Do you have one or more brick walls that you just can’t seem to climb? We all have them, those ancestors who just refuse to be found!
Every so often you may want to revisit an ancestor to see if you can break through his/her brick wall. The first step is to organize and analyze your research to find clues as to what information may be missing. If you need assistance in climbing over the wall, there are several resources available from Qualicum Beach Family History Society:
- “Successfully Climbing a Genealogy Brick Wall” is a document on our QBFHS website outlining the basic steps to revisit your research and find new sources to conduct further research.
- The Genealogy Toolbox on our QBFHS website (click on the link on the top toolbar) is another valuable resource with links to a variety of resources. Also don’t forget the tips and hints links with even more links to a variety of websites in many different countries.
- Our local Qualicum Beach Family History Centre is available for your research on Mondays and Tuesdays each week. Not only are microfilm and microfiche readers available, but there is also an extensive research library. The computers at the centre have free access to several subscription websites, including Ancestry and FindMyPast, among several others and we have knowledgeable volunteers available to help you both from the Family History Centre and the Qualicum Beach Family History Society. For more information on what is available at our local Family History Centre, please click here.
- Special Interest Groups – we currently have special interest groups led by very knowledgeable people on England & Wales, Scotland and Ireland. If you are researching in these countries, this may be where you can receive assistance.
- Our Qualicum Beach Family History Society Library is another resource with a large number of books on a variety of genealogy subjects. It is available at the Family History Centre when it is open, Mondays and Tuesdays and is well worth a visit. Please click here to view our library catalogue.
- Ask for assistance at our monthly meetings during our members’ moments section of each meeting. You may be pleasantly surprised to see how many people are willing to offer suggestions as to how to break down that brick wall. If you are not currently a member of QBFHS, information on joining our Society is available here.
When you think you have exhausted all possibilities in your research, remember that Rome wasn’t built in a day! Revisit your research and try again – you may eventually be able to break down those seemingly impenetrable brick walls!