You can read the first Family Tree Magazine (UK) issue from Nov-Dec 1984 here. It included an article, “How to Trace Your Family Tree.” How things have changed!
1. Digital Archives and Search Capabilities
The article describes research at locations like St. Catherine’s House in London, where researchers kept fit by lifting large red, black and green books to a desk for searching. Today, most records are digitized and searchable. Advanced online platforms provide powerful search engines, keyword filters, and algorithmic matching. There’s instant access to millions of historical documents.
2. DNA Testing
This article does not mention genetic genealogy, which has revolutionized family history research in the past two decades. DNA matching allows people to identify genetic relatives, confirm family connections, and trace ancestral origins in ways impossible 40 years ago.
3. Global Interconnectivity
The article suggests hiring local researchers or travelling to different locations to access records. Modern genealogists collaborate internationally through online forums, social media groups, and genealogy websites. Resources from different countries are increasingly digitized and shared across borders. However, visiting is still often required, and a pleasure, to go in-depth
4. Computer-Based Organization
The author recommends a “loose-leaf folder” for organizing family history information. Today, genealogists use specialized software, cloud-based platforms, and complex family tree management tools that allow for instant updates, linking of sources, and sophisticated data management.
5. Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning
Modern genealogy research increasingly employs AI technologies to help researchers. These include automated record matching, predictive ancestor suggestions, handwriting recognition for old documents, and advanced algorithms that can suggest potential family connections based on complex data analysis. Some capabilities unimaginable when the article was written remained so even a couple of years ago.