In this lecture, attendees will learn how to transition beyond common databases to locate the elusive “hidden” records that often solve the toughest genealogical problems. The session provides a methodical survey of obscure sources, including miscellaneous loose papers, manuscript collections, and rare published materials found in local historical and genealogical society archives. Participants will explore practical strategies for accessing specialized university and college archives and learn advanced techniques for searching digital repositories such as Google Books, Internet Archive, and Hathi Trust. By mastering professional discovery tools like WorldCat and ArchiveGrid, researchers will gain the skills necessary to reveal previously unknown details and find their ancestors within digitized collections that are often overlooked in standard searches.