Does AncestorOS support Evidence Explained citations?

Yes. AncestorOS's citation tool is modeled on the Evidence Explained (EE) standard by Elizabeth Shown Mills. You can create full citations, reference notes, and source lists following professional genealogy citation standards.

What research tracking tools does AncestorOS include?

AncestorOS includes research logs (per client or per person), a research exhaustion matrix tracking which databases have been searched, a research queue for managing leads, and a citation vault for storing and reusing sources.

Can I track which genealogy databases I've already searched?

Yes. The research exhaustion tool lets you mark which databases you've searched for each person (census, vital records, newspapers, military records, and more) so you never duplicate effort.

Research Tools

Document your work
like a professional.

Research logs, Evidence Explained citations, GPS source quality ratings, and a searchable document vault — everything you need to practice rigorous, defensible genealogy.

Start Pro Plan See Pricing →

Research Log

Citations

Vault

Mar 18, 2026 Census

1880 U.S. Federal Census, Hamilton County, Ohio — Thomas Johnson household

Found Thomas (age 42), wife Mary (38), children listed. Confirms residence in Cincinnati Ward 4.

GPS reliability:★★★★☆

Mar 15, 2026 Vital Record

Ohio Death Certificate #4421 — Mary Ellen Johnson, d. 1912

Informant listed as son Robert. Cause of death: pneumonia. Place of death: Cincinnati General Hospital.

GPS reliability:★★★★★

Mar 12, 2026 Military

Civil War Pension File — Thomas W. Johnson, 5th Ohio Infantry

Pension approved 1885. Contains physical description and widow's pension application 1893.

GPS reliability:★★★★★

Professional Standards

The tools serious genealogists rely on.

AncestorOS is built around the Genealogical Proof Standard — so your research holds up under scrutiny.

Research Logs

Track every research session with structured logs: the objective, the repositories visited, the sources examined, the results found, and your conclusions. The paper trail that defends your work.

Evidence Explained Citations

Templates for all major source types — vital records, census, military, land, church, and more — formatted to Elizabeth Shown Mills' Evidence Explained standard, the gold standard for genealogical citation.

GPS Source Quality Ratings

Rate the reliability of each source using the Genealogical Proof Standard framework — original vs. derivative, primary vs. secondary, direct vs. indirect. Know how much weight each piece of evidence carries.

Document Vault

Upload scans of certificates, letters, photos, military records, and any other documents. Organize by client or family line, and link documents directly to citations and research log entries.

Questions

Frequently Asked

Is the citation format certified by the BCG or APG?

AncestorOS citation templates are modeled on Evidence Explained by Elizabeth Shown Mills, which is the recognized standard used by the Board for Certification of Genealogists (BCG) and the Association of Professional Genealogists (APG). AncestorOS is not officially certified by either organization, but the format aligns with their published standards.

Can I export my research log?

Yes. Research logs can be exported as PDF or CSV. Many professionals use the PDF export as part of their deliverable report to clients — it includes objectives, sources examined, and conclusions reached.

How does this relate to the family tree?

Research logs and citations can be linked directly to people in the family tree. A source you cite for a birth event connects back to the family tree record, creating a complete, traceable chain of evidence for every conclusion.

Can I share research logs with clients?

Yes. Export your research log as a PDF report and share it by email or attach it to an invoice. It presents a professional summary of what you researched, where you looked, and what you found.

Document your worklike a professional.

The tools serious genealogists rely on.

Research Logs

Evidence Explained Citations

GPS Source Quality Ratings

Document Vault

Frequently Asked

Related Features

Client Management

GEDCOM Import

Invoicing

Your methodology, rigorously documented.

Document your work
like a professional.