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In this episode of the Family Tree Magazine Podcast, author Rhonda Lauritzen offers tips for writing your ancestors in an engaging, unique way. Feature: Writing Your Family History If you’ve been researching your family history for a while, you may be thinking about writing the story so that you can share it with others. Author Rhonda Lauritzen joins Lisa Louise Cooke to share…
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In this episode of Best Websites, Lisa Louise Cooke chats with David Fryxell about some of the highlights from Family Tree Magazine‘s 2024 list of 101 Best Websites. There’s an ever growing number of websites out there that can help you in your family history research, but which ones are the best and worth your time? David Fryxell joins Lisa Louise Cooke to answer that question.
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In this episode of the Family Tree Magazine podcast, Lisa Louise Cooke speaks with Sunny Morton about choosing the best heritage tour companies and seeking out the most valuable resources as you plan your heritage trip. Feature: Genealogy Travel Guest: Sunny Jane Morton In her article called Tour Guides appearing in the May June 2024 issue of Family Tree Magazine…
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In this episode, genealogist and writer David Fryxell highlights some of the best Google tools for genealogists to use, including Google Scholar, Google Drive, and more. Guest Host: Melina Papadopoulos, Digital Editor Rick Crume, author of the article 15 Essential Google Tools for Genealogy Research, discusses the top Google tools and how to use them for genealogy.
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In this episode of the Family Tree Magazine podcast, Steve Little of the National Genealogy Society chats with Andrew Koch about AI tools like ChatGPT and how to use them effectively for genealogy research. Artificial Intelligence (best known as AI) has taken the world by storm over the past few years. This is especially true for chatbots like ChatGPT. Naturally…
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In this episode of Best Websites, Family Tree Magazine editor Andrew Koch walks us through the full-text library from FamilySearch. FamilySearch announced Full-Text Search just this year at RootsTech 2024. Family Tree Magazine Editor Andrew Koch explains how the tool can transform your genealogy and even walks us through how to it to find valuable information about ancestors.
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In this episode, Lindsay Fulton from American Ancestors speaks with us about the 10 Million Names Project, its purpose and how you can get involved. Researching enslaved ancestors can be a challenge. Fortunately, American Ancestors is working hard to recover the names of the millions of people who where enslaved in the United States via the 10 Million Names Project. In this episode…
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In this episode of Best Websites, DNA Expert Kitty Munson Cooper offer tips for using GEDmatch to better understand your DNA test results. Best Genealogy Websites: GEDmatch GEDmatch is a handy third-party tool that allows you to compare your DNA test results with over 1.5 million profiles across many of the major DNA test companies. GEDmatch also offers several features to help…
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In this episode, New Media Editor Rachel Christian talks with her cousin, professional organizer Lahni Carney about handling inherited research and items with care. Feature: Organization for Family Historians Professional organizer Lahni Carney explains all that goes into professional organizing and how family historians can strategize to preserve their most valuable research and…
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In this episode of Best Website, Gena Philibert-Ortega offers some tips for using Ancestry Pro Tools to improve the accuracy of your family tree. Best Genealogy Websites: Ancestry Pro Tools (00:56) Ancestry recently announced a new membership called the Pro Tools membership that provides new ways for users to improve the accuracy of their family trees.
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In this episode of the Family Tree Magazine podcast, author and genealogist Eliza Watson provides some valuable tips for researchers looking to overcome obstacles in their Irish genealogy research. Feature: Irish Genealogy Brick Walls Eliza Watson is a USA Today best-selling author and genealogist. Her book is Genealogy Tips and Quips, and she has an article in the upcoming…
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In this episode of Best Websites, New Media Editor and Guest Host Rachel Christian interviews Leah Larkin about an exciting new genealogy tool called BanyanDNA. You can catch Dr. Larkin at this year’s RootsTech conference to learn more about BanyanDNA. Note: BanyanDNA differs from WATO in that it doesn’t suggest hypotheses. BanyanDNA can give an estimate of which hypotheses are most…
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In this episode, Family Tree Magazine Editor and Podcast Guest Host Andrew Koch interviews Sunny Morton about the highly anticipated genealogy conference RootsTech, what to expect and what past conferences had to offer. Rootstech – Your Story Is Worth Remembering will be held 29 February through 2 March 2024 in Salt Lake City, Utah and online. Family Tree Magazine Contributing…
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That’s right! We’re starting off 2024 by taking a look at our very own FamilyTreeMagazine.com. Join Lisa Louise Cooke as she highlights some of our best free downloadable genealogy forms, informative eBooks, quick reference guides and so much more. In each episode of this podcast, we highlight one of the best websites that can help you with your genealogy research.
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In this episode, we celebrate 15 years of the Family Tree Magazine podcast by revisiting some of our most popular interviews. First, we learn from Rich Venezia once more about finding ancestors’ hometowns. Then, we review some tried-and-true heirloom preservation tips from Denise May Levenick. Finally, we listen as your DNA Guide Diahan Southard explains what to do about missing or unexpected…
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In this episode, we revisit the April 2023 interview with Kathryn Marks, in which she offers a walk-through of the Passenger Search database as a tool for finding ancestors who arrived in America via the Port of New York. The sponsor of today’s episode is Newspaper.com, the largest online newspaper archive. Newspapers.com is your ultimate resource for family history research.
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In this episode, we look at some of the most memorable interviews from 2023, including Lisa Alzo sharing her family history research plan and Denise May Levenick offering tips for preserving old family recipes and kitchenware. Also, Family Tree Magazine Editor Andrew Koch provides a 2023 genealogy year in review. At the beginning of the year, Lisa Alzo broke down the basics of…
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In this episode, Ryan and Chris from FamilySearch walk us through the FamilySearch Image Portal and how to use it effectively to find images.
In this episode, Thomas MacEntee shares how AI has been shaping the world of genealogy. Also, find some excellent tips for writing your family history.
VGA president Jeanette Sheliga talks about the VGA, its offerings and the benefits of getting involved with a virtual community devoted to genealogy.
In this episode, Robyn Smith explains how census records can be misleading. Also, Gena Philibert-Ortega offers tips for preserving family recipes.
In this episode, James Beidler highlights Meyers Gazetteer and how it can best guide your German genealogy research.
In this episode, Lisa Louise Cooke reviews an article written by Melanie D. Holtz, which offers some excellent tips on Italian genealogy research. Also, learn how to read even the most challenging handwriting on your ancestors’ documents with the help of Colleen Stutz. Tree Talk (00:53) Family Tree Magazine New Media editor Rachel Christian covers the latest genealogy news.
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In this episode, Cyndi Ingle shares some of the resources found on her website and how visitors can make the most of these resources.
In this episode, Shannon Combs-Bennett highlights the top DNA tests and their benefits. Plus, Charlotte Barnes tells us how to get kids interested in genealogy.
In this episode, Sunny Jane Morton highlights some of the key features of the free tool Historypin, which allows users to share images, online photos and more.
In this episode, David Fryxell explains how to research U.S. colonial ancestors. Plus, learn how to preserve heirloom American flags.
In this episode, Rick Crume highlights some of the websites that made Family Tree Magazine's lists of 101 Best Genealogy Websites and 75 Best State Websites.
In this episode, Kathryn Lake Hogan talks about the 1931 Census of Canada and how to search it. Plus, learn how to plan a memorable family reunion.
In this episode of Best Websites, co-founder Daniel Pinna showcases everything that his platform AncientFaces has to offer as a tool for searching and sharing family memories and as a community. Our Sponsor: Mylio,com If you have countless family photos, documents and home videos stored away in boxes, Mylio can help you keep those valuable items safe. Keep your special family photos in one digital...
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In this episode, Robbie Gorr shares the eerie but beautiful history and art behind Victorian post-mortem photography. Plus, learn how to keep those original photo prints safe with Photo Detective Maureen Taylor. Family Tree Magazine New Media editor Rachel Fountain covers the latest genealogy news. May is National Photography Month, and Rachel provides some resources that can help you both...
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In this episode of Best Websites, Kathryn Marks of the Family History Center at Ellis Island tells us how to use the Passenger Search database to find ancestors who arrived in America via the Port of New York. Our Sponsor: Mylio.com Mylio allows you to store your special family photos in one digital library so that can be easily shared, organized and preserved for years to come.
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In this episode, Stephen Wendt shows us how we can uncover stories about our ancestors and learn more about them as people simply by gleaning old newspapers. Also, learn how to create an inspiring outline to guide you as you write your family history. Family Tree Magazine New Media editor Rachel Fountain covers the latest genealogy news. Join the conversation – Follow Family Tree Magazine: Sign up...
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From March 2nd through March 4th, genealogists from all over the world gathered in Salt Lake City for the highly anticipated genealogy conference, RootsTech 2023. But even if you couldn’t make it in person, you can still enjoy quality RootsTech content from the comfort of home. In this episode, Jen Allen from FamilySearch highlights the RootsTech.org on-demand library and how you can search it to...
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In this interview, Shelley Bishop offers some strategies and resources for tracking down the maiden names of female ancestors. Also, learn what you can do with those family photos that smell less than pleasant. This episode is sponsored by Newspapers.com. Get 20% off a Publisher Extra subscription at Newspapers.com with coupon code familytreemagazine. Family Tree Magazine New Media editor Rachel...
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In this episode of Best Websites, genealogist and writer Shamele Jordon highlights the many resources available on Enslaved.org, a website perfect for those who wish to research African American genealogy. Our Sponsor: Newspapers.com Get 20% off a Publisher Extra subscription at Newspapers.com with coupon code familytreemagazine. There is more digitized material available for African American...
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In this episode, Anna Rose Johnson provides tips for taking advantage of the many resources offered by local libraries to find your ancestors. Also, learn how to preserve heirloom utensils and other kitchenware. Family Tree Magazine New Media editor Rachel Fountain shares topic news items relating to genealogy and family history. Resources Mentioned in Interview: USCIS Records Website Legal...
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In this episode of Best Websites, Lisa Louise Cooke walks us through Ancestry.com’s expansive card catalog and reveals how this resource can be used to find valuable records for free. Ancestry.com is one of the world’s most popular genealogy websites. The card catalog at Ancestry.com can make it much easier to find records, even if you’re not a subscriber. The Card Catalog helps you determine...
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In this episode, Lisa Alzo offers practical tips for creating your own genealogy research plan. Plus, learn how to better organize that research (including any documents and other valuable resources). Family Tree Magazine New Media editor Rachel Christian joins Lisa to share the latest genealogy new. Some highlights for January include: National Archives has launched a newly redesigned version of...
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In this podcast, genealogist Robyn Smith tells us how you can use witness records to guide your genealogy research. Plus: learn what you can do with those photo negatives and how to navigate WikiTree. This podcast is sponsored by Newspapers.com, the largest online newspaper archive. Newspapers.com boasts over half a billion digitized newspapers from the 1690s to the present day and can help you...
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In this episode, Diahan Southard talks about building your family tree with just your DNA. Also, learn about DNAPainter.om and storytelling tools.
In this episode, Rich Venezia shows you how to find your ancestor's Old World town of origin. Plus: learn how to clean tombstones and how to use DeadFred.com to find and upload old photos.
In this episode, Denise May Levenick talks about genealogy wills. Also: learn about Sanborn Fire Insurance maps and how to study what your ancestors are wearing in old photos.
In this episode, Todd Lucero Sales talks about Filipino genealogy. Plus: learn how to know what to keep or toss and discover the capabilities of RootsMagic.
In this episode, Lindsey Harner shares 5 questions to ask when records turn up conflicting birthdates. Also learn how to share photos online and use PERSI.
genealogical research. Also: find out what resources made the 2022 Best Genealogy Websites list and learn how one TikTok user is using the platform to explore cemeteries and uncover stories from the past.
In this episode, James Beidler offers practical tips for tracking down German-speaking ancestors who lived outside Germany. Plus: learn how to preserve special family treasures and navigate David Rumsey's Map Collections Project, a priceless genealogical tool.
In this episode, Gena Philibert-Ortega joins us to discuss the importance of understanding 20th century census records as genealogists. Plus: we explore how to participate in the indexing of the 1950 census and sniff out both facts and fictions in family stories.
In this episode we're getting ready for the release of the 1950 census by learning how to research ancestors through the 1940s, as well as how to find your ancestors' Enumeration District with Steve Morse's One-Step Webpages. Plus, unlikely sources for family photos and much more!
In this episode, Family Tree University instructor Shamele Jordon joins us to discuss challenges in African American genealogy research and how family historians can overcome them. Plus we explore websites for French genealogy records, newspaper research and a new online storytelling tool.
Have you ever wondered what it would take to become a forensic genealogist? In this episode, Dr. Claire Glynn joins us to discuss a new program that trains participants how to apply genetic and traditional genealogy to forensic investigations.
In this episode, our host Lisa Louise Cooke and her guests discuss what archival supplies you need to safely protect and preserve your family history. Plus, editor Andrew Koch reviews the most significant genealogy news in 2021 and looks looks ahead to what's new in 2022. Listen for all this and more, and set yourself up for genealogy success in the new year!
In this episode, genealogist and author Judy Nimer Muhn discusses how to research ancestors who who belonged to one of the United States’ five largest indigenous tribes today: Navajo, Cherokee, Sioux, Chippewa and Choctaw. Plus, Diahan Southard is back to shed some light on DNA Painter and what third-party DNA tools can tell you about your genetic ancestry.
In this spooky episode of the Family Tree Podcast, we learn how to locate and use historical obituaries for genealogy research. We'll also compare the the three major cemetery websites and take a closer look at the origins of Halloween.
Do you feel a spiritual connection to your ancestors? In this episode, our host Lisa Louise Cooke interviews author Lori Erickson about the connection between genealogy and spirituality. Plus, our DNA expert Diahan Southard is back to discuss how and why ethnicity estimates change, and we take a look at a Facebook group that returns lost family heirlooms to their rightful homes.
In this episode of the Family Tree Podcast, Lisa interviews author Helen Parker-Drabble about how so-called "modern" mental health problems like anxiety or depression shaped the lives of our ancestors, and how understanding their experiences can benefit future generations. Plus, our DNA expert is back and we chat with Devon Lee of the YouTube channel Family History Fanatics.
At Family Tree Magazine we like to shine a light on the most important sources for your genealogical research, and marriage records rank right up there at the top of the list. In this episode, Lisa is joined by Amanda Epperson to discuss how and why to research marriage records.
Scanning documents and photos is an important step in preserving family history – but what about those items that are hard to scan (like slides and photo negatives)? In this episode, learn how to scan these items and overcome more common scanning challenges.
In this episode, join our host Lisa Louise Cooke and her guests as they discuss strategies for researching indentured servants, websites for Jewish genealogy research and so much more.
This month's podcast features an in-depth look at the vast genealogy resources available at the Allen County Public Library in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Librarian Allison Singleton joins Lisa to discuss how this library can help anyone on their genealogy journey, no matter where they are.
In this episode, Lisa and her guests explore records and resources for tracing Irish ancestry. Plus, our DNA expert explains how to interpret your ethnicity results.
The biggest genealogy event of the year has gone virtual! Lisa talks with RootsTech’s Jen Allen to see what participants can expect from RootsTech Connect. Plus, our DNA expert sheds some light on re-testing, and we get an inside look at the Freedmen’s Bureau records available on FamilySearch. Ep. #146: February 2021 Back to the […]
In this episode, we're bringing you some of our favorite free genealogy resources and money-saving tips so you can start your year off strong (without breaking the bank).
Lisa interviews author Annette Gendler about how to address difficult or uncomfortable information when writing your family's history. Plus, tips from our DNA expert on how to persuade relatives to take a DNA test, as well as a closer look at the genealogy resources available at the State Library of Pennsylvania.
Author Chris Child joins Lisa to discuss strategies for discovering Mayflower ancestors. Plus, our DNA expert is back to talk about how to understand missing or unexpected matches.
Author Joy Neighbors joins Lisa to talk about cemetery research and how you can use gravestone symbols to discover more about your ancestors. Plus, our DNA experts discusses testing deceased relatives and we explore strategies for success on Find a Grave.
In this month’s episode, Lisa talks with genealogist and librarian Daniel Klein about how the COVID-19 pandemic has affected genealogy research and what genealogy will look like in the future.
Diana Elder (AG) and Nicole Dyer join Lisa to discuss the process of becoming a professional genealogist. Plus, how to organize your DNA matches and much more.
Lisa interviews Faruq Tauheed, host of the NBC TV series “Roots Less Traveled" about the show and his own genealogy journey. Plus, highlights from the 101 Best Websites for Genealogy and a look at the burgeoning market of health-focused DNA tests.
Lisa interviews Brian Sheffey, author of the book Practical Genealogy: 50 Simple Steps to Research Your Diverse Family History. Listen for practical tips you can apply to your genealogy research, plus the latest edition of our 101 Best Websites for Genealogy and much more.
Lisa talks with author Rachael Rifkin about preserving our family history before it's lost to time. Plus: great websites to help with your writing project and much more.
Lisa interviews author Libby Copeland and discusses how consumer DNA tests are changing the way we think of family. Plus, free DNA websites and much more.
Join Lisa and her guests as she discusses unusual and underused records for researching your female ancestors. Plus: Dutch genealogy websites, genetic communities, and a few great genealogy accounts to follow on social media.
This month, Lisa is joined by contributing editor Sunny Morton to discuss key strategies for researching enslaved African American ancestors.
In this episode, founding editor David A. Fryxell reflects on the past 20 years in genealogy and shares his favorite timeless genealogy research strategies.
Join Lisa and her guests for an update on Family Tree Magazine's new edition of the best state websites for genealogy!
The podcast is back and better than ever with new tips, tricks and interviews with the experts. Join Lisa as she tackles perfect photo books and much more.
Add these genealogy problem-solving tricks and strategies to your research arsenal with this February 2019 podcast.
2018 has been a busy year in the genealogy world! We're wrapping it up with a recap, and chatting about what we look forward to in 2019. Join us!
If you have any UK ancestry, you won't want to miss this episode! Lisa and her guests discuss the best UK websites, the genes that make up the British Isles, and much more!
Learn strategies for your biggest genealogy problems, discussing the difference between DNA types and looking at FamilySearch’s Communities.
This month we’re discussing unusual immigration records, plus find out which websites are best for saving and sharing your research.
Recorded live at the FGS conference in Ft. Wayne, Indiana, it's our annual Best Genealogy Websites episode. We're discussing our 101 best sites list, interviewing Daniel Horowitz from MyHeritage, chatting with Rick Voight from Vivid-Pix and much more. Don't miss this episode!
In this month’s podcast, we’re not only discussing DNA and adoption, but also premiering several new segments.
The Family Tree Podcast is celebrating its 10 year anniversary! Join us as we discuss some of our favorite stories and interviews from the last decade.
Need help deciding which DNA test is right for you? In this month's podcast we'll share tips for selecting your test. We're also discussing Family Tree Magazine's new look. Join us!
Ready to dive into Ancestry.com? Grab your headphones and join Lisa and her guests as they discuss top tips for maximizing the site.
This month Lisa focuses on online family trees. We'll be discussing tips for digitizing your history, MyHeritage's tree hints, and much more!
This month is all about genetic genealogy. We'll be discussing Ancestry.com’s new Migrations tool, top DNA websites, and much more!
Our January Podcast is all about famous family trees. Join Lisa as she discusses heraldry and the upcoming royal wedding.
In our December 2017 podcast, we'll be discussing DNA and adoption, plus some of our favorite things from 2017!
In our November 2017 podcast, Lisa shares tips on creating a family history book, plus websites for sharing your family history.
Lisa investigates tips for breaking down brick walls, knowing when to hire an expert, and chats with the FTU Dean.
Lisa discusses the 101 Best Genealogy Sites of 2017, along with interviews from the editors of Family Tree Magazine.
Learn what you can expect from the Fall Virtual Genealogy Conference, including previews of what you learn and how to make the most of the experience.
Lisa dives into the topic of DNA testing, from the latest news from two of the best-known companies, getting started, and working with your results.
In this podcast episode, we talk about using old maps and mapping tools to learn more about your ancestors through the places they've lived and loved.
In this May 2017 podcast episode, host Lisa Louise Cooke brings in genealogy research experts Claire Santry and James Beidler to talk about researching ethnic heritage.
In this genealogy podcast episode, discover fabulous online resources for finding your family history and working with the ones you frequent.
In this month's podcast, we celebrate Black History Month with tips for finding your African-American ancestors.
Kick off the year with these tips to formulate your plan for successful genealogy research.
In this December podcast, we explore state-based genealogy research and the available tools and techniques for discovering our U.S. ancestors.
Gain invaluable insight into the lives of your ancestors by learning how to use social history to reconstruct their neighborhoods, find new records, and more.
Learn all about what cemetery records you can find and how they can benefit your genealogy research in this month's podcast.
Family Tree Magazine is celebrating our 100th episode with this special, hour-long podcast. From unusual surnames to special censuses, get the great genealogy search tips and tools, we revisit five highlights from the past few years.
In this episode, Lisa Louise Cooke and company discuss the best genealogy websites for 2016, recently published by Family Tree Magazine.
The secret to great genealogy: Learn how to organize your family history research with the tips, tools and techniques in this July 2016 podcast.
Follow along with Family Tree University and host Lisa Louise Cooke as we cover the essentials of researching your ancestors' military service.
Get genealogy tips for researching those hard-to-find ancestors: using newspaper archives, finding missing people in the census and more.
In this April, 2016 episode of the get the scoop on tracing your immigrant ancestors, from tips on finding German and Eastern European ancestors, to tracing your Irish roots.
Learn about some great online tools, apps and resources you can use in your genealogy research.
Get the best genealogy research tips and tools for searching your family's last names - from how to handle common surnames to making use of geographical data.
Set yourself up to make your genealogy research efforts successful in 2016, with ideas for organizing your work with spreadsheets, top tips for making sure you're adding the correct person to your family tree, and more!
In this month's episode, wrap up the year with Lisa Louise Cooke and her tips on using the cloud to back up your genealogy research online.
In this month's episode, learn how to break down those brick walls in your family tree with fantastic tips and tools from Lisa Louise Cooke and her guests.
Join Lisa Louise Cooke and guest Sunny Morton to learn four tips to learn how to use courthouse records in your family search and create a plan that will lead to finding good leads, without wasting your time!
This episode is all about getting organized so you can quickly store and secure your genealogical findings and build your genealogy portfolio.
Get the scoop on the 101 best websites in genealogy and search strategies for maximizing your investigations.
This month, learn how to start searching for your family history with hints from Discover Your Roots, Instant Discoveries on MyHeritage, the Family Tree Memory Keeper by Allison Dolan and more.
This month's theme is Rooting Out Research Mistakes. Lisa interviews contributing editors for tips on how to keep your genealogy clean of errors.
This month we have tips on photo organizing secrets, 25 keepsake family photo projects and Lisa provides strategies for navigating the Library of Congress Prints & Photographs Online Catalog.
Lisa interviews guests about key strategies for creating simple source citations. Plus, Lisa walks through how to use WorldCat's source documentation tool.
Lisa interviews guests about mapping strategies, websites to find and use old maps like HistoryGeo, David Rumsey and Google Earth, and the brand new Family Tree Historical Maps Book: Europe.
This month's theme is Online Genealogy Hints and Hacks. We talk about tips for sites from Google to Facebook to FamilySearch.org.
In the 15th Anniversary episode of the podcast, host Lisa Louise Cooke asks the editors and writers of Family Tree Magazine to reminisce about the past decade and a half in genealogy, and to speculate on the future of family history.
We'll discuss major genealogy news to happen in 2014, the best family history websites of 2014, and tips from the best webinars to take place this year.
Special guest CeCe Moore discusses what it’s like to research for the PBS show “Finding Your Roots with Henry Louis Gates Jr.”
This month we're haunting ancestral cemeteries! Analyze ancestral tombstones, find obituaries online and learn how to make a cemetery research trip.
This month is all about Genealogy Preparedness. Learn how to backup your research, archive physical files and ensure long-term preservation of your genealogy.
In this month's episode, learn all about Ancestry.com including the site's recent attack from hackers and about the retirement of popular Ancestry.com services.
This month's theme is Tracing Military Ancestors. Learn how to find info on your female veteran ancestors, what military records you can find and much more.
Prepare for your summer genealogy road trips and tours with this episode, including what to pack and the best apps for researching on the road.
For many genealogists, the goal of their research is to share it with future generations. This month, learn about some helpful tools for doing just that.
Because brick walls are such a consistent nuisance for genealogists, learn how to combat them with the latest tips and tricks from the experts.
On the heels of the annual RootsTech conference, learn about the latest high-tech research tools, including the massive databases on Ancestry.com.
This episode's theme is the 175th Anniversary of Photography. Learn about photo editing and retouching for genealogists, cool photo features on sites like MyHeritage and FamilySearch.org, and hear about the history of photography from the Photo Detective herself, Maureen Taylor.
This episode's theme is State Sources. Learn about the best state websites for your genealogy, go inside the wealth of information at the Kentucky Historical Society and discover state crash courses at Family Tree Shop.
This episode's theme is Ethnic Heritage. Learn about your immigrant ancestors through church records, the National Archives of Norway, Czech and Slovak Genealogy courses and through ethnic value packs and eBooks.
This month's theme is Family History Month. Learn how to convert old home videos, organize your genealogy, and how to use the site Tribal Pages. Plus: New section in Family Tree Magazine!
This month's theme is Genealogy and Geography. Learn how to trace your ancestral village, how to add "local flavor" to your genealogy and more.
This month's theme is 101 Best Genealogy Websites 2013. Learn about some of this year's best websites, including the Newberry Library, FamilySearch.org, Ancestry.com and My Genealogy Hound. Plus: Become an Ancestry.com Power User.
This month's theme is Civil War Roots. Learn how to find your Gettysburg ancestors, honor the battlefield with a virtual visit, and learn to navigate the Civil War Soldiers and Sailors System website.
This month's theme is Family History Freebies. Learn about some free family history tools, Heritage Quest, and how to become a FamilySearch.org Power User.
This month, explore overlooked and underused sources with courthouse records, probate records and Cyndi's List.
This month, explore American history for genealogists with historic maps, social history tools and the Family Tree Magazine "Top 40 Genealogy Blogs".
This month, research your female roots by learning how to tease out maiden names, sources to check, and learning more about the historical context of our female ancestor’s lives.
In this episode, learn tips on historic photo identification and preservation from the Family Photo Detective, learn about the historical photograph identification site Dead Fred from founder Joe Bott, and explore a Family Tree University Power Course on photo restoration and preservation.
This month, explore genealogy online by learning about Google Books, WikiTree.com, Ancestry.com and the Ultimate Google for Genealogists Collection.
Celebrate the holidays by recording your family history. Learn quick tips for getting your name on the bookshelf or take an online course on creating a family book. Plus, discover British records on FindMyPast.com.
This month, give thanks for your family by digitizing your documents and photos. Learn tricks for scanning old pictures, and get the details on digital photography essentials.
This month, celebrate Halloween by diving into your heritage. Learn how to navigate a cemetery, tips and tricks for tombstones and the benefits of Find A Grave. Plus: An insider look at big acquisitions in the genealogy world.
This month, practice some preventative medicine with your family tree by guarding it from sick sources, learn what DNA tests can reveal about your genealogy and get the 411 on why you should be citing your sources. Plus: A breakdown of some new genealogy apps.
Take your genealogy on the road with some great new mobile apps, learn tips and tricks for family history travel, and tour the top mobile websites of 2012 pulled straight from the brand new "101 Best Websites for Tracing Your Roots" list. Plus: How to win a free registration to the Fall Virtual Genealogy Conference.
Celebrate The War of 1812 Bicentennial, get an update on the 1940 census, learn tips for Revolutionary War genealogy resources and how to search the Daughters of the American Revolution website. Plus: Secrets on how to find your immigrant ancestors.
Find out the best websites for putting your ancestors in historical context and get a taste of your family's food history.
Understanding the 1862 Homestead Act, using the Newberry Atlas of Historical Boundaries, and demystifying confusing land record terms. Plus: Why Facebook's new timeline has a silver lining for genealogists.
In this episode, we're celebrating the release of the 1940 census with tips, websites and resources you can use in your research.
Finding living relatives, verifying data from online family trees, and an interview with Daniel Horowitz, Chief Genealogist at MyHeritage.com. Plus: Using Facebook to find out more about your ancestor's hometown.
The campaign to save the Social Security Death Index, an interview with Mocavo’s Chief Genealogist, a sneak peek at the Spring 2012 Virtual Conference!
Finding living relatives, verifying data from online family trees and an interview with Daniel Horowitz, Chief Genealogist at MyHeritage.com.
This month's podcast features tips on naming conventions, as well as a discussion of the Western States Historical Marriage Index.
Tips on how to get relatives to discuss family history, a discussion of the Historic American Cookbook Project, and news on the Genealogists for Families project at Kiva.com.
In this episode we explore using autosomal DNA testing to solve family mysteries, planning a research trip to Salt Lake City and more.
Search secrets for online newspaper collections, a crash course in finding digitized old books on the web, and pointers for using the Periodical Source Index to find articles about your ancestry. Plus: A new source for US census records online.
Tips for tracing your roots in the old country, including a crash course in German genealogy with Family Tree University instructor Jim Beidler, the benefits of heritage societies and an introduction to the Genlias website of Dutch records. Plus: Win photo organizing help and hear the latest FamilySearch news.
Get acquainted with Family Tree Magazine's 101 Best Websites of 2011. David A. Fryxell points out some of his favorite resources, and Allison Stacy gives us the scoop on the Family Tree University Virtual Conference in August. Plus: Google Earth for Genealogists, online backup services and 1940 census enumeration districts.
Hit the road with Family Tree Magazine this summer -- the June episode of the podcast offers up advice for taking research trips and preserving your ancestors' souvenirs. Plus: Learn about our state research webinars and the Early American Roads and Trails website.
It's all about photos this month, as host Lisa Louise Cooke explores Flickr, gets advice from Photo Detective Maureen A. Taylor and talks digital photography with Nancy Hendrickson. Plus: Tips on new deals at Family Tree Shop, news from the blogosphere and advice for preserving digital images.
April's episode is all about Civil War and military research. We chat with Michael Varhola, the author of Life in Civil War America, and Diana Crisman Smith, the instructor of Family Tree University's US Military Research class and the Civil War Research class. Plus: Tips on preserving military uniforms and details on how to enter our Civil War sweepstakes.
Trying to find an ancestors whose case has gone cold? Lisa Alzo offers brick wall busting strategies from our March 2011 issue. We also dig into Irish resources, talk about source documentation and offer advice on digital photo preservation.
February is Black History Month, and this edition of the podcast is chock full of great resources for African-American researchers. We've got a look at AfriGeneas.com, our African-American newspapers FTU course and some preservation projects focused on black history. Plus: An insider's look at the new season of "Who Do You Think You Are?"
We'll show you how to get 2011 started on the right foot. We've got tips for using a research plan and ways you can make 2011 the year of the heirloom.
Learn how to preserve your family's legacy. We offer tips for collecting family stories, preserving heirloom recipes and organizing your memories online.
US research is the focus of this episode, with the best websites for state research and the Washington State Digital Archive. Plus: tips for using US vital records from Family Tree University, news from FamilySearch and tips for organizing your heirlooms.
In this episode, we've got advice on tracing immigrant ancestors, news about Ancestry.com's acquisition of Footnote.com, Scots-Irish research tips and more.
We've got a roundup of portable scanners, advice on going green with your research and a look at the new FamilySearch Beta website.
Having trouble finding your family tree's Mr. Right? Helpful advice from Sharon DeBartolo Carmack will help you break down your brick wall.
We talk about our list of Family Tree Magazine's 101 Best Websites for 2010, and give you links to some of the best preservation resources online.
We celebrate the podcast's second anniversary with tips for preserving your own legacy and heirlooms plus a look at our next book, the Family Tree Pocket Reference.
We're hanging out in the cemetery this month, with previews of our latest book, Grave Humor, advice on doing tombstone rubbings and info on a great cemetery website.
Be the first to know about our new book, 101 Brick Wall Busters. Plus, get tips for preserving heirloom quilts.
The March 2010 episode of our podcast is a census extravaganza to go along with our May 2010 issue. Editor Allison Stacy talks about the 2010 census and our back issues on CD, and Managing Editor Diane Haddad talks about the new hit NBC show "Who Do You Think You Are?" Take a tour of Footnote.com's interactive census records, and learn how to preserve your family Bible in Safe Keeping with Grace Dobush.
Tune into the February 2010 episode of our podcast, which features tips on African-American genealogy, newspaper preservation and tips for getting your genealogy in shape. Editor Allison Stacy talks about genealogy education opportunities, and Managing Editor Diane Haddad talks about new resources for African-American research. And you can hear our new preservation segment, Safe Keeping with Grace Dobush.
The January 2010 episode of our podcast is celebration of Family Tree Magazine's 10th anniversary. Founder and contributing editor David Fryxell talks with us about the origins of Family Tree Magazine and shares some of the top tips from its pages over the last decade. Managing Editor Diane Haddad goes behind the scenes at Ancestry.com. And you can hear our latest segment, the Family Tree University Crash Course.
Learn about our humorous tombstone search, plus Lisa talks with Illya D’Addezio about his website: Live Roots.
Diane Haddad gives you the inside scoop on Footnote's new interactive census collection, which will add 9.5 million documents to the website's collection.
Searching for Native American roots? Jim Warren offers advice from his article in the November 2009 issue.
In this episode we explore the variety of US collections available at the Library of Congress.
Lisa talks with publisher Allison Stacy about Family Tree Magazine's 10th anniversary, as well as a sneak peak of the magazine's redesign.
In this episode’s top tips segment, Family Tree Magazine contributing editor Maureen A. Taylor tells us how reversing the rules can deliver some great results.
Allison and Lisa talk about upcoming genealogy events where you can meet Family Tree Magazine staff, network with fellow researchers and take away great ideas for tracing your roots.
In this episode we get some tips from the experts on using census records to discover your ancestors.
Photo Detective Maureen A. Taylor talks with host Lisa Louise Cooke about historical hairstyles and what they can tell us about our ancestors.
We review the best and worst states for genealogy research, plus a look at the Family History Library, World Vital Records and Irish roots.
We share new record releases and money-saving research tips, plus advice for creating, sharing and preserving family photos.
Learn secrets for searching online library catalogs, historical newspapers on GenealogyBank, and great ideas for tracing your roots in the new year.
Highlights from this episode include genealogy gifts, top tips for making the most of Google, hints for interviewing relatives over the holidays and more.
This episode is all about Civil War Research, including a look at the Soldiers and Sailors Database from the National Park Service.
Lisa chats with Sunny McClellan Morton, author of the article "Skeletons In The Closet" from the Nov 2008 issue, plus much more.
Host Lisa Louise Cooke and managing editor Diane Haddad bring you news from the 2008 Federation of Genealogical Societies conference.
Lisa and Allison discuss ways that listeners and readers can get involved with Family Tree Magazine.
This episode is all about websites! Join us as we feature some of our favorites from the upcoming 101 Best Websites for Genealogy feature.
Welcome to the premiere episode of the Family Tree Magazine podcast! We're sharing our best tips, resources and more.