Confusion. Too many “favorites” lists. Too many “Top 100” lists. Too many opinions. Indeed, that’s just what the myriads of “top website” lists are: somebody’s opinion. Well, it’s time to make a better and truly useful list! Based on an extensive study of genealogical web traffic, here are the 50 most visited real genealogy websites. Since these are the most visited sites, they must be doing something right and providing some value to their visitors. Count them down, and learn what you’ve been missing!

Was your ancestor’s $500 land purchase a steal or a fortune? Stop guessing. This video reveals the top tools—including the AI-powered Wolfram Alpha and the gold-standard MeasuringWorth—to instantly translate historic currency into modern value. You will go beyond simple inflation to uncover what money really meant in the past, from daily wages to purchasing power. Learn to turn dry financial records into rich, relatable family stories. Watch now to finally understand the true economic reality of your ancestors’ lives. * * * Author’s Note: I want to be transparent that this material – DESC Tech Tip – Calculating Historic Value of Money – was created in part with the help of an artificial intelligence (AI) language model – Gemini Pro 3. The AI assisted in generating an early draft of the article, but every paragraph was subsequently reviewed, edited, and refined by me. The final content is the result of extensive human curation and creativity. I am proud to present this work and assure readers that while AI was a tool in the process, the story, style, and substance have been carefully shaped by the author.

Is your genealogy research missing a massive, free resource? Google Books is a powerhouse for family historians, offering instant access to millions of rare, out-of-print texts that you can’t find on standard genealogy sites. This video reveals how to use the platform as a “super-index” to find ancestors missing from traditional records, download entire family histories for free, and locate hard-to-find physical books in libraries near you. Don’t let valuable clues slip through the cracks—watch now to master these hidden features and break through your brick walls! * * * Author’s Note: I want to be transparent that this material – DESC Tech Tip – Google Books – was created in part with the help of an artificial intelligence (AI) language model – Gemini Pro 3. The AI assisted in generating an early draft of the article, but every paragraph was subsequently reviewed, edited, and refined by me. The final content is the result of extensive human curation and creativity. I am proud to present this work and assure readers that while AI was a tool in the process, the story, style, and substance have been carefully shaped by the author.

This webinar explores the difference between copyright and plagiarism and their related context to genealogy.

Many researchers rely on a single website to locate clues for personal investigation. Using Multiple Websites in Tandem to Solve Problems presents numerous ways to use multiple online resources to obtain clues, expand your perspective, and locate resources to help you circumvent brick walls. You can compare, contrast, and amalgamate source data to maximize the context of the individuals you are researching. This webinar was first released 30 January 2020 on the Genealogy Guys Learn website.

Many genealogical researchers, as they gain experience and knowledge, consider how to make money with a full-time career. This video presents the important considerations about developing a business plan and a marketing plan, how to set up your business offerings, organization of records, accounting considerations, and more. This webinar was first released 28 January 2020 on the Genealogy Guys Learn website.

Two genealogists began a conversation over lunch and ideas began to tumble around as they approached a common research dilemma from two different angles. It wasn’t long before they discovered these two valuable sites that led to valuable discoveries in their research. Those metal signs you see on old buildings or the metal historic markers by the side of the road may offer clues to the lives of your ancestors.

Quilts with inked or embroidered names are referred to as signature quilts or friendship quilts. These quilts were used as gifts and fundraisers. Today these quilts are being used to tell stories of families and communities. In this presentation we will explore the history of signature quilts, how to research them, and repositories that collect them. Quilts are more than a bed covering, they also can be a genealogical source.

From overbearing privacy laws to poor funding to archives, genealogists’ access to the historical records we need are always under threat. Learn why genealogists need to take an active role in fighting for records access, what genealogists have already been doing, and what we can do going forward!

Gathering information from discussions with other people in your family can provide clues to extend your knowledge and research. Interview Absolutely Everyone! provides strategies for obtaining information through several interview styles and different types of materials to prompt recollections. This webinar was first released 22 June 2020 on the Genealogy Guys Learn website.

Those who we today call LGBTQ+ have been around throughout history. Discover the rich legacy our people have left behind. And sharing these stories with our family members is even more important in an age where prejudice tries to cover the truth of our existence.

It’s probably been a long time since your last family reunion. Reunions are important because they provide a great opportunity to relive old memories and make new ones. Those connections are tremendously important. This video, Planning a Perfect Family Reunion, provides a host of suggestions for creating a great reunion. This webinar was first released 1 June 2021 on the Genealogy Guys Learn website.