Best Social Media Accounts for Genealogy
By Rachel Christian
As social media use has become more mainstream, more and more users have found ways to make their accounts
valuable resources for genealogists—either to share information or facilitate discussion. We’ve gathered our favorite
accounts that are fun and informative—and that provide opportunities to connect with experts and other genealogists
like you. Social media is constantly changing, but these accounts are a great starting point for making social media a
valuable tool for your genealogy research.
Facebook
Facebook groups for genealogy. Instead, we’ve noted a few of our favorites below and focused the rest of this list on
just the Facebook pages we really “Like” (pun intended).
AccessGenealogy is a vast directory of free records and resources for US genealogy, especially Native American
research. The AccessGenealogy Facebook page is a great way to keep up with the latest free resources and news
from the site. Both the AccessGenealogy website and Facebook page are tools that every US researcher should keep
in their back pocket!
for citation issues, evidence analysis and more. The Facebook page functions as a sort of highlight reel of what is
going on in the forums, and is a great place to dive into the nitty-gritty of record use and citation.
also sponsors a Facebook page that provides a variety of helpful tidbits and opportunities for genealogists. The Center
offers many free, virtual events on a variety of genealogy topics. Additionally, you can watch one of their short,
informative videos on everything from finding records to preserving photographs. The admins are responsive and
accessible, so this page is also a good place to bring your library research questions.
Good for a laugh, historical intrigue and solid genealogical info, newspaper database GenealogyBank’s Facebook page
is a great place to go for new record releases, research tips and more. You need a membership to access
Twitter
Twitter is the 21st-century “little birdy” who tells you the latest news and gossip. But with access to such a wealth of
information, this little birdy ends up being more like a whole flock! The accounts that follow are our favorite tweeters
whose songs cut through the noise.
Melissa Barker is a professional genealogist and an archives manager for Houston County, Tennessee. She regularly
is a regular tweeter. If you’re at all interested in archiving or preservation, her account is definitely worth a follow.
Historical photo accounts are hugely popular on Twitter—though some are more historically accurate than others.
For a daily dose of factual history, Today’s Document (@TodaysDocument) is a great account to follow. Run by
the National Archives, this account posts timely historical photos along with a link to each photo on the National
Archives’ website.
(@EllisIsland), which posts historical photos of famous immigrants and other passengers, along with a screenshot
of a record related to their journey.
This account is not only a reliable stream of useful information, but also a fun way of engaging with the nation’s
recordkeepers. Beyond sharing interesting historical facts and helpful information on how to use their records,
the US National Archives also hosts a variety of events on Twitter. You can participate by using the event’s specific
Instagram
There is no shortage of Instagram accounts that share useful genealogy research tips and tricks. However, because
Instagram is primarily a photo-based platform, our favorite Instagram accounts are those that combine beautiful
imagery with fun and/or valuable information.
historical maps and charts from around the world. While this Instagram account has a small number of posts
relative to its age, each one is a work of art that users can easily get lost in.
Following The Newberry Library on Instagram is like getting a mini, behind-the-scenes tour of all the library’s
hidden gems. This account regularly posts closeups of photographs, manuscripts, artwork and so much more.
This account also makes excellent use of Instagram Reels to give readers a sneak peek at what goes on
When it comes to historical photo accounts on social media, some caution is required. There have been several
popular photo accounts that haven’t been entirely truthful. However, the Library of Congress’ Instagram account
is a reliable source of historical photography, artwork and more. Although they post shop-related posts somewhat
frequently, this is a good source for your once-a-day dose of historical photography, complete with detailed
captions and citations.
Pinterest
More than just cupcakes and wedding dresses, Pinterest is a great platform for anyone looking for inspiration.
Our favorite pinners are people who not only provide helpful research tips, but also give us creative ideas for
how to celebrate and share family history.
This account is a boon for crafty family history projects, research tips and more. Explore boards for ideas on
genealogy scrapbooks, family history websites, DIY family history games, greeting cards and much more.
Instead of simply labeling boards “photo crafts” or “scrapbooking,” this account builds its boards around a
certain theme. For example, users can find pins on family history postcards in the “Connections” board, or
family reunion checklists in the “Celebrations” board. There’s a lot to explore, and you’re sure to find some
great new ideas.
Pinterest is great for crafts and inspiration, but it is also useful for quick visual references (not to mention a powerful
search engine for images). This account is a good example, sharing photos of historical clothing items in its Fashion
History boards. Photo sleuths and historical fashion lovers will especially like this account. Because the boards are
organized by era, it’s easy to browse images of historical garb from specific time periods: 11th–14th century, 15th
century, and so on. But the modern boards have much narrower time frames (1800–1825, 1825–1850, etc.).
Nicole Dyer, the daughter in the mother-daughter duo behind FamilyLocket, shares great tips for those looking to
engage kids or grandkids in family history. Find pins for family tree templates and coloring pages, as well as family
history activities for teachers. Dyer also has a board for teen-friendly genealogy activities. In addition, users can
explore her DNA Genealogy board for helpful charts that allow you to visualize genetic inheritance.
YouTube
Once known for funny cat videos, YouTube has surpassed Facebook as the most widely used social media platform.
Free tutorials, historical film and quick history lessons are all a click away on this giant video-sharing site.
Ancestry.com has a robust YouTube channel that offers educational videos on how to use its products and services
as well as some genealogy entertainment. The Barefoot Genealogist, Crista Cowan, has a whole playlist dedicated to walkthroughs and tutorials. You can also watch bite-sized segments of a variety of Ancestry.com-produced shows
including “My Family Secrets Revealed,” as well as watch the full 2019 Sundance film “Railroad Ties.”
British Pathé, originally known as Pathé News, was a leading producer of newsreels, documentaries, and other films
in 20th-century Great Britain. It has since become an impressive film archive, with its digital videos available on its
website and on YouTube. Users can browse a library of over 100,000 videos, including (among other historic newsreels) interviews with Titanic survivors. Similar channels include Universal Newsreels and a channel of restored archival
Host Matt Baker first created UsefulCharts as a line of helpful history wall charts. On YouTube, Baker takes viewers
on a tour of his charts while simultaneously giving handy history lessons. This channel is a treat for any history lover,
and it makes complex historical families and lines of succession easy to understand. Popular UsefulCharts videos
include “Line of Succession to the British Throne” and “Who would be King of America if George Washington had
been made a monarch?”
TikTok
It’s not just for Gen-Z and “Generation Alpha”! Family history has come to TikTok, the latest viral social media app
that combines the addictive scrolling of Twitter with the video-focused algorithm of YouTube. TikTok videos are
often short—maybe even just a few seconds—but can be widely spread across other platforms, like Instagram
Reels and YouTube Shorts. And the more you scroll and interact in the app, the better the “For You” algorithm
will suggest videos. Some notable accounts for genealogists are:
- @GenealogyExplorer: Enthusiast Megan helps followers with thorny family history problems: damaged family photos, record updates and more.
- @ManicPixieMom: Caitlin Abrams cleans tombstones, then shares the stories of the people buried there. She was interviewed for the May/June 2022 issue of Family Tree Magazine and the June 2022 episode of the Family Tree Podcast.
- @MyGrandmasDiaries: A user reads their grandmother’s day-by-day journals from nearly a century ago. Accompanying voice-over and visual aids (such as contemporary photos, records and music) provide an entertaining (and often, moving) window into the past.
- @TheFormidableGenealogist: Professional researchers share how-to advice for genealogists of all experience levels.
- @TimeRewindRadio: Watch “this day in history” videos with slickly edited archival footage.
For more fun, visual history lessons on YouTube, check out Crash Course (especially the channel’s US history playlist).
Also be sure to check out the channels selected by Family Tree Magazine editor Andrew Koch below. We’d be remiss
if we didn’t at least mention our own social media channels, where we share our best genealogy advice as well
