MyCousins is built as a living family archive. Over time, it has grown to include many kinds of pages, each serving a different purpose. Understanding these page types can help visitors navigate the site more easily and appreciate how stories, records, and research work together.
Not every page is meant to be read in order, and not every visitor will be interested in every type. Each page exists to support a larger goal: preserving family history with clarity, respect, and care.
Obituaries
Obituaries serve as anchor points in the family record. They document a life’s passing while providing connections between generations. On MyCousins, obituaries may be original, transcribed, or carefully normalized from historical sources to improve readability and long-term preservation.
Obituaries often link to related family members, ancestor profiles, or supporting records.
Ancestor Profiles — We Have Traveled Far
Ancestor profiles focus on a single person and a meaningful portion of their life. Rather than attempting to document everything at once, these profiles present a snapshot that highlights character, experience, or transformation.
Profiles may be grounded in research, family memories, or a combination of both. Together, they form a mosaic of lived experiences across generations.
Family Pages and Family Hubs
Family pages gather information about a specific family line, such as the Elcik, Strand, DeRosa, or Skillin families. These pages act as entry points, connecting visitors to individuals, stories, documents, and shared history.
As the site evolves, some family pages serve as Family Hubs, organizing large bodies of material into coherent, navigable collections.
Stories and Essays
Stories and essays explore themes, events, and reflections that do not fit neatly into a single profile or record. These pages may examine immigration, faith, work, identity, or the research journey itself.
Some are deeply personal; others are historical or explanatory. All contribute context and meaning to the family archive.
Records, Documents, and Evidence
These pages focus on primary sources such as census records, church registers, immigration documents, military files, and other historical materials.
Whenever possible, records are presented with explanation, context, and sourcing, helping readers understand not only what a document says, but why it matters.
Research and Methodology Pages
Research pages explain how information is discovered, evaluated, and preserved on MyCousins. They may discuss research strategies, common challenges, naming conventions, DNA testing, or the limits of historical evidence.
These pages exist to promote transparency and encourage careful, thoughtful genealogy.