It only took an hour into my very first family history project to hit what genealogists call a “brick wall.” Of course, I didn’t know that term at the time. To me, it was just a dead end—a missing piece in my family’s story that I couldn’t explain.
It was the 1970s. There were no computers, no internet, no online databases, and certainly no DNA tests for genealogy. I was just a teenager working on a school assignment when the family history bug bit me—and it never let go.
Back then, research meant physical visits to archives, requesting transcriptions of certificates because I couldn’t afford originals, flipping through phone books to find people with the same surname, and sending handwritten letters with self-addressed envelopes, hoping someone might reply. Every lead took time and effort. Every discovery was hard-won.
The particular brick wall I hit was about my great-grandmother. She had a child out of wedlock, kept the baby, and never told anyone who the father was. There were no records, no hints—just silence. For years, it seemed unsolvable.
But then came the revolutions. First computers, which meant no more rewriting entire family trees by hand every time I made a new discovery. Then email, making communication so much faster. Then the real game-changer: online records and searchable databases. Suddenly, I could research from home. And finally, the biggest breakthrough of all—DNA testing and the powerful tools that come with it.
Thanks to these developments, I was eventually able to break down that decades-old wall. I discovered who my great-grandfather was—and solved a few other family mysteries along the way. Alongside the discoveries, I developed an insatiable passion for new tools, better techniques, and deeper understanding.
Now, I want to share what I’ve learned.
Whether you’re just starting out or feeling stuck in your own research, I’m here to guide you on your journey. With traditional methods, modern technology, and the incredible power of DNA, we can explore your family history together—and maybe knock down a few of your brick walls too.