Posts in March 24, 2026

Some genealogists prefer to focus on only the dead and often ignore the living relatives for a variety of reasons. While I understand that dealing with relatives who are living and breathing can sometimes be a challenge, it can be a mistake to only concern yourselves with those who have shed their mortal coil. Living relatives may have access to things that are in no courthouse, archives, or library. Relatives who have not met their demise may have access to pictures, family ephemera, original documents, and memories which cannot be found elsewhere. While it may be a challenge to deal with the living sometimes, ignoring them can hinder your genealogical research.