Author: Bob Taylor

New: Inside the Guide Video Series

Our YouTube Channel currently has over 250 videos on a wide variety of family history topics. We are now adding a new playlist with a series of upcoming videos: Inside the Guide. Each Inside the Guide video will highlight websites and databases featured in country pages of The Family History Guide. The videos do not have live links to the...

5-Minute Family History Activities for Everyone

You have to admit – activities can be a fun and meaningful way for anyone to get involved in family history, from seniors to kids. One of the challenges that sometimes comes up is time: preparation time for activities, and a shorter duration. Many of the over 200 family history activities in The Family History Guide need little preparation, and...

The RootsTech Booth 2025 for The Family History Guide Association

RootsTech 2025 is shaping up to be a super event next March, and The Family History Guide Association will be back again in the Exhibit Hall of the Salt Palace. Our booth space this year is our largest ever, and we’ll have website demos, classes, giveaways and games through the course of RootsTech. The map below shows our location in...

70+ Family History Tasks, with FamilySearch & The Family History Guide

When we think about what an individual’s part of FamilySearch Family Tree may look like, there’s a wide range of possibilities. Some people are just starting to build their tree information, while others have extensive pedigrees that go back many generations on many lines. And of course, there are lots of variations in between for countless other users. So if...

Salt Lake City HQ Mission Training Zone and The Family History Guide

On December 9 Bob Ives and Bob Taylor will present an hour-long training session on The Family History Guide for the Missionary Development Team (Utah Salt Lake City Headquarters Mission), for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. This team is comprised of family history missionaries who serve for a year, helping others with their family history and doing...

Update to “The Inside Story” video

A few years ago we produced a YouTube video that outlined the story of The Family History Guide, including its beginnings and progress through 2022. We have recently updated the video, changing some slides for personnel and adding exciting new updates to the content. The sections of the video are: A Simple Idea The Idea Evolves Opening Doors People Power...

Gratitude: What Matters Most

A few days ago I received an email from Aimee Cross, a friend and fellow genealogist (The Family History Guide has quite a few links to videos on her popular YouTube channel). Aimee lives in my home town—Camarillo, California—and part of that city had been devastated by the recent Mountain Fire, which burned over 50,000 acres and destroyed over 100...

Check Out the RootsTech 2025 Speakers

One of the great perks of RootsTech each year is getting to hear – or even meet – world class genealogists. RootsTech 2025 is no exception, with over 100 industry expert speakers set to enlighten us on a side variety of family history topics. Below is a quick list of the RootsTech speakers, and you can view the full list...

Getting Ready for RootsTech

Although RootsTech 2025 is still over three months away, preparations have already begun for the big event. Registration has been open since September of this year, and speakers and exhibitors are preparing their materials in advance. The Family History Guide Association will have a spacious 30×30-foot booth close to the FamilySearch booth in the Exhibit Hall, with a seating area...

Remembering Our Military Ancestors

On Veterans Day we remember those who have served in the United States armed forces, and many of us have ancestors who served in some capacity in the military. The Family History Guide has a wealth of resources to help you trace your ancestry in the military, including links to records, articles, videos, and databases. Here’s a quick summary of...