2026-05-14    Digging through Layers of Source Records: Paleontologists are scientists who uncover the past by discovering fossils and analyzing them. Genealogy also has its layers of research records, according to James Tanner. At the top you'll find records that are widely available and easy to search, such as census records. Near the bottom you can find "gold" in records from archives, libraries, and historical societies. For more about records and research strategies, see Goal 3 in Project 4: Discover.