Genealogy Educational Videos for Family History Research
Genealogy Educational Videos on this page are organized to help you learn practical family history research skills, including records analysis, source citation, family tree building, and DNA-based genealogy methods.
How to Use These Genealogy Educational Videos
These Genealogy Educational Videos are arranged as a learning library for researchers at different skill levels. If you are new to family history, start with videos on census records, vital records, and organizing your research notes. If you already have a family tree, move on to videos about evidence analysis, conflicting records, and proving family relationships with stronger documentation.
This page is also useful as a repeat reference. Many of these Genealogy Educational Videos can be revisited when you begin researching a new surname, a new location, or a difficult ancestor. As you watch, take notes on record types, search techniques, and citation practices so you can apply each method to your own family history research.
You may also want to compare methods used in these videos with the research pages and book lists on this site so you can build a stronger workflow using both video instruction and written reference materials.
For additional learning, researchers may also find the FamilySearch Wiki, U.S. National Archives genealogy resources, and Library of Congress digital collections helpful when applying the techniques covered in these videos.
Getting Millennials Excited in Family History
This webinar was designed to help get the younger generation, especially millennials, more interested in family history. Heather Pac who will be speaking on getting Millennials excited about family history Heather Ruth pack became interested in family history at at the young age of 12 after taking genealogy classes at BYU she put her research skills to work to find her great-grandfather’s true identity she found him 24 years later learning many of the tools and tricks of the trade in collecting several hundred stories along the way her family history blogs are read by thousands around the world and have been featured on several genealogy sites inspiring others to go find stories from their own family tree.
Proven Ways to Find Your Immigrant Ancestors
How to Write a Compelling Story About your Ancestor
Sometimes it can be hard to portray the life of your ancestor to others. This video will help you catch your audience’s attention as you tell them about your ancestor’s exciting life. Heather pack who will be giving a presentation titled how to write a compelling story about your ancestor Heather Ruth Pac became interested in family history at the young age of 12 after taking genealogy classes at BYU she put her research skills to work to find her great-grandfather’s true identity she finally found him 24 years later learning many of the tools and tricks of the trade and collecting several hundred stories along the way her family history blogs are read by thousands around the world.
Online Research Basics
This video will show you some ways to research online that you may not have thought about before.
Crafting a Genealogy Research Plan | Ancestry
We get lots of emails from people wanting help with their research. Crista will show you how to craft a research plan so you know how to help yourself, keep focused, and get results in your genealogy research. Bringing together science and self-discovery, Ancestry helps everyone, everywhere discover the story of what led to them. Our sophisticated engineering and technology harnesses family history and consumer genomics, combining billions of rich historical records and millions of family trees to over 10 million and counting to provide people with deeply meaningful insights about who they are and where they come from. We’ve pioneered and defined this category, developing new innovations and technologies that have reinvented how people make family history discoveries. And these discoveries can give everyone a greater sense of identity, relatedness, and their place in the world.
Using the U.S. Federal Census
The US Federal Census is often the go-to resource for family historians researching ancestors from the 19th and 20th centuries. To get the most out of this resource, however, it’s important to understand the record’s context, specific search tips, and shortcomings. Join Genealogist Lindsay Fulton for an overview of the Federal Census and the varying information found in each and gain valuable search techniques for using this important resource.
Using the Ancestry.com Card Catalog | Ancestry
Much like a card catalog in a library shows you what books are available, the Ancestry Card Catalog is a listing of the databases available online. Join Crista Cowan as she shows you how to use this free resource to see what is available at Ancestry.com and how it will help your family history research.
Tidying Up Your Genealogy | The Barefoot Genealogist | Ancestry
Do you find yourself with multiple copies of your family tree in various places? As you have engaged in family history research have you been overcome by the “paper pile monster?” Join Crista Cowan for a look at ways to tidy up your digital and paper files. She will also share some quick tips for keeping organized as you go.