An index is essential in a family history book; your reader should be able, at a minimum, to look up every person mentioned in the book. This Portable Genealogist will...

Advances in DNA research over the last decades have had huge implications for the field of genealogy. By testing your DNA and comparing the results to a database of other...

A lineage or hereditary society is a member-based group that is organized around a common ancestor or ancestors of historical importance. For example, the General Society of Mayflower Descendants is...

When presenting your genealogical information, it’s important to be consistent in how you present your research, refer to certain places and people, and implement your overall style. This Portable Genealogist...

Since the seventeenth century, new arrivals to America have been expected to show their allegiance to their new land. Over time, that expectation has developed into the naturalization process of...

Prior to 1700, the European population of New England was still sufficiently small and compact enough to be manageable from a genealogical standpoint. In many cases, town vital records, church,...

Beyond the usual problems encountered in genealogy-lost records, inaccurate indexes and transcriptions, and variant spellings (to name a few)-Irish-American research presents a unique set of obstacles. So much of Irish...

No matter how monumental the task of organizing your research may seem, a systematic method saves valuable time and creates more accurate work. This Portable Genealogist offers practical advice on...

New York is a crossroads for many of our ancestors. Some families may have been in New York State for less than a generation on their way farther west, whereas...

Massachusetts researchers are fortunate to have so many early resources for genealogical and historical research. One source that is often overlooked, however, is the 1855 and 1865 Massachusetts state census....

Since the 1600s, people have immigrated to America to escape religious or social persecution, claim a better life, or seek adventure. No matter the reason or time period, finding your...

Genealogical writing uses a variety of numbering systems to help organize material and make your research findings accessible to the reader. Whether you are numbering sketches based on descendancy or...