Uploaded April 2026 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
Most genealogists start with the “Big Four” record groups—census, vital, land, and probate. But what happens when those records run out… or don’t give you the answers you need?
In this video, I’ll show you how to go beyond the Big Four and uncover additional record sets that can help fill in the gaps in your family history research. We’ll explore powerful but often overlooked sources like tax records, Social Security records, state censuses, immigration and emigration records, military records, city directories, newspapers, church records, and more.
You’ll also learn where to find these records, including how to use the FamilySearch Research Wiki to identify what records exist for your ancestor’s location, when they were created, and where they are held today. Understanding where records were created—often at the county level—and where they are now preserved, such as in state archives, can make all the difference in your research success.
If you’ve hit a brick wall or want to take your research to the next level, this video will give you practical strategies to expand your search and find new clues.
Purchase the Handout HERE: genealogytv.org/product/handout-for-beyond-the-big-four
SIMILAR VIDEOS
🔴 Big Four Genealogy Record Groups for Every Ancestor
youtu.be/Y6UflbzQlnk&list=UULFcvpi8XvOScBogIxmarmADw
🔴 Genealogy Records Checklist for You 2026 Family History Research
youtu.be/_Hf23anwFek&list=UULFcvpi8XvOScBogIxmarmADw
🔴 Social Security Records Updated 2025
youtu.be/HrHqefrpEX0&list=UULFcvpi8XvOScBogIxmarmADw
🔴 State Census for Genealogy and Family History Research
youtu.be/9i3nwE87k_U&list=UULFcvpi8XvOScBogIxmarmADw
❤️ JOIN the GENEALOGY TV ACADEMY
genealogytv.org/academy
📝📝📝📝 HANDOUT OPTIONS
📝 1) Genealogy TV Academy members have access to all lessons and handouts back to 2022
genealogytv.org/academy
📝 2) Become a CHANNEL MEMBER (INFO ACCESS level – $9.99/month)
Get access to all handouts
youtube.com/@GenealogyTV/join
Find handouts in the Community tab:
youtube.com/@GenealogyTV/community
📝 3) Purchase individual handouts ($5 and up)
genealogytv.org/handouts
You will receive a download link by email
📝 4) Become a PATRON (HAPPY DANCE level – $15/month or more)
Get early access to videos + handouts emailed to you
patreon.com/GenealogyTV
❤️ BECOME A GENEALOGY TV CHANNEL MEMBER
See perks and support the channel
youtube.com/@GenealogyTV/join
❤️ Patreon Membership – Handouts emailed as they are produced
patreon.com/GenealogyTV
✅ Genealogy TV WEBSITE
genealogytv.org
✅ GTV on FACEBOOK
facebook.com/Genealogytv
✅ SIGN UP for GTV’s NEWSLETTER
https://mailchi.mp/a0862c6473aa/genealogytvnewsletter
👉 Subscribe to Genealogy TV (Free)
youtube.com/channel/UCcvpi8XvOScBogIxmarmADw/Subscribe
*** GTV Affiliate Partners ***
🛍️ Genealogy TV AMAZON STORE (Connie’s favorite tools & products)
amazon.com/shop/genealogytv
I’m a professional genealogist who loves teaching through video. Genealogy TV is all about genealogy, family history, and DNA research. My goal is to create the best free genealogy videos on YouTube and teach you how to build your family tree using proven research methods.
On Genealogy TV, you’ll learn how to:
- Keep effective research notes
- Stay organized
- Use DNA in your research
- Find missing ancestors
- Locate and analyze family history records
- Organize DNA matches
Learn to use top genealogy resources including Ancestry, FamilySearch, MyHeritage, FindMyPast, FamilyTreeDNA, AncestryDNA, 23andMe, WikiTree, National and State Archives, genealogical societies, Chronicling America, Newspapers.com, Fold3, Archive.org, Facebook genealogy groups, and more.
Genealogy TV is the largest independent YouTube channel dedicated to genealogy education.
#Genealogy #GenealogyTV #FamilyHistory
Circus Waltz - Silent Film Light by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license.
creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
0:00 Introduction
1:26 How to find the handouts?
2:13 Beyond the Big Four handout & recap
4:24 Types of tax records
5:07 U.S. Social Security records - 4 types
7:50 State or Local Census records
8:50 Immigration and Emigration Records
10:05 Military Records
11:27 Family Histories
12:51 Scanning and photographing archive records
14:17 Family Artifacts
16:47 City Directories
18:16 Newspapers
19:35 Church Records
20:34 Where to find these records?
21:47 What is the Genealogy TV Academy?
Most genealogists start with the “Big Four” record groups—census, vital, land, and probate. But what happens when those records run out… or don’t give you the answers you need?
In this video, I’ll show you how to go beyond the Big Four and uncover additional record sets that can help fill in the gaps in your family history research. We’ll explore powerful but often overlooked sources like tax records, Social Security records, state censuses, immigration and emigration records, military records, city directories, newspapers, church records, and more.
You’ll also learn where to find these records, including how to use the FamilySearch Research Wiki to identify what records exist for your ancestor’s location, when they were created, and where they are held today. Understanding where records were created—often at the county level—and where they are now preserved, such as in state archives, can make all the difference in your research success.
If you’ve hit a brick wall or want to take your research to the next level, this video will give you practical strategies to expand your search and find new clues.
Purchase the Handout HERE: genealogytv.org/product/handout-for-beyond-the-big-four
SIMILAR VIDEOS
🔴 Big Four Genealogy Record Groups for Every Ancestor
youtu.be/Y6UflbzQlnk&list=UULFcvpi8XvOScBogIxmarmADw
🔴 Genealogy Records Checklist for You 2026 Family History Research
youtu.be/_Hf23anwFek&list=UULFcvpi8XvOScBogIxmarmADw
🔴 Social Security Records Updated 2025
youtu.be/HrHqefrpEX0&list=UULFcvpi8XvOScBogIxmarmADw
🔴 State Census for Genealogy and Family History Research
youtu.be/9i3nwE87k_U&list=UULFcvpi8XvOScBogIxmarmADw
❤️ JOIN the GENEALOGY TV ACADEMY
genealogytv.org/academy
📝📝📝📝 HANDOUT OPTIONS
📝 1) Genealogy TV Academy members have access to all lessons and handouts back to 2022
genealogytv.org/academy
📝 2) Become a CHANNEL MEMBER (INFO ACCESS level – $9.99/month)
Get access to all handouts
youtube.com/@GenealogyTV/join
Find handouts in the Community tab:
youtube.com/@GenealogyTV/community
📝 3) Purchase individual handouts ($5 and up)
genealogytv.org/handouts
You will receive a download link by email
📝 4) Become a PATRON (HAPPY DANCE level – $15/month or more)
Get early access to videos + handouts emailed to you
patreon.com/GenealogyTV
❤️ BECOME A GENEALOGY TV CHANNEL MEMBER
See perks and support the channel
youtube.com/@GenealogyTV/join
❤️ Patreon Membership – Handouts emailed as they are produced
patreon.com/GenealogyTV
✅ Genealogy TV WEBSITE
genealogytv.org
✅ GTV on FACEBOOK
facebook.com/Genealogytv
✅ SIGN UP for GTV’s NEWSLETTER
https://mailchi.mp/a0862c6473aa/genealogytvnewsletter
👉 Subscribe to Genealogy TV (Free)
youtube.com/channel/UCcvpi8XvOScBogIxmarmADw/Subscribe
*** GTV Affiliate Partners ***
🛍️ Genealogy TV AMAZON STORE (Connie’s favorite tools & products)
amazon.com/shop/genealogytv
I’m a professional genealogist who loves teaching through video. Genealogy TV is all about genealogy, family history, and DNA research. My goal is to create the best free genealogy videos on YouTube and teach you how to build your family tree using proven research methods.
On Genealogy TV, you’ll learn how to:
- Keep effective research notes
- Stay organized
- Use DNA in your research
- Find missing ancestors
- Locate and analyze family history records
- Organize DNA matches
Learn to use top genealogy resources including Ancestry, FamilySearch, MyHeritage, FindMyPast, FamilyTreeDNA, AncestryDNA, 23andMe, WikiTree, National and State Archives, genealogical societies, Chronicling America, Newspapers.com, Fold3, Archive.org, Facebook genealogy groups, and more.
Genealogy TV is the largest independent YouTube channel dedicated to genealogy education.
#Genealogy #GenealogyTV #FamilyHistory
Circus Waltz - Silent Film Light by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license.
creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0
0:00 Introduction
1:26 How to find the handouts?
2:13 Beyond the Big Four handout & recap
4:24 Types of tax records
5:07 U.S. Social Security records - 4 types
7:50 State or Local Census records
8:50 Immigration and Emigration Records
10:05 Military Records
11:27 Family Histories
12:51 Scanning and photographing archive records
14:17 Family Artifacts
16:47 City Directories
18:16 Newspapers
19:35 Church Records
20:34 Where to find these records?
21:47 What is the Genealogy TV Academy?
