Say what a family tree site holds
What is on a family history site before you pay for anything.
A family tree site holds two separate things: the tree you build yourself, and scanned records — censuses, certificates, ship lists.
The tree is your own work. The records are photographs of paper held in archives, and reaching them is what a subscription buys.
Key points
- A tree site holds your own tree and scanned records from archives
- Hints are suggested matches, and the reading is still yours to do
What to remember
- Every fact on a tree should point at a piece of paper.
- A record is evidence. A hint is a suggestion.
Try this
Search a free site such as FamilySearch for one grandparent’s name and read whatever record comes back.
Practice: Say what a family tree site holds. Your first lesson is free, with no account or card; the rest are part of a Lantern plan. Interactive lessons require JavaScript.