In this episode of the Family Tree Magazine podcast, Andrew Koch offers tips for researching ancestors across the United States.

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Feature: How to research ancestors in any US state.

In this episode of the Family Tree Magazine podcast, host Lisa Louise Cooke welcomes Andrew Koch, the editor of Family Tree Magazine, to discuss the intricacies of genealogy research across the United States. They explore the importance of understanding U.S. history, the significance of vital records, the role of census records, and the value of land records in tracing family history. Andrew shares insights on the state-specific research guides published in the magazine and how they can aid genealogists in their quest to uncover their family histories.

Resources:

• Watch Andrew Koch’s Rootstech presentation Sea to Shining Sea: How to Research in Every U.S. State





• Family Tree Magazine July/August 2025 Digital Edition





• State Research Guides for the Entire U.S.





• State Land vs. Public Land States Free Download

Takeaways:

• Researching different US states can feel like researching countries.





• Knowing the history of a state can guide your research effectively.





• Vital record keeping in the U.S. is decentralized by state.





• State censuses can provide additional information between federal censuses.





• Land records can reveal significant details about ancestors.

It’s important to stay updated on privacy restrictions for records.

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