There is a moment in every genealogist’s life when the tree stops feeling tidy.

What began as a modest exploration of grandparents and great-grandparents becomes something larger—wider, louder, more complex. DNA matches multiply. Shared trees overlap. Duplicate ancestors appear quietly in the margins. A once-manageable project begins to resemble a digital jungle.

The Cousin Collector was written for that moment.

This is not a beginner’s guide to genealogy. It is a guide to sustainability.

Blending practical systems with measured wit, this book addresses the real challenges modern researchers face: managing large DNA match lists, preventing reckless merges, building durable file structures, and maintaining clarity across multiple platforms. It offers a calm alternative to reactive research—one rooted in documentation, discipline, and intentional growth.

Inside, you will find guidance on:

• Establishing a master tree and preventing synchronization drift
• Using centimorgans wisely without over-interpreting them
• Grouping and evaluating DNA matches strategically
• Designing a file-naming system that scales with your research
• Backing up before structural edits
• Pruning unsupported branches without emotional resistance
• Writing source notes that make your reasoning traceable
• Resetting your tree when refinement becomes necessary

This book assumes you already care about your research.
Its purpose is to help you care for it properly.

Humor appears where appropriate—not to minimize the work, but to acknowledge its realities. Every genealogist has experienced the Cousin Tsunami. Every researcher has faced duplicate Johns. Every serious student of ancestry eventually confronts the need for structure.

The goal is not to slow curiosity.

The goal is to protect it.

The Cousin Collector invites you to shift from accumulation to architecture, from collector to curator, from reaction to intention.

Your tree does not need to be smaller.

It needs to be stronger.