The Legacy Tree Genealogists Blog

Hand-picked, tested and trained, our professional genealogist team knows how to find your story. We search the world for answers. Find the un-findable. And we’re experts at everything from tracking down rare international records to analyzing DNA test results. Based near the world’s largest family history library in downtown Salt Lake City, we also work with researchers and archives around the globe. Contact us today if you would like help discovering your ancestors!

Finding Your Eastern European Ancestral Village

March 3, 2022 by Michelle - Legacy Tree Genealogists Researcher 7 Comments

Tracing ancestors can be complex when your family emigrates from another country. Research is especially complicated for Eastern Europe, where many countries experienced border and name changes over the years. Legacy Tree Genealogists' Michelle Chubenko provides tools and tips for identifying and researching ancestral villages in Europe.In the past 150 years, Central and Eastern Europe have seen numerous border changes. While researchers may be familiar with the modern successor states, familiarity and knowledge of the historical geography and Empires are paramount. Today the landscape of Central and Eastern Europe includes Albania, Armenia, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Czech, Croatia, Hungary, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Romania, Poland, Russia (Federation), Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, and Ukraine.You don’t need to rely only on Wikipedia to provide historical information for your ancestral location. There are also other readily available tools for you to …

Genealogy Degrees and Accreditations

February 19, 2022 by Christy - Legacy Tree Genealogists Editor Leave a Comment

Becoming a professional genealogist is rarely accomplished in a straight line, and unlike many other fields, there is no single accrediting authority that determines whether researchers can call themselves professionals. In this blog post, researcher Christy Fillerup discusses some options for genealogists to gain credentials and professional standing.At Legacy Tree Genealogists, our core team members have at least one of the following: a genealogy degree or genetics-based degree, a professional accreditation, or a minimum of ten years of professional-level research experience.Some genealogists acquire their professional status through many years of experience and self-education. There are also several higher education genealogical education opportunities, although few are full degree-granting programs.Professional standing is often determined by a researcher’s body of work as reviewed by one of two accrediting organizations: the Board for Certification of Genealogists and …

Latin American Research Bread and Butter

The Bread and Butter of Latin American Research: Church and Civil Registration Records

February 17, 2022 by Becca- Legacy Tree Genealogists Researcher 2 Comments

Whether your ancestors lived along the U.S./Mexican border or the southernmost tip of Argentina, all Latin American genealogical research is heavily dependent on two main record sets—Catholic Church records and civil registration records. Grasping at least a basic understanding of these record types—including their history, the information provided in them, and where to find them—is imperative to discovering your Latin American roots.Catholic Church RecordsAs the Spanish Crown colonized the New World, the Catholic Church became a predominant, reigning figure across Central and South America. Fortunately for genealogical researchers, this control went hand in hand with the responsibility of recording vital events. With availability back to the 17th-century, Catholic Church records are a rich source of genealogical information for those seeking out their Latin American ancestors.The Catholic Church recorded three main record types pertinent to family history research: …

Looking Back: The 1950 U.S. Federal Census is Coming Soon!

February 10, 2022 by Sarah Gutmann 5 Comments

Legacy Tree Genealogists' Sarah Gutmann talks about the soon-to-be-released 1950 United States Federal Census and how it can be used to further genealogical research. She also explains when and how the database will be available online and searchable.Put on your poodle skirt and throw on an episode of I Love Lucy because we will soon be able to look back at the 1950s! On 1 April 2022, the National Archives will release the 1950 Census to the public.As is standard practice, precisely 72 years have passed since the census enumeration. With the help of the post-World War II baby boom, from 1940, the United States population increased by 14.5%. Therefore, the 1950 United States census will display the information of more than 150 million people!A snapshot in timeWhether you are a seasoned genealogist or just starting the rewarding process of learning about your ancestors, census records are an excellent resource. In a sense, they provide a snapshot of your family in time. You …