The 1880 census is one of my favorite records—not just because of what it tells us, but because of what it helps us feel. This is the first census where we can see families take shape on paper. For...
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Inside the 1880 Census
When people talk about the U.S. Census, most think of it as just a headcount. But by 1880, the census had become something far more powerful. It wasn’t just about population totals or determining how...
South Seas Plantation on Captiva Island | Postcards from the Past
I really love looking at and collecting postcards—especially vintage postcards. Here at Ancestral Findings, I’ve collected thousands and thousands of them over the years. People have sent me...
Tracing Formerly Enslaved Ancestors: A Companion to the 1870 Census
The 1870 U.S. Census is a milestone for many family historians. For those tracing African American ancestry, it often marks the very first time their ancestors appear in a public federal record by...
Inside the 1870 Census
The 1870 U.S. Census may be one of the most significant records ever created in the country’s history. For the first time, every person—Black, white, free-born, formerly enslaved, immigrant...
Richard Mentor Johnson: A Controversial Hero
As we continue through our The Forgotten Seconds series—exploring the lives of vice presidents who never became president—we now turn to one of the most unusual figures ever to hold the office...