tools guide
Family tree templates researchers actually fill in
A family tree template is a blank chart you fill in by hand or on-screen. The three formats researchers actually use are the 4-generation pedigree, the ancestor fan chart, and the descendant chart. Each answers a different question about a family.
- 4-generation pedigree — you plus 14 direct ancestors, one letter-size page.
- Ancestor fan chart — 6 to 12 generations, wall-size when printed.
- Descendant chart — one couple and everyone below them.
- Working-copy sheet — the ugly draft with citation shorthand.
How to use this guide in real research
Begin with a specific person, place, and approximate date rather than a name alone. Record the repository, collection, image or certificate number, and access date for every result. That citation lets another researcher retrace the same evidence and helps you distinguish people who share a name.
Treat indexes and transcriptions as finding aids. Whenever possible, open the original image and compare names, ages, relationships, locations, and informants with records you already trust. A plausible match becomes a supported conclusion only when independent sources agree and conflicting evidence has been addressed.
Quality checks before adding a conclusion
- Search spelling variants, initials, nicknames, neighboring households, and a wider date range.
- Prefer records created close to the event, while noting who supplied each fact.
- Keep negative searches and rejected matches in your research log so work is not repeated.
- Mark uncertain relationships clearly until multiple independent records support them.