Articles & Books From Genealogy

Article / Updated 11-27-2023
The amount of available family history resources has skyrocketed in the last couple of decades. This is an exciting time for genealogy research because scanned images of key records are coming online at an unprecedented rate. Also, technologies such as DNA testing have been refined and are now invaluable tools that complement evidence from paper records.
Article / Updated 07-19-2023
There are a few things you need to know about receiving GEDCOM (GEenealogical Data COMmunication) files. Just as you would be careful about trusting information written out in a report or chart, you need to be careful before importing someone else's GEDCOM file into your genealogical database. If they have wrong information about an ancestor you share, you could corrupt your whole database and set you back in your efforts.
Cheat Sheet / Updated 04-25-2022
Hundreds of genealogy websites help you research family origins and movements; online is the place to be for genealogy research. Among many specialized websites, Helm's Genealogy Toolbox is the oldest comprehensive genealogy and local history index. The links on this site point to other resources available to assist your research.
Article / Updated 10-04-2021
The allure to visit the graves of your ancestors is an innate part of what makes you a human being. Discovering how to find a person’s grave can seem like a daunting task. Because family trees can become complicated or lost, it may be difficult for you to locate the grave for each and every one of your loved ones.
Article / Updated 04-12-2019
If you have a paid subscription to Ancestry.com, it gives you an additional feature of the online family tree that is worth mentioning — Member Connect. The Member Connect feature actively looks for other people who are posting information about your ancestor on their online family trees. After finding a potential match, Member Connect lists the member's name on the tab.
Article / Updated 10-30-2017
Digital libraries and accessing printed materials isn't the only form of self-help. There are online courses available too. You might consider the resources available at two sites that deliver instructional material over the web: the Family History Guide and Ancestry Academy.The Family History Guide is a free resource from FamilySearch.
Article / Updated 10-30-2017
Why would anyone want my stuff? seems like a logical first question when you stop and think about making the many tidbits and treasures you collected when researching your genealogy available to others. Who would want a copy of an old, ratty-looking photograph of Great-grandpa as a dirty-faced toddler in what appears to be a dress?
Article / Updated 10-30-2017
Your computer puts the world at your fingertips. Discovering all the wonderful online genealogy resources that exist makes you feel like a kid in a candy store. You click around from site to site with wide eyes, amazed by what you see, tempted to record everything for your genealogy — whether it relates to one of your family lines or not.
Article / Updated 10-30-2017
Your question at this point is probably, what is the Helm Online Family Tree Research Cycle? All great projects start with a plan, and starting a genealogical project is no exception. A well-thought-out plan can help you make efficient use of your time and keep you focused on the goals that you've set for a particular research session.
Article / Updated 10-30-2017
To be a good genealogical citizen as you work online, you should keep a few things in mind, such as maintaining privacy, respecting copyrights, and including adequate citations. Mandatory lecture on privacy Sometimes, genealogists get so caught up in dealing with the records of deceased persons that they forget one basic fact: Much of the information they've collected and put in their databases pertains to living individuals and, thus, is considered private.