Case Studies

Case Study: Using Old Maps and City Directories to Research House History Premium

See how our genealogy expert used old maps and city directories to trace the history of a 19th-century home; even though the street name, address, and city and county had all changed over time.

Family Fact or Fiction: Two Sides to Every Love Story Premium

When it comes to family stories and oral histories, sometimes how the tales are told is just as revealing about our ancestors as the facts within.

Little-Known Courthouse Records Case Study: Mechanic’s Lien

Did your ancestor work on a construction project? Learn about this lesser-known record you can find at the courthouse.

Case Study: 6 Genealogy Discoveries From the 1900 Census

That old genealogical staple, census records, might seem ho-hum at first, but they're full of clues that are important to your research.

Genealogy Problem Solving: 4 Case Studies Premium

See how analyzing your genealogical sources can help you conquer these genealogy conundrums using these case studies.

Confessing a Genealogy Mistake

I was trying to make the research mistake I'm about to confess seem less odious because, well, I don't want you to hold it against Family Tree Magazine, but then I realized that's counter to my point that anyone can make a mistake. Conflicting records contributed to my error, but...

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Case Study: Overcoming Identity Assumptions in Census Research

Based on initial assumptions during census research, one ancestor was almost given the wrong identity. Learn more from this case study.

July/August 2013 Everything’s Relative Premium

Down the DrainIt was 1932. As the saying goes, times were tough. We always had a car so my father could develop his new fire equipment business. We always had something to eat and a warm, dry place to live. But being in business for yourself was an uncertain life...