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...
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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...
Researching Ancestral Crisis in Ireland by Chris Paton (Book Giveaway – ENDED)
This giveaway has concluded. Stay tuned for our next giveaway. Winner: Barbara Swartzel If you would like to learn more or order a copy of Searching Ancestral Crisis in Ireland, you can find it...
When Did Trick or Treat Start in America?
Every year on October 31, children walk door to door collecting candy while wearing costumes. The custom feels old and familiar, but it has a real history. Trick or treat did not appear overnight. It...
The Power in a Name
Names are among the most personal pieces of information we can record, yet in genealogy they often become our most puzzling clues. They carry history, culture, and family identity. They also shift...
When the World Came Together: How World’s Fairs Sparked Invention and Inspired Generations
There’s something about the World’s Fairs that has always captured my imagination. Whenever I read about them or stumble across old photos or souvenir postcards, I feel like I’m looking into a time...
The Price of Secrets
Some of the most powerful moments in genealogy happen when we uncover something someone tried to hide. It might be a missing record, a false birth date, or a name that suddenly disappears and...
When Family Isn’t Family
Genealogy gives us more than names and dates. It reveals how people lived, what they valued, and how they formed the ties that made them family. Those ties are not always simple. As research deepens...
How Columbus Day Became Two Different Holidays in America
Columbus Day began as a national tribute to exploration and heritage. Over time, it split into two holidays—one honoring discovery and one recognizing Indigenous history.