About Carly

Hi, I’m Carly Lane Morgan

I’ve been fascinated by family history for as long as I can remember. Genealogy isn’t just about names and dates—it’s about the stories, struggles, and triumphs of the people who came before us. My goal is to help others uncover, organize, and share those stories in a way that’s both meaningful and manageable.

As the founder of Family Tree Notebooks, I’ve helped thousands of people bring structure to their research with a digital system that makes genealogy more accessible, visually engaging, and easy to maintain. Whether you’re a beginner just starting to explore your roots or an experienced researcher dealing with complex family lines, my tools and teachings can help you turn scattered records into a family history you’re proud to pass down.

Beyond Family Tree Notebooks, I’m a speaker, educator, and advocate in the genealogy world. I regularly present at conferences and workshops, sharing insights on digital organization and diverse family histories. I also volunteer with various family history organizations to ensure that genealogy is welcoming and representative of all families.

[Explore Family Tree Notebooks]

I created the Life Story Collection after years of working with family history and personal records and seeing the same pattern again and again: people wanted to save their stories, but didn’t know how to start. They felt overwhelmed by the idea of “writing a memoir” but didn't see a more accessible way to make themselves a part of the history they were already collecting.

The Life Story Collection reflects the same approach I take with genealogy: structure, flexibility, and respect for the complexity of real lives. It’s a way to make space for your own story within the history you’re already preserving.

Presentations Given

July 2025, Inclusive Genealogy: Navigating Complex Family Trees, Co-ordinator, GRIP Virtual Genealogy Institute, National Genealogical Society

July 2025, Women of China Camp, Chinese American Genealogy: Silver Linings, GRIP Virtual Genealogy Institute, National Genealogical Society

February 2025, Challenges When Researching Chinese-American Women, Researching Women, SLIG Institute

20 Sep 2024, Making a Six-Figure Income with a $2 Product, Professional Management Conference, Association of Professional Genealogists

26 Jun 2024, Organizing with Family Tree Notebooks, GRIP Virtual Genealogy Institute, National Genealogical Society

26 Feb 2024, Using Social Media to Build an Engaged Audience, Nor Cal APG Chapter

6 Jan 2024, Using Social Media for Genealogy Research, Orange County California Genealogical Society 

6 Jan 2024, Three Chinese Women in America, Orange County California Genealogical Society 

19 Oct 2023, Workshop: Planning a Year's Worth of Social Media Content in One Workshop, Association of Professional Genealogists

13 Oct 2023, Archiving Social Media, New York Genealogical and Biographical Society

10 Jun 2023, Family Tree Notebooks, Grand Strand Genealogy Club of Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

18 Oct 2022, Using Social Media to Grow Your Genealogy Society or Business, California Genealogical Society

11 Oct 2022, Using Social Media for Research, California Genealogical Society

4 Oct 2022, Saving Social Media for Family History, California Genealogical Society

28 May 2022, Organizing Non-traditional Parent Relationships on the Family Tree, National Genealogical Society Conference, Sacramento, California

26 May 2022, Three Chinese Women in America: Following the Paper Trail, National Genealogical Society Conference, Sacramento, California

26 Oct 2021, Family Tree Notebooks, Family History Society of Arizona

1 Mar 2020, Plan a Year's Worth of Social Media Content in One Workshop, Alt Summit, Palm Springs, California

28 Feb 2020, Archiving Social Media, RootsTech, Salt Lake City, Utah

26 Mar 2019, Planning a Year's Worth of Social Media Content in One Weekend, Alt Summit, Palm Springs, California

27 Mar 2018, Planning a Year's Worth of Social Media Content in One Weekend, Alt Summit, Palm Springs, California