What’s New
A record of meaningful additions, corrections and revised guidance.
Three worked investigations and annotated teaching records
New tax-list, deed-index and probate investigations connect real repository routes with clearly labeled fictional exercises. Each includes an annotated modern teaching diagram and a cautious conclusion. Official further reading now covers all 81 guides.
County corrections and Pipestone naturalization records
Corrected 48 category placements across 33 counties, including real-estate taxes that were incorrectly grouped with estate records. Added six Pipestone County, Minnesota naturalization and index series, with the MNHS finding aid and microfilm access restriction. Dated reviews identify exactly which records were checked.
Research tools and county coverage
County pages distinguish listed inventories from starting points, show record-type filters and scoped source reviews, and connect to a planner that uses a county and approximate year. Search separates counties from state guides, and guides have section navigation and topic-related reading.
Twelve expanded research guides and five historical photographs
Expanded guides cover cemetery research, tax lists, Civil War research, city directories, the first month of research, recording names and dates, organization, online trees, handwriting, index searches, the FamilySearch Catalog and free versus paid sites. Added specific official sources and clarified evidence guidance. Published October 31.