The fields around Kassel shimmered in the summer light, the scent of rye and damp earth thick in the air. Johann Müller paused his plow horse and wiped his brow. His father’s land had been small when...
Category - Journeys of Our Ancestors
Let’s explore the real and imagined stories of those who left their homelands to begin new lives in America. Each episode pairs historical research with vivid storytelling, showing both how to trace your ancestors and what they may have felt on their journey. Discover the courage, loss, and hope that carried families across the sea—and the records and memories they left behind.
Do You Have German Ancestry?
The story of German immigration to America is one of the great migrations in modern history. Over five million people left the German-speaking lands between the early 1700s and the early 1900s...
The Journey from Ireland
The wind had turned sharp over the fields of County Clare. It carried the sour smell of rot—the smell of potatoes dying in the ground. Every family in Kilfenora knew that scent by now. It had haunted...
Do You Have Irish Ancestry?
Do you have Irish ancestry in your family? You might be surprised how often the answer is yes. Roughly one in ten Americans can trace at least part of their lineage to Ireland, making Irish ancestry...