about me

Meet the Author

I'm Jennifer, and I'm an Occasional Genealogist... sort of. For over ten years I've been a professional genealogist. I started researching my own family nearly 30 years ago. Like many of you, I started as an Occasional Genealogist. I had to squeeze research in while in school and while working full-time. Then I got my first genealogy job and for awhile, it was genealogy all the time. Now I have two kids. I do other people's genealogy constantly but my own? Coming up with ways to do great genealogy, despite all the interruptions, is now mandatory.

Learn More About Me

12:12 PM

How to Break Through Genealogy Brick Walls

Understanding the concept of genealogy brick walls and more importantly, identifying how to overcome them, is crucial for anyone delving into their family history. Genealogy brick walls can be frustrating obstacles for family historians looking to trace their ancestry. True brick walls are points in a fam…

9:54 AM

How to Bust a Brick Wall When You're Too Busy for Genealogy

It takes time to bust a genealogy brick wall. There are no magic shortcuts. If you truly don't have time for genealogy, you can't bust a brick wall (you would need to have someone else do it for you, either a volunteer or pay someone). But you're reading this so you've found some time for geneal…

1:12 PM

Organizing Genealogy Research : Organizing System Options

This is a follow-up post with brief information about... Tried and True Research Systems The Gold Standard for Genealogy Filing Hybrid and Digital Genealogy Organization Make sure you start with our post about organizing basics. Tried and True Organizing Options (Folders, Binders, &…

4:00 PM

Top Way to Find New Genealogy Sources for your Brick Wall

Genealogists need to find new sources. This post will give you a strategy to help you focus, find new evidence, and become a better genealogist. This is the third post in a series. Most genealogists, when they get stuck, think they need to find new sources to use. At some point that is where you are, …

3:53 PM

How to Start Busting a Brick Wall: No Research Needed

Are you focused on finding "new sources" for a brick wall problem? That might not be your best next step. There is a point where a genealogist needs to learn about and find new sources, but there's something else you do, first. Good news, it's actually much easier than learning about and…

10:46 AM

The 3 Genealogy Mistakes You Have to Tame to Improve Your Skills

Do you want to further your genealogy skills so you can research better or faster? Have you run into a problem that seems too "difficult" for your current skill level? Whatever reason you have for wanting to improve, there are three basic mistakes you have to tame before you can move beyond-beginner…