One bounded question
Choose what “done” means for this clue before widening the search.
$29 · one-time digital product hypothesis
A source-first room for one clue at a time.
A calm, complete workspace for resolving one family clue without guessing or losing the trail. The live offer will include HTML access, a downloadable PDF, and a large-type print edition.
$29one-time · digital download + HTML access
AI-created presenter. Human-researched and reviewed. This teaches a source-first method; it does not promise an ancestor, relationship, or genealogy outcome.
The completed state
End with a record another person can trust.
When one research session is complete, you have captured the clue, identified the source and record type, separated certainty from assumption, chosen one next action, and preserved the trail for a family handoff.
One source note
Record the title, custodian, URL or call number, access date, and image/page.
One usable trail
Leave “what we know / what we need / where it lives” in plain language.
Inside the room
Ten modules, each with a job.
Start here · 10 minutes
Choose one clue, write the question, and define “done.”
Evidence card
Separate observation, interpretation, and unknowns.
Record decoder
Identify common record types and their limits — no universal claims.
Search ladder
Move from free official/community sources to paid databases only when justified.
Brick-wall reset
Generate three bounded hypotheses and one next action, not a speculative tree.
Conflict log
Compare names, dates, places, and sources without silently picking the convenient one.
Source card
Record the custodian, citation, access date, image/page, and note.
Family handoff
Export “what we know / what we need / where it lives.”
Preservation checklist
Store copies, provenance, permissions, and a correction note.
Worked example
A clearly labeled synthetic or rights-cleared record with every inference shown.
Readable proof objects
The cards are the product.
The living book gives context; the cards make the work visible. They are designed to be read on a phone, printed large, and handed to someone else without a genealogy account.
START HERE
EVIDENCE
DECODER
SOURCE
HANDOFF
EVIDENCE
DECODER
SOURCE
HANDOFF
Make the clue exact.
Format and delivery
Choose the version that keeps you going.
Mobile-first view with table of contents, progress markers, source links, review date, and correction log.
Readable digital edition with all ten modules, cards, and the labeled worked example.
Print-safe version with generous margins and clear printer guidance for desk or binder use.
Immediate access in the live version. No database login, private research, or updates beyond the stated correction log.
The optional add-on
Make the handoff easy to print.
The $9 Print & Handoff Pack is a separate, unticked option: 12 large-type blank evidence/source cards, two handoff sheets, a record-type limits wall card, and printer/folder guidance. It is not required to use the Starter Kit.
Price is a test hypothesis. The local preview has no live SKU, processor, order, email delivery, or payment path.
Starter Kit · sandbox order preview
Family Record Room Starter Kit$29
Print & Handoff Pack (optional)$9
Total preview$29
Open sandbox checkoutQuestions worth answering
Before you decide, check the edges.
Is this for beginners?
Yes. Start with one clue, and unknown fields are welcome. It is also useful for experienced researchers who want a compact evidence and handoff system.
Do I need a paid database?
No. The search ladder starts with free or official sources. Paid databases are optional and appear only when the evidence justifies them.
What if I am stuck?
The brick-wall reset narrows the question to three bounded hypotheses and one next action. It does not invent a relationship or promise a final answer.
Can I print it?
Yes. The planned live product includes a large-type print PDF, and the optional print pack adds blank cards and handoff sheets.
Is Rowan a real genealogist?
No. Rowan is a fictional AI-created educational host. The humans behind the project research and review the lessons.
What happens to my information?
This local prototype collects nothing. A live version must publish a versioned privacy notice and field inventory before any collection or payment.