C - Collaboration: Shine a Light on the Power of Working Together With Collaboration

Let’s be real—our genealogy journey is way more fun with others. From decoding old documents to making sense of our ancestors’ stories, we all hit moments where we feel stuck, overwhelmed, or just plain tired. That’s when collaboration becomes more than just a “nice to have”—it becomes the lifeline that lifts us up.

Over the years, I’ve had the gift of collaborating with some amazing people - cousins, fellow family historians, genealogical societies, authors, librarians, and social media community. Each collaboration brought something unique to the table: new energy, fresh perspectives, unexpected ideas, and often, real friendship.

💬 Real Talk: A Few Collabs That Changed the Game for Me

• I started sharing photos of my ancestors on social media, and something beautiful happened—family and friends began chiming in with their own memories, little history tidbits about the places my ancestors lived, and even travel tips from researchers who had already been to spots I dream of visiting. That one simple act of posting opened the door to conversations I never expected.

• Partnering with historical societies to manage their social media accounts has helped me better understand what local communities value—and has shown me how deeply connected people still are to the stories of their town and ancestors.

• Even swapping AI prompt ideas with a fellow researcher sparked a whole new section of my content calendar!

These weren’t massive projects. Some were simple emails or Live and Zoom chats. But they all had one thing in common: connection. That’s the magic of collaboration. It reminds us that we’re building something together—not just for ourselves but for the whole genealogy community.

🌿 Thinking About Starting Your Own Collab?

You don’t need a big audience, fancy tools, or a viral post to start collaborating. You just need to show up, be curious, and reach out with intention.

Here’s a quick-start list:

• DM someone you admire in the genealogy or history space and say, “I’d love to collaborate—maybe even brainstorm a project together. Interested?”

• Join a group or community, like a local genealogical society or an online mastermind. (Hey, even a Facebook group counts!)

• Start small: Co-host a Q&A. Do a mutual shoutout. Trade blog posts. Create a shared content series around a theme, like Ancestor Spotlights or Preservation Tips.

• Be generous: Share your skills and ask how you can help. The best collabs are built on mutual support.

💡 Bonus Ideas: Collab Themes for the Genealogy World

• Virtual Research Days: Host co-research hours on Zoom to motivate each other.

• Ancestor Story Swaps: Share one ancestor’s story each week with a partner, cross-promoting each other’s platforms.

• Joint Newsletter Sections: Feature another genealogist’s tip or find in your newsletter—and ask them to do the same.

🌟 Why It Matters

Collaboration isn’t about the numbers—it’s about the network. It’s about building trust, sparking joy, and helping each other do more of what we love.

Especially in the world of genealogy, where our work is often solitary and deep, collaboration brings warmth, laughter, and that gentle nudge to keep going. It transforms research into community. And that’s a kind of magic worth sharing.

So let me ask you - Who’s someone you’ve always wanted to collaborate with? What’s one idea you’ve been sitting on that might just need another person to bring it to life?

Let’s shine a light on each other. 💫Tag your favorite collaborators in the comments or send this post to someone you’d love to work with. You never know what could grow from just one conversation.

#AToZChallenge #Collaboration #GenealogyConnections #SimpleLivingRoots #SocialSphereShoutout #GratitudeInCommunity