Practical Genealogy for Serious Researchers
"Your ancestors left a paper trail."
"We'll teach you to follow it."
Free weekly missions that build real genealogy skills - from your first census search to advanced DNA analysis. Each mission includes a downloadable research tool you can take to the archive.
Your Learning Path
Progressive missions that build on each other
What Is Operation Granny Files?
Operation Granny Files is a progressive genealogy education series. Each mission is a self-contained lesson that teaches a specific research skill and comes with a free downloadable artifact—a field guide, quick reference, or workbook—you can use immediately.
Missions build on each other, from the absolute basics of Genealogy 101 through advanced methodology in the 300- and 400-level courses. Whether you're interviewing your grandmother for the first time or decoding a Civil War pension file, there's a mission for where you are right now.
Latest Missions
Read the newest lessons and download their research tools
Mission 30 Specialty Building a Legacy — Preserving, Sharing & Publishing Your Research
Preserve, organize, and publish your research so it remains usable for future generations.
Read Mission →
Mission 29 Specialty Before the Revolution — Colonial & Pre-1850 Research
Push past the 1850 wall with tax lists, colonial records, pension files, and paleography.
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Mission 28 Specialty Graveside Intelligence — Cemetery Records & What the Stones Tell
Read headstones, plot layouts, sexton records, and cemetery symbols as evidence.
Read Mission →Free Research Tools
Downloadable field guides, quick references, and workbooks
Join the Mission
Free weekly genealogy lessons and downloadable research tools, delivered to your inbox.