Module 1: The Master Audit
Stop Building on a Cracked Foundation.
Before we can cross the ocean, we have to clean up the mess at home. Most “brick walls” aren’t caused by missing records—they are caused by bad data we accepted years ago. In this module, we hit the reset button. You will learn how to ruthlessly purge the “garbage” from your tree, standardize your chaotic files, and build a research base that is solid as a rock.
What You Will Master:
- The “Green Leaf” Detox: Learn to identify and delete the “bad hints” and copy-pasted errors from other people’s trees that are poisoning your research.
- The Conflict Resolution Protocol: A step-by-step system for handling conflicting birth dates, name spellings, and “facts” that don’t add up, so you can decide what is truth and what is fiction.
- The “Digital Vault” Organization System: Stop losing files on your hard drive. We will implement a professional file-naming convention and folder structure so you can find any document, for any ancestor, in under 30 seconds.
- The Citation Standard: Learn the simple “cite-as-you-go” method that ensures you never have to ask, “Where did I get this information?” ever again.
Module 2: Detective and Discoverer
Go Beyond the Search Bar and Uncover the “Unfindable.”
90% of genealogical records are not indexed online—and that is exactly where your ancestor is hiding. In this module, we ditch the “shaky leaf” hints and train you to think like a forensic investigator. You will learn the specific “Archival Hacking” techniques I use to locate documents that Google doesn’t even know exist.
What You Will Master:
- The “Shadow Search” Technique: How to find and browse unindexed record collections on FamilySearch and government archives that don’t show up in standard search results.
- The FAN Club Protocol: Break down brick walls by researching your ancestor’s Friends, Associates, and Neighbors to find the “backdoor” into your lineage.
- Creative Record Strategy: Learn to use land petitions, church minutes, and estate files to reconstruct families when the census takers missed them.
- The “Negative Proof” Audit: How to professionally prove a record doesn’t exist, so you can stop wasting time on a dead end and pivot to a new strategy.