Fairfax Genealogical Society

One of the best things you can do before searching any database: write down everything you already know. Names, approximate dates, places, family stories — even the fuzzy ones. This becomes your research plan. FxGS can help you build one. fxgs.org

Building a family archive starts with knowing what you have. Today’s FxGS Archive SIG explores how to gather, sort, assess, and care for family materials—from photos and letters to fragile or private records. Preservation starts with thoughtful choices. fxgs.org

A deed can reveal more than land ownership. Neighbors, witnesses, family ties, and migration clues may all appear. Today’s FxGS German SIG explores using land records to advance family history research. Who else appears in your ancestor’s deed? fxgs.org

Heritage can inspire a question, but records build the story. Start with what you know in the U.S., then work backward through census, vital, immigration, church, cemetery, and local records. What ancestral place are you researching? fxgs.org #FamilyHistory

Struggling to read old handwriting? You're not alone. Before the typewriter, every record was handwritten — and styles varied widely by era and region. Free tools to help: • FamilySearch Handwriting Helps • Brigham Young University Paleography Tutorial

Free vs. paid genealogy sites — what's actually free? ✔ FamilySearch.org — completely free, billions of records ✔ Ancestry via your local library — free with a library card ✔ Chronicling America (newspapers) — free from the Library of Congress

What’s one AI or research technique you plan to try next? If you attended this month’s FxGS programs, share your takeaway. If not, tell us what question you still have about AI and family history. Learn more at fxgs.org. #FxGS #FamilyHistory #AI

Citing your sources isn't just for academics — it protects your work. A citation tells you (and anyone who inherits your research) exactly where a fact came from, so it can be verified or challenged. FxGS can help you learn proper citation practices. fxgs.org

What if your next breakthrough comes from searching differently—not more? Today’s FxGS Education Meeting explores how to compare records, analyze timelines, rethink assumptions, and put AI to work. Better questions. Stronger evidence. fxgs.org #FamilyHistory

Curious about AI without the hype? Join FxGS and Steve Little on Oct. 17 for a practical look at AI in family history research. Box-lunch orders are due Oct. 14; registration closes Oct. 15. Reserve your place at fxgs.org.

FxGS members receive access to program recordings — typically posted for a full year. Missed a session? You can still learn from it on your own schedule. Membership starts at $35/year. See all benefits at fxgs.org/join

Family stories can reveal relationships and identities that records alone may not show. Today’s FxGS program, Researching Multi-Racial Family Relationships, explores thoughtful ways to study complex family connections. Learn more at fxgs.org. #FamilyHistory

Would you try an AI research assistant? At the FxGS Fall Seminar on Oct. 17, get a guided introduction to the Genealogical Research Assistant—follow along, work with a partner, or observe. Join us in Dunn Loring or via Zoom. Register at fxgs.org.

What can AI really do for family history research? Today’s FxGS Fall Seminar with Steve Little explores the possibilities—and limits—of AI while keeping source evaluation, evidence analysis, and sound research methods at the center. Learn more at fxgs.org.

Before searching another database, ask: could the answer be in an archive? Letters, maps, photos, manuscripts, and other records may never appear online. This Archives Month, find one archive tied to your ancestor’s story. fxgs.org #ArchivesMonth #FamilyHistory

Hit a 'brick wall' in your research? You're not stuck — you just need a new strategy. A brick wall is when you can't find records for an ancestor beyond a certain point. It happens to everyone. Join the community that can help you. Learn more at fxgs.org/join

What can AI really do for family history research? Join FxGS and Steve Little on Oct. 17 for our 2026 Fall Seminar, in person or via Zoom. Explore AI’s possibilities, limits, and responsible use. Register at fxgs.org. #FxGS #FamilyHistory #ArtificialIntelligence

Looking for newly added FamilySearch records, including international collections? Check the FamilySearch Newsroom and browse recent record-release updates. familysearch.org/en/newsroom… #FamilyHistory #FamilySearch #ResearchTips

Searching records? Comparing clues? Organizing evidence? AI may help with some research tasks, but careful evaluation and human judgment still matter. What family history task would you most like technology to make easier? fxgs.org #FamilyHistory

Church records often predate civil registration by centuries. Baptism, marriage, and burial records kept by parishes can push your family history back to the 1600s or earlier. FxGS's Irish and German Genealogy SIGs specialize in finding these records. fxgs.org