Author: Zach Matthews

Searching for Clues: When Census and Vital Records Are Not Enough

Growing up as a kid, I loved watching movies about finding lost treasure. The hero usually hears of a legend, finds an ancient artifact or treasure map, and has to follow its clues while fighting off the greedy villain. After a long and difficult struggle, the hero finds the treasure and everything works out in the end! Family history can...

Who’s Interviewing You? How to Tell Your Story

There are many instances where someone asks us something about our past. It may be a new found friend or our children and grandchildren, with such questions as, “What was it like?” or “How did you two meet?” They usually are not seeking for one-liners like “It was quite difficult,” or “We met at high school.” Rather, they want stories...

Source Citations: Where Did That Information Come From?

Editor’s note: This article was written by Zachary Matthews, BYU Intern for the Family History Guide Association. You are at your computer, getting ready to do some genealogical research on your favorite website. You decided to go in a different direction today and look at your 5th great–grandmother’s uncle and his family. However, when you clicked on his profile, you...