Kenneth Marks
@marksology.bsky.social
Ancestor hunter, former software executive. Newspaper research fanatic. My 4 Published Genealogy Books at https://tinyurl.com/bdf3penp https://theancestorhunt.com
An unusual name may catch your attention—but it doesn't prove you've found your ancestor. Learn why experienced genealogists look beyond distinctive names and rely on evidence before deciding they've found the right person at buff.ly/UVOmBZP #genealogy
11,435 Free Online New York Collections Available in 24 #Genealogy Record Categories Click the URL below to get links to 24 categories of Free Collections for New York. These have been updated in the last 18 months, adding 260 new collection links. buff.ly/C7lbirH
The name that solves a #genealogy problem is often not the one you were searching for. Learn more about this Insight at buff.ly/WORWD2h
Your ancestor's biggest clue may have been living right next door. Learn why experienced genealogists research neighbors, witnesses, and nearby families—and how those overlooked connections often solve the toughest #genealogy problems at buff.ly/F8lAYpW
Names surrounded by decorative symbols, or printed in unusual fonts may be indexed incorrectly. As a result, some of the most prominent names in a newspaper become difficult to find in text searches. Learn more about this Disortion at buff.ly/DSvnV3K #genealogy
When records seem to disappear, the problem is often geography—not #genealogy. Learn more about this Insight at buff.ly/XTIU5yk
The most important clue in the record may never have been transcribed. Discover why experienced genealogists always read the original document—and how one overlooked detail can solve an entire research problem at buff.ly/LGX5I0S #genealogy
In digitized newspapers, text doesn’t always stay in its proper place. When columns are close together, OCR software can mistakenly pull words from a neighboring column and attach them to the wrong article. Learn more about this Distortion at buff.ly/N3XOcnu #genealogy
A hint may point you toward the answer, but only the record can help prove it. Learn more about this Insight at buff.ly/Y9aGUhj #genealogy
One missing record rarely means the answer is lost forever. Learn how experienced genealogists use substitute records and indirect evidence to solve problems—even when the document they expected to find doesn't exist or can't be found at buff.ly/sHwvtOg #genealogy
Not every newspaper distortion originates with the reporter, typesetter, or editor. Some occur decades later when newspapers are digitized and scanned inexactly. More about this distortion at buff.ly/e791BUy #genealogy
Some of the most important discoveries in #genealogy are found in places researchers almost overlook. Learn more about this Insight at buff.ly/9F3lehX
When the timeline doesn't make sense, your conclusion probably doesn't either. Discover why experienced genealogists build timelines early—and how one simple tool can expose mistakes before they become part of your family history at buff.ly/lefSDmj #genealogy
Sometimes a name is spelled correctly—almost. A single pair of letters may be reversed during typesetting, transcription, or OCR processing. Learn about the Distortion at buff.ly/eE0vAel #genealogy
The strongest family trees are built from verified facts, not hopeful leaps into distant generations.. Learn more about this Insight at buff.ly/C2BeP96 #genealogy
FamilySearch New and Updated Collections – July 1-31, 2026 84 new/updated free collections from FamilySearch are available from now on for searching. These free records are from all over the world, including the U.S. Check them out at buff.ly/b8RyTT8 #genealogy
Not every newspaper distortion involves misspelled names or poor OCR. Sometimes the problem is simply spacing. Learn about this distortion and what you can do about it at buff.ly/MTRQPH7 #genealogy
The quality of your research often depends on the quality of the question you ask before you begin. Learn more about this Insight at buff.ly/xX5jgpn #genealogy
Genealogy Insight – Research Without a Question Usually Leads Nowhere - The Ancestor Hunt
The Ancestor Hunt helps genealogy researchers via 275K links to free online collections; 130 Research Guides, and the renowned Newspaper Research Academy.
buff.ly
Sometimes the fastest way to find your ancestor is to stop looking at your ancestor. Discover why experienced genealogists often solve difficult problems by researching the people surrounding the person they're trying to find at buff.ly/8NLh01B #genealogy
Elephind currently searches 47,119,848 pages from the 4,444 newspaper titles listed below. We still have over 150 million pages and thousands of titles to add — and this number continues to grow. See the list of all the titles for searching at Elephind at buff.ly/6fHBgPQ #genealogy
As newspapers moved from paper to digital databases, collections relied on humans to manually rekey articles. While this process made newspapers searchable, it introduced a new layer of errors. Learn how to change your search criteria to produce positive results at buff.ly/S7TdXnR #genealogy
When female ancestors disappear from your research, entire branches of the family tree can disappear with them. Learn more about this Insight at buff.ly/cc5Ln57 #genealogy
The first record you find is often the beginning of the story—not the end of it. Learn why stopping after the first discovery can cause you to miss some of the most valuable evidence in your family history at buff.ly/0tD8Bgo #genealogy
The most important discoveries often come after the straightforward path disappears. Read more about this Insight at buff.ly/fvcvHVG #genealogy
