Through examples and case studies, we'll explore the many areas of African American research you may be overlooking and provide some answers to puzzles you may have in your own family history. This course is longer than many on Ancestry Academy, but well worth watching. Just take it one lesson at...

Genealogical research is generally conducted in waves, as we have time to look for records, followed by gaps of time when time is limited. This approach is likely to cause inconsistent detail in record keeping and possible misinterpretation. Brick walls are created when apparent records cause roa...

Census records provide many details about individuals and families. They are useful for placing them in a particular time and place and depict many aspects of their lives. They can show the age, place of birth (IMPORTANT -get a good gazetteer!), occupations, movement patterns (by children’s birth...

This course is focused on Canadian records, but there are many useful hints for anyone starting out on Ancestry no matter which country you're researching in. Topics include family trees, hints, and DNA which cross a broad spectrum of other Ancestry websites besides Ancestry.ca. Who knows? You ma...

This course will teach you how to use the tools and features of the MyCanvas program. You will learn how to create and customize your own family history books and family tree posters. This is the most flexible online publishing program, enabling you to create photo books, posters and calendars th...

In this course, you'll learn how to approach cemetery records, use what you gather in your research, and explore many options you may have never thought of to make the most of any cemetery visit. Amy will discuss tombstone inscriptions, symbols, military burials, and even how to take the best pic...

Join David McDonald, an expert instructor on church records to learn how to use church records as substitutes for vital records. Learn why the records are created, how you can use them effectively in your research, and how they may give you clues for additional research as you move your pedigree ...

Establishing priorities gives your genealogical research a focus. This makes tracing your ancestry a satisfying and worthwhile process. Documenting from day 1 helps you avoid revisiting the same materials again and again, and it helps you understand important qualities of materials you use. Most ...

City directories are a great resource to use in your genealogy research. This course will explain what city directories are, why they are important, how to find them, and how to get the most from them. A city directory is so much more than a listing that might tell you where your ancestor lived. ...

Millions of people descend from Civil War soldiers and sailors. The records created by and about these men are genealogically rich and can give us not only information about their families, but insight into their lives. Learn how to identify Civil War ancestors, develop strategies for researching...

If we are lucky, we collect a lot of records and information about our ancestors. But how do we know we are right about the facts and events in their life? By following some basic steps you can determine whether you know the answer or if you need to search further. We will walk you through an exa...

Fold3 is a great resource to discover historic military documents and can be used to learn and share the story of the veterans in your family tree. In this course you will study the fundamentals and guidelines to successful searching and browsing on Fold3, as well as the value of different types ...

We have an equal number of female and male ancestors, but the women are usually the most difficult to research because they change their surnames every time they marry. Plus, they had few legal rights so they are not easy to find in the records and databases. This course is designed to help you f...

We begin with an overview of colonial New France and the pioneer ancestors. We review naming customs such as dit names. We demonstrate how to trace U.S. immigrants to their parishes of origin in Quebec. We introduce the wonders of Catholic parish registers and show how to decipher baptism, marria...

Turn your family history into a lasting legacy with Family Tree Maker. This course teaches the basics of how to get started with Family Tree Maker, and includes an introduction to every workspace in the program. It also includes a number of advanced topics, so whether you’re new to Family Tree Ma...

Researching your German ancestors can be very rewarding. If you are just getting started, this video series will give you the tools you need to be successful. It begins with an overview of the history of Germany and then continues with the details you need to find your ancestors. Some of these re...

You’ve started your family history but the pieces don’t seem to fit and the jigsaw puzzle isn’t revealing a picture as you’d hoped. Sometimes it’s just a matter of turning a piece in another direction or fitting it into a different place in the picture. This class will look at the basics of sound...

Beyond the traditional records that yield essential names, dates, and places, you can often get a better understanding of your ancestors from some of the lesser-used records that don’t rise to the surface in a general search. From almshouse and agricultural schedules, and fraternal and ethnic col...

This course explores the genealogical treasures found in land records created by the Homestead Act of 1862. Viewers learn about the provisions of the act and how they generated records that can be genealogically valuable and establish kinship. The lessons sequentially develop the events that led ...

Explore Illinois' rich history. Learn where to find vital records and probate documents and how to use them. Prepare to visit some of the repositories that hold additional resources for Illinois research.

This course is designed to identify available sources in Ireland and online to enable you to make a start in finding your Irish ancestors. A review of family papers, public documents and other sources of identifying information about the immigrant ancestor are provided. An examination of Irish ci...

The history of Italy is rich and moving. Italian family history is no less thrilling. Learn how to begin your search in the US, the reasons for immigration and migration, how to locate your place of origin, navigate the language, records, and resources in Italy and explore online resources to ult...

Genealogy collections in public libraries date back more than a century, but access to those materials has changed dramatically. Genealogy has moved to the forefront as libraries aggressively expand their genealogy and local history collections and provide wider access through technology. Genealo...

From its earliest days as the Massachusetts Bay Colony to statehood and up to the present, Massachusetts has kept prolific records and maintained extensive archives. Learn more about what records are available, where to find them,as well as some strategies for effectively researching your ancesto...