Your ancestors were more than names, dates, and places. This 23-page printable research guide shows you how to explore the world surrounding them so you can better understand their choices, interpret records, uncover new sources, and tell richer family stories.

Inside, you’ll learn how to research an ancestor’s community, historical events, migration patterns, laws, occupations, neighbors, newspapers, maps, and more. The guide also includes practical worksheets, research workflows, a 15-minute context challenge, a resource directory, and strategies for using historical context without going beyond the evidence.