I remember Everton’s Genealogical Helper. I don’t remember the tips and source material. I remember the pages and pages of queries. If you were doing genealogy at that time, then you probably knew about Everton’s.
Getting a response to a query was like winning the lottery or getting the best Christmas present ever. When the internet came along, there were lots of sites for connecting with fellow researchers, most of which have shut down.
So last fall, Barbara at Projectkin and I talked about starting a query page. Barbara created a way to do it, and then the project fizzled out. Neither one of us had the time to maintain it, and besides, we already have the ruby slippers.
Facebook is one of my favorite places to connect with fellow researchers. When I’ve needed help reading or translating an Italian document, I went to Italian Genealogy. When I needed a photo of a gravestone, I went to U.S. Mid Atlantic Genealogy Research Community, where a woman who lived nearby volunteered to go to the cemetery and take the photo for me. I’ve been researching the Spencer family from East Haddam, Connecticut. So has Chase A. Larson, who posted a query at the Spencer Historical & Genealogical Society page.
And if you can’t find a page that matches your research interests, create one. Eleven years ago, I started a page called Genealogy in Acerra, Italy.
With all the social media outlets (BluSky, Substack, Relative Finder at RootsTech, etc.), there are opportunities to find others who are willing to share what they’ve found while researching family. (Sometimes they are so excited, you’ll get hit with a firehose of information.)
Genealogy is growing on Substack. Try posting your query in Notes or Chat. Use the comment section below to let us know what happens.
Call for Contributors
Why should we all have to learn the hard way? Please share what you’ve learned. Email me at YourFamilyQuest@gmail.com
Upcoming Events:
Wednesday, 17 June 2026 at 6 pm/9 pm (PDT/EDT) Behind the Publication with Mama Carole
Sunday, 21 June 2026 at 10 am/1 pm (PDT/EDT) Projectkin Live: The View from Kathy’s Corner
Wednesday, 24 June 2026 at 6 pm/9 pm (PDT/EDT) Behind the Publication with Barbara Jean May
Thursday, 25 June 2026 at 4 pm/7 pm (PDT/EDT) Kathy’s Corner at Projectkin.org
Sunday, 28 June 2026 at 4 pm/7 pm (PDT/EDT) Stories250 with guest Helene McClanahan of Letters from Labelle
Deborah, I agree. Facebook has been one of the best resources for genealogy. I've learned and have been helped so much by the German genealogy groups. One of the guys in one of those groups not only found my great grandfather but helped me get started in navigating the German church records. I'm forever grateful to him and the others since none of the records in my hamlets and villages are indexed or on any of the genealogical sites. I love your idea about starting your own group if there isn't one!! I also found MyHeritage is a great place especially for any German research. From there I've hooked up with an archivist who lives in my great grandfather's village. I've also met other German genealogists. I don't know about other countries, but for German help, they are usually pretty helpful.