Breaking Brick Walls in Genealogy – An Overview with Andrew Koch

By Editors of Family Tree Magazine

In this episode of the Family Tree Magazine podcast, editor Andrew Koch offers strategies for breaking through brick walls as you conduct genealogy research.


Feature: Breaking Through Brick Walls

Brick walls can disrupt any genealogist’s research plans. The good news? There may be a way through them. Family Tree Magazine Editor Andrew Koch addresses some common brick walls that genealogists encounters and offers some tips for overcoming them.

Mentioned in this episode:

  • Identifying brick walls and the problems they present
  • Understanding research challenges
  • Search tips and how to expand search parameters
  • Collateral research strategies
  • Social history and why it is important
  • Making the most of timelines and maps
A wrecking ball breaks through a brick wall, revealing old black-and-white family portraits behind the debris.
Find your footing and scale your highest research brick walls: missing ancestors, burned records, same-named people, and more.

  • Expert tips and tricks to accelerate your research
  • In-depth articles on a variety of genealogical topics
  • Exclusive offers on new tools and resources

Plus, find Family Tree Magazine on your favorite social channels!


Andrew Koch is the Editor of Family Tree Magazine.

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