Breaking Down Brick Walls - Brick by Brick
Eight steps to finding your brick wall ancestors, with examples from my own search for great, great grandmother, Henrietta. Deciphering Old Handwriting
Find new clues in the old documents of your ancestors by learning how to accurately read and decipher the handwriting.
How to Find Your Ancestor's Maiden Name
Discovering the maiden name of a female ancestor is one of the most common brick walls in genealogy research, but can lead to a whole new branch of your family tree! Try some of these ideas to help you with your search. How to Find Your Ancestor's Parents Names
Where people get stuck in their research, it is usually trying to connect children to their parents. Try these suggested records for tracking down those parent's names! How to Find a Birth Date or Location
Step-by-step guide to tracking down birth information for your brick wall ancestor. How to Find a Death Date or Location
When you are stuck on an ancestor, the best place to start is with their siblings. Use this How To to located a death certificate or will and then work your way backwards! How to Find a Marriage Date or Location
If your brick wall involves locating marriage information, then don't miss this list of suggested places to search! How to Write a Successful Query
Have you been leaving queries about your brick wall ancestor all over the Internet with no results? Then don't miss these tips for writing a successful query. Searching for Surnames
Tips for searching for other genealogists researching your family name. Brick walls are less frustrating if you have someone else to help you break them down Social Security Death Index
The names of over 64 million Americans are contained in the SSDI, a "must search" for people looking for U.S. ancestors who have died since 1962. Learn what the SSDI is, how to search it (it's free) and what to do when you can't find your ancestor. Astronauts to Ancestors - Internet Research Breakthroughs
Mark Howells couldn't find his German great-grandmother after years of research in conventional records and was amazed when he finally found her online after only a few hours of surfing. Discrepancy Charts - Organizing the Inconclusive
Does it seem like every piece of information you find on your ancestor tells you something different? Michael John Neil tells us how to deal with such inconsistencies and discrepancies and make sense of our findings. First Name Basis
A resource site for posting queries when all you know is a first name. There is a list for unusual names, one for those seeking maiden names and another for those seeking married names. Help for the Dead End Blues
Some ideas for beating those "dead end blues," courtesy of Juliana Smith. Jumping to Conclusions
Genealogy columnist, Michael Neil, explains how we sometimes create our own brick walls. My Relatives: Adam & Eve
Anyone who believes their ancestors must have dropped from a UFO should read this great article by Michael John Neil. Even professional genealogists have brick walls! Library of Congress
Search their online catalogue to see if a biography/autobiography was written about your ancestor. Also, check the genealogy section for family histories which may have never even been published. Locating Your Ancestors through Their Siblings
One of the most constructive approaches to tackling a brick wall involves switching tacks and researching your ancestor's siblings. Problem Solving for Genealogists
"Research goes a little more smoothly if there is some level of organization to the research process and to the actual materials that are located while researching." Relearning the Spelling of Your Surname
George G. Morgan, in his weekly column "Along These Lines...," suggests ways of working with alternate spellings of your surnames in your research as a way to possibly break down your brick wall. Reminders from the Back of the Filing Cabinet
Is the answer to your question already contained within your files? Re-reading, sorting, and organizing your materials may solve a few of your research problems. Sources of Genealogical Information
Have you tried searching all of these resources yet? Step-by-Step: Finding a Spouse's Name
When you are stuck on a particular surname, why not branch off with a new one? Unsolved Mysteries Mailing List
A mailing list for people whose family genealogies include "unsolved mysteries." When Your Family History Research Hits the Wall
A research guide from Park Genealogical Books.
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