Since the beginning of time, generations of genealogists have learned a basic rule of research: Start with yourself and work backward.
But wait, have you tried researching forward in time as a way to:
Get new genealogy details.
Locate oral history subjects.
Collaborate with other family members on a family history website or book.
Recruit family members for a DNA surname study.
Build an attendee list for a family reunion.
Add to your family photo collection.
Reconnect family branches that got separated over the years.
Here are some tips for applying reverse genealogy principles to your own research problems.
1. Grow Your Family Tree
2. Reunite Lost Family Branches
3. Find Genetic Cousins
4. Discover Health History
5. Solve Brick Wall Mysteries
6 Reverse Genealogy Resources
Many of the same resources you used to research back in time can also help you research forward. Here are some preferred sources:
Censuses
Searchable indexes to federal censuses from 1790 through 1950 are handy for tracing families’ movements and learning children's names in 1850 and later.
Search Engines
Using a general search engine is a relatively easy way to find people. Start by searching for an ancestor’s name (inside quotation marks) or a surname, followed by family or genealogy.
Newspapers
You can find searchable, digitized newspapers on subscription websites such as GenealogyBank and Newspapers.com. You can also contact your local genealogy library for information on the newspapers they house and access to them.
Online Directories
Search for living individuals by name and location in online phone books such as Whitepages. Some listings may be out of date. Also, these sources give numbers for landlines, not cell phones. Don’t forget to search for people on social networks like Facebook and LinkedIn.
People Locators
These sites index contemporary public records that contain names, ages and addresses. Usually, you can search and get limited information for free, then pay for more details.
Probate Records
Court documents related to a deceased person’s estate can help build a network of relatives. Use a reference such as Red Book, 3rd edition, edited by Alice E. Eichholz to find where your ancestor’s county keeps probate records. Many are on FamilySearch; run a Place search of the online catalog for the county and look for a probate heading.
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