Navigating Our Family History: A User’s Guide
I use a variety of economical tools to publish our family history. While this ensures the data is secure, and accessible, I understand that jumping between different websites can be confusing.
This guide explains how my files are structured, which tool to use for what purpose, and how to find your way back if you get lost.
1. The "Front Door": Your Starting Point
Where to go: [familyname].consultchris.us (e.g., kizer.consultchris.us)
Think of the ConsultChris Family Homepage as the directory or "front door" to all my research. I strongly advise you to start here and end here.
What you will find:
Directories of names (Family Groups).
Links to maps, charts, and research reports.
Direct access to the Research Blog.
Navigation Tip: If you ever feel lost deep in a photo album or external site, simply type the main address back into your browser to return to safety.
2. The News Center: Research Blog
Best for: Discovering "What's New" without digging through files.
Genealogy is a living, breathing project. The Research Blog is where I share the excitement of the hunt in real-time. This is the best place to visit if you want to know what I am working on right now.
What I post here:
Exciting Finds: A neat story, a rare news clipping, or a "breakthrough" discovery I just made.
Trip Reports: Photos and details from my recent "genealogy vacations" and archive visits.
Site Updates: Announcements when I refresh a report, add a new family line, or upload a new batch of documents.
How to find and follow: Each family homepage has a link to their own Research Blog. To find it return to 1 above. You can read the latest posts directly on the site, or subscribe to get these stories delivered to your email so you never miss a beat.
3. The "Couple Page": The Gateway
When you click on a name from the main directory, you are taken to a dedicated page for that specific couple. This page serves as a launchpad to all other platforms.
The Main Photo: Clicking the main photo at the top of the page will take you directly into their Google Photo Album.
The Direct Links: Below the photo, you will find customized links taking you directly to that person’s profile on external platforms (FamilySearch, Find A Grave, MacFamilyTree, etc.).
Note: Some sites (like Ancestry or Fold3) may require a login. If a link takes you to a login screen, sign in, and then come back and click the link again to go straight to the specific record.
4. The Visual Archive: Google Photo Albums
Best for: Browsing pictures easily on your phone or computer.
For each married couple, I have created a dedicated online album containing all relevant photos and documents.
Pros: Very easy to swipe through. No login required.
Cons: Photos lack context. You might see a court document next to a portrait with no explanation of what the document proves.
Getting Back: Every album contains a text slide reminding you of the family homepage URL. Use this to return to the main directory to find other albums.
5. The Research Core: MacFamilyTree
Best for: Understanding the "Who, When, and Where" (Context).
This is a dedicated genealogy website where I publish my organized data. It is Browse Only—you cannot accidentally delete or change anything, and no login is required.
Why use it? Unlike the photo albums, this site connects the dots. It links the photos to dates, events, and relationships, explaining why a document matters.
Features: You can view interactive trees, download documents, and explore family facts without restriction.
6. The Cemetery: Find A Grave
Best for: Locating burial sites and viewing headstones.
This is a free, public website. I have organized our family graves into "Virtual Cemeteries" for each family group (e.g., Lepley, Borger).
What you can do:
View photos and transcriptions of headstones.
See GPS coordinates of specific graves.
Sort the list by name or by cemetery location.
7. The Workshop: FamilySearch
Best for: Collaboration and adding your own knowledge.
Think of FamilySearch as the "Wikipedia" of genealogy. There is only one profile per deceased person in the world, and everyone contributes to it.
My Workflow: I use FamilySearch as my "sandbox." When I find new information, I save it there first. Once verified, I move it to my permanent MacFamilyTree records.
For You: If you want to contribute stories, correct errors, or add photos yourself, this is the place to do it.
8. Printable Reports & Charts
Best for: Taking information offline or visiting locations.
I have created custom reports for each family group, available via the Kizer Homepage or the "Home" tab in MacFamilyTree.
Popular Reports:
Cemetery Report: Essential for visits. Organized by State -> Cemetery -> Family Name (including plot numbers).
Descendant Poster: A visual tree useful for orienting yourself within the larger family lines.
Vital Records: Reports on veterans, causes of death, schools, etc.
How to Print: When viewing a report, look for the "Pop-Out" button (usually in the top right corner) to open the file in a new window, then select "Print."
