MyHeritage introduces color coding for family trees.

 

https://blog.myheritage.com/2023/03/introducing-color-coding-for-family-trees/

MyHeritage.com has taken another interesting step in organizing online family trees. The blog post, "Introducing Color Coding for Family Trees," details a significant visual and functional update designed to make family trees more intuitive and easier to navigate. This enhancement expands color coding—previously limited to Fan views and Timelines—to the primary Family and Pedigree views.

The update introduces a systematic approach to lineage, assigning distinct colors to specific ancestral branches:

• Blue: Paternal grandfather's side

• Green: Paternal grandmother's side

• Red: Maternal grandfather's side

• Yellow: Maternal grandmother's side

• Purple: Direct descendants

A key strength of this feature is its automation. Once enabled, the colors are applied across all family sites within an account without requiring manual input. The article notes that while the feature is currently available on desktop and mobile web browsers, it is slated for a future update to the mobile app.

Beyond the color scheme, the article highlights several complementary tools aimed at clarifying complex relationships. A new "blood relative" icon, represented by two drops, now appears in profile panels to help users identify genetic connections quickly. Furthermore, the update improves the experience of exploring trees belonging to DNA Matches or Smart Matches. By applying color coding and relationship diagrams to these external trees, users can more easily visualize how they are connected to individuals in trees they do not manage.

Ultimately, the article frames these updates as a cohesive effort to simplify genealogical research. By standardizing visual cues and providing clearer relationship paths, the platform aims to make the vast amount of data in a family tree more accessible and understandable at a glance.

Here is a screenshot of the color coding in the Fan Chart view. 

I use AI to summarize news releases and other routine communications. 

Use the Not-So-New FamilySearch Owner Trees (formerly CET Trees) to Avoid the Family Tree Changes

 

FamilySearch.org

From its inception in 2013, the FamilySearch.org Family Tree has been controversial for allowing almost universal editing. As a background to the general use of the FamilySearch Family Tree, there is an almost constant background of complaints, criticism, and actual hostility due to the fact that historically accurate entries are seemingly in a state of constant change. The fact is that the FamilySearch Family Tree is wiki-based and has always been wiki-based. It is not a closed archive. It is a dynamic public forum for genealogically based information. Over the years, there has been an underlying, informally based group of people who have been trying to preserve some semblance of order in the FamilySearch Family Tree by conferring with FamilySearch regularly about different ways to approach the changes. All these efforts are apparently unknown to those who are constantly wringing their hands over changes. 

 By the way, I have had a CET or Owner Tree for about two years now. 

For the past three or more years, FamilySearch has been quietly implementing owner trees based on the FamilySearch.org website. Those people who cannot seem to exist in an environment of change have always been free to use alternate family trees such as Ancestry.com and MyHeritage.com and many, many others, including desktop programs. Now,  FamilySearch has introduced "Owner Trees" that allow you or anyone else to create a tree that is completely owned and not subject to any changes except as invited by the owner. There are already a huge number of these Owner Trees on the FamilySearch.org website. 

These trees are accessible under the main FamilySearch Family Tree menu. 

Here is the Manage Trees menu.

As you can see from this screenshot, there are other specialized family trees on the FamilySearch.org website. As you can further see from this managed trees screenshot, you can have all three of the different kinds of trees simultaneously. The owner trees are completely isolated from changes from the users of the main FamilySearch Family Tree. You can also see any of the backup family trees that you may have loaded to the Pedigree Resource Records in the past. These are the trees you uploaded to Genealogies. 

There is also a way to match your User Tree to the main FamilySearch Family Tree. 

Many (almost all) features of the main FamilySearch Family Tree are available on the User Trees. Once you have a User Tree, it is important to focus on which tree you are working on. Yes, there is extra time involved if you wish to keep your part of the main FamilySearch Family Tree in sync with your own User Tree. 

All the User Trees are searchable from the Search All Family Trees on FamilySearch app now on the FamilySearch.org/Labs website. 

It may take some time for you to get used to the idea of switching back and forth between the family trees. As more features are added to the user trees, you may decide to work entirely on your user tree. 

 There is currently no way to download a GEDCOM file from the FamilySearch Family Tree. You must either start the new user tree from scratch or move items in from the FamilySearch Family Tree. You add them to your user tree. You can also upload a GEDCOM file from Ancestry or MyHeritage or some other website or desktop program. 

You may wish to share this blog post with those around you whom you find complaining about the changes on the FamilySearch Family Tree. 

MyHeritage Record Marches added to the FamilySearch Family Tree

FamilySearch.org

 In an interesting development, FamilySearch.org announced during RootsTech 2026 that entries in the FamilySearch Family Tree now have links to record matches from MyHeritage.com. I'm James. 

When you view the record match, you are able to attach it directly to the entry in FamilySearch on the FamilySearch Family Tree. 

I was able to do this because I have a MyHeritage.com subscription. Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints have a free membership in MyHeritage due to the FamilySearch partnership agreement. This opens up a flood of new records, which may not be available on the FamilySearch.org website. 

The Family History Guide at RootsTech 2026

thefhguide.com

The Family History Guide Booth for RootsTech 2026. This was the best year for us and the booth was fabulous. 

thefhguide.com

This is the new look of the website. Here is our RootsTech 2026 website. There are links from this website to all the videos and presentations at RootsTech. 

https://www.familysearch.org/en/rootstech/expohall/the-family-history-guide-association

Here is a copy of our main handout.  You can click on the image to see a larger copy. 

Thanks to all our about 60 volunteers and all those people who stopped by to learn about our website. 

International Society for British Genealogy and Family History

 https://isbgfh.com/

During my wandering around the Expo Hall during RootsTech 2026, I found this interesting booth. 

For those looking to bridge the gap between their family's modern life and their ancestral roots in the British Isles, the International Society for British Genealogy and Family History (ISBGFH) serves as a dedicated educational resource. Since its founding in 1979, the society has focused on helping researchers of all levels understand and navigate the records of England, Wales, Ireland, and Scotland.

The organization is particularly well-known for its immersive educational programs. The British Institute provides an annual week-long deep dive into specific research topics; for 2026, the focus is on the fundamentals and advanced methodologies of Scottish research. Additionally, the Summer Institute offers specialized sessions, such as the upcoming program on tracing colonial American roots back to the British Isles.

For year-round learning, the society hosts a series of Winter Webinars that are available as a member benefit. These sessions cover a wide variety of geographical and temporal research challenges. Members also receive British Connections, a quarterly journal filled with expert advice, historical context, and the latest news in the field of British genealogy.

Beyond educational content, the society facilitates community connections through its Surname Interests program, which helps members find others researching the same family lines. If you are looking to join, the organization is currently offering a RootsTech 2026 Membership Sale, providing a 30% discount for new members through March 31, 2026. Whether you are just beginning your journey or are a seasoned researcher, the ISBGFH offers a professional framework for uncovering your British and Irish heritage.

Japan Genealogy Connect

 

https://japan-genealogy.com/

During my wanderings at RootsTech 2026, this was one of the Expo Hall booths that caught my attention. 

For anyone looking to bridge the gap between their modern life and their ancestral past in Japan, Japan Genealogy Connect serves as a comprehensive resource for tracing lineage and rediscovering family history. Based in Tokyo, the organization specializes in navigating the unique administrative and historical landscape of Japanese record-keeping.

The foundation of their work lies in Koseki Research. The koseki is Japan’s official family register, documenting births, marriages, and deaths. While modern records focus on the nuclear family, pre-war registers often include extended family members, allowing researchers to trace direct ancestors back to at least the late 19th century.

Beyond official documents, the service offers deeper dives into family history through several specialized avenues:

• Historical Record Research: Genealogists search libraries and archives in Tokyo and rural regions to find information that pre-dates or supplements official registers. This can often reveal an ancestor's occupation during the Edo period, such as whether they were a merchant, farmer, or samurai.

• On-site Investigation: Researchers visit the specific locations where ancestors lived to find local historical materials and physical evidence of a family’s presence.

• Old Photograph Analysis: This service helps identify the people, places, and time periods captured in inherited family photos.

• Roots Experience: For those looking for more than data, this program provides immersive experiences to help individuals connect with the culture and history of their ancestors.

The site also provides a variety of Additional Services to document these findings, ranging from traditional Japanese scrolls and detailed research reports to genealogy data entry and translation. Whether you are just starting your journey with a few names or looking to conduct an exhaustive on-site search, the platform provides the professional expertise needed to navigate Japanese records and reconnect with a lost heritage.

Gathering of the Tribes at RootsTech 2026

 

https://www.gatheringoftribes.org/

I had the distinct privilege of meeting with some members of the Gathering of the Tribes at RootsTech 2026. Here is some information about their organization. 

The Gathering of Tribes is a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting and strengthening Indigenous members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Founded by Cindy Quinney, Shane Manning, and Amber Irwin, the organization was born from a desire to create a space where Indigenous people could find a sense of belonging, see themselves represented in their faith, and celebrate the harmony between their cultural heritage and the gospel. The mission is centered on four main objectives: nurturing faith in Jesus Christ, uniting families through family history and temple work, caring for those in need, and honoring cultural identity as it relates to spiritual life.

The organization operates through three primary pillars:

• Gather: They host community events designed to foster connection and faith. A recent landmark event, "Good Medicine," held in American Fork, Utah, focused on the healing power of traditional arts. These gatherings often include sunrise ceremonies, workshops on traditional skills like Hopi pottery and Navajo weaving, and opportunities for temple worship. An upcoming Indigenous Youth Trip is scheduled for April 2026 to help young people explore their divine potential in Provo and Salt Lake City.

• Uplift: To provide ongoing spiritual nourishment, the group creates faith-filled media. This includes the Come, Follow Me Podcast, available on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, as well as devotional videos like Sacred Brothers and Sacred Sisters, which feature testimonies and traditional music.

• Serve: Collaboration is at the heart of their service efforts. They work with local leadership to plan projects that address the specific needs of Indigenous communities. One significant initiative is the Navajo Nation Oral History Project, which documents family relationships and histories of Diné elders.

How to Support Their Goals

There are several ways to contribute to the mission of the Gathering of Tribes:

• Financial Contributions: As a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization, they rely on donations to fund their service projects, youth trips, and media production. Contributions can be made directly through their website or via platforms like Venmo and PayPal (@LDSGatheringofTribes).

• Volunteer and Serve: They seek Oral History Specialists to help document lineage and stories, and they often look for volunteers to assist with the logistics of their large-scale gatherings and community service projects.

• Stay Connected: You can subscribe to their email list to receive updates on upcoming events and service opportunities. Following their YouTube channel or social media pages also helps amplify their message and reach more members of the community.

• Participation: Their events are open to everyone—Indigenous and non-Indigenous alike—who wishes to learn, support the community, and participate in a shared celebration of faith and culture.