From Name Collector to Careful Researcher: Embracing the Genealogy Do-Over
A “genealogy do-over” is precisely what it sounds like: deciding to start your family history research again from the beginning – on purpose – so you can do it better this time. It’s not about throwing away the past. It’s about acknowledging that our early work was done with the tools, knowledge, and habits we had then… and choosing to rebuild on a stronger foundation now.
The turn of the year is a natural time to take stock of our genealogy. Just as we clear out cupboards, sort papers, and make resolutions, it can also be the perfect moment to look honestly at our family tree and how we’ve built it. A genealogy do-over fits beautifully into this season of fresh starts: instead of simply adding more names, we pause, step back, and decide to rebuild our research on a stronger foundation. For the dedicated researcher embracing the genealogy do-over, it’s a quiet, practical way to honour the work we’ve already done, while giving ourselves permission to begin again—with better methods, better organisation, and a clearer sense of purpose for the year ahead.
Where did the idea come from?
The phrase “Genealogy Do-Over” was popularized by American genealogist Thomas MacEntee around 2014–2015. He challenged himself—and then thousands of others—to set aside years of research and rebuild his tree using modern standards: better citations, more careful evaluation of evidence, and more systematic organization (MacEntee, 2015, 2016).
From that experiment grew:
A structured Genealogy Do-Over program with step-by-step “mileposts” (MacEntee, 2015, 2025).
Webinars and handouts about learning from research mistakes (MacEntee, 2015).
The Genealogy Do-Over Workbook, a guided plan that helps genealogists rebuild their trees with stronger methods (MacEntee, 2016).
The concept spread quickly. Genealogists began using “genealogy do-over” as a general term for a serious reset or clean-up of their research (Gray, 2024; Stufflebean, 2017).
What is a genealogy do-over?
At its heart, a genealogy do-over means:
You deliberately put your old research to one side and rebuild your tree from scratch, using better methods (MacEntee, 2016).
Typically, that involves:
Setting old work aside
You don’t destroy it; you move your old files and tree into “reference” status so you’re not tempted to copy unproven conclusions straight across (MacEntee, 2015; Gray, 2024).Starting with yourself and working backwards
You rebuild carefully, generation by generation, documenting each relationship with proper sources rather than jumping randomly to “interesting” ancestors (MacEntee, 2016).Applying current research standards
Many people use the Genealogical Proof Standard as a guide, aiming for reasonably exhaustive searches, solid citations, conflict resolution, and written conclusions (MacEntee, 2016).Building good habits from day one
The do-over model emphasizes research logs, consistent file naming, and organised digital/paper systems so you don’t have to “fix” chaos later (MacEntee, 2015; MacEntee, 2016).
In other words, you’re not just rebuilding your tree; you’re rebuilding your process.
Why would anyone start over?
Most genealogists eventually reach a stage where they look at their early work and think:
“Where did that date come from?”
“Why are there three birthplaces for this one person?”
“What source did I use for this entire branch?”
A genealogy do-over can be especially helpful when:
You began as a “name collector” and now want properly sourced genealogy.
Your tree is full of unsourced facts, guesses, or copied online trees.
You’ve learned more about methodology and want your data to match your current standards (MacEntee, 2016).
Your files have become so disorganised that it feels easier to rebuild than to untangle.
You are thinking about how others will inherit and trust your work in the future.
As one reviewer of the workbook noted, the do-over can help genealogists at any experience level re-evaluate their research and improve their skills before passing it on (Blinkist Editorial, n.d.).
What a genealogy do-over is not
It’s worth clearing up a few misunderstandings.
A genealogy do-over is not:
Burning your old research.
You keep prior work as a bank of clues, but you require fresh evidence for each conclusion in the new tree (Gray, 2024; MacEntee, 2015).Admitting total failure.
It’s an acknowledgment that you’ve grown as a researcher and want your work to reflect that growth (MacEntee, 2016).A rule for everyone.
Some genealogists choose a more modest “go-over,” reviewing existing work instead of starting again, and still find MacEntee’s framework useful (Stufflebean, 2017).A race for more names.
The point is careful, thoughtful research, not how many people you can add in a weekend.
Full do-over, targeted do-over, or gentle “go-over”?
Over time, genealogists have adapted the concept to different levels of intensity.
1. The full Genealogy Do-Over
This follows MacEntee’s original model:
Old research is parked.
A brand new tree is built from the ground up.
The work proceeds through structured steps or weeks outlined in the do-over program and workbook (MacEntee, 2016; MacEntee, 2025).
It’s demanding, but gives a remarkably clean result.
2. The targeted do-over
Here, you apply the same idea to one troublesome area:
A messy surname line that grew from copied trees.
An immigrant family with tangled identities.
A branch built long ago with no citations.
You deliberately start again on that segment, using the old tree as hints rather than proof.
3. The gentle “go-over”
Some genealogists prefer a go-over rather than a full reset. They review existing work, standardising citations, checking each fact, and reorganising files without starting a new tree (Stufflebean, 2017).
This can be a good compromise if your tree is mostly sound but uneven in quality.
In my own research, I’ve found a middle path between the dramatic full reset and doing nothing at all. I rarely feel the need to scrap everything, but I sometimes do a targeted do-over on problem areas. For the rest of my tree, I regularly work through a gentle go-over: one ancestor at a time, checking each date and place, adding proper citations, and tidying up notes and files. It’s slower and less drastic than a complete do-over, but it has the same goal: turning my older, enthusiastic research into something solid, traceable, and worthy of being passed on.
How to start your own genealogy do-over
If the idea appeals to you, you don’t need to follow a strict program, but MacEntee’s model offers a useful pattern (MacEntee, 2016).
1. Make peace with your earlier self
Your early research reflects the tools and knowledge you had then. That work brought you to this point. A do-over honours it by building something stronger on top of it, rather than pretending it never happened.
2. Decide your scope
Will you:
Start completely from scratch?
Focus on one surname or one grandparent’s line?
Use a fixed schedule, like 12 steps or 12 weeks?
Writing down your scope makes the project feel realistic, not overwhelming.
3. Park the old tree safely
Export your existing tree as a GEDCOM and label it clearly (for example, “Tree before do-over – reference only”).
Move digital files into a “hold” folder.
Box up paper files and note that they are old research.
This mirrors MacEntee’s own summary: set aside existing material—including databases and digitised files—and start over with a clean slate (MacEntee, 2015).
4. Gather your tools
For a do-over, it helps to standardise:
Your primary genealogy software or online tree.
A research log (spreadsheet, notebook, or app).
A citation format you can actually maintain.
A simple folder structure for documents and images.
The workbook framework emphasises planning and organisation alongside the research itself (MacEntee, 2016; Blinkist Editorial, n.d.).
5. Start with yourself and work backwards
Record your own details, supported by documents.
Add your parents, then grandparents, each time noting sources.
Move gradually backward instead of jumping randomly across branches.
6. Make and follow a research plan
Rather than chasing every hint:
Frame specific questions: “When and where did great-grandfather marry?”
List realistic sources: parish records, civil registers, census records, bygdebøker, local histories, etc.
Log each search and its result, including negative searches (MacEntee, 2016).
7. Evaluate and write as you go
Don’t only collect records—interpret them:
Compare sources and resolve conflicts.
Write short notes explaining your conclusions.
Attach these notes directly to individuals or events in your software.
In MacEntee’s approach, this habit of documenting reasoning is central to creating research that others can understand and continue (MacEntee, 2016).
Pros and cons of a genealogy do-over
Advantages
Cleaner, more reliable tree
You replace guesses and unsourced claims with documented conclusions.Better organisation
File systems, logs, and citations become consistent, making your research easier to share and preserve (MacEntee, 2016).Renewed enthusiasm
Revisiting old ground with new skills can reveal records and connections you missed years ago.Stronger legacy
You’re deliberately building something that future family members and researchers can rely on.
Challenges
Time and effort
A full do-over is a large project, which is why some people adopt a shorter or smaller version (Stufflebean, 2017).Letting go of cherished but shaky conclusions
You may discover that parts of your tree rest on weak evidence—or no evidence at all.Perfectionism
The goal is improvement, not perfection. MacEntee stresses building better habits, not creating a flawless tree (MacEntee, 2016).
Is a genealogy do-over right for you?
A genealogy do-over is a tool, not a commandment. Some people thrive on the structure of a full reset. Others prefer a targeted do-over or a gentle go-over of existing work. All three options share the same spirit:
Respect the work you’ve already done.
Respect the ancestors you are researching.
Use what you’ve learned to produce stronger, better-documented genealogy today.
Whether you choose the full program, a focused clean-up, or simply a more methodical review, the “genealogy do-over” idea invites us all to slow down, rethink our methods, and build a tree that will stand the test of time.
References
Blinkist Editorial. (n.d.). The genealogy do-over workbook by Thomas MacEntee (book summary). Blinkist.
Gray, S. (2024, September 1). The secret to a successful genealogy do-over. Gray’s Table.
MacEntee, T. (2015, January 21). My genealogy do-over: A year of learning from research mistakes [Webinar]. Legacy Family Tree Webinars.
MacEntee, T. (2015). The genealogy do-over: A year of learning from mistakes [Handout]. Jewish Genealogical Society of Greater Boston.
MacEntee, T. (2016). The genealogy do-over workbook: Get your genealogy and family history research back on track and still have fun! Unlock the Past.
MacEntee, T. (2025, January 3). Genealogy do-over – Start here. Genealogy Bargains.
Stufflebean, L. (2017, August 8). 2017 genealogy do-over/go-over update. Empty Branches on the Family Tree.
