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, farmer...
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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...
The Sacrifices of Daniel D. Tompkins
Early Family Roots in New York and England Daniel D. Tompkins was born on June 21, 1774, in the town of Scarsdale in Westchester County, New York. He came into a world still under British rule, just...
Inside the 1860 Census
The 1860 U.S. Census might be one of the most emotionally charged documents in early American history. On the surface, it looks similar to 1850—names, ages, occupations, birthplaces, property values...
Inside the 1850 Census
By the time the 1850 U.S. Census was taken, the United States was no longer a slow-growing collection of coastal settlements. It was a booming, restless, coast-to-coast land of contradictions. The...
Inside the 1840 Census
The 1840 U.S. Census might be early American recordkeeping's most overlooked turning point. It still looks like the older ones—just one name listed, a page full of tick marks, and plenty of room for...
Inside the 1830 Census
By 1830, the United States had reached a new kind of maturity. For some, the Revolution was no longer in living memory, though a surprising number of veterans were still alive and tucked into...
Inside the 1820 Census
The 1820 U.S. Census rolled out during what historians often call the “Era of Good Feelings”—a peaceful name for a time that was anything but simple. The War of 1812 had ended just a few...
Inside the 1810 Census
In 1810, the United States was only 34 years into its existence and was still figuring things out—including how to count its people. That year marked just the third official census, and while the...
The Strange History of U.S. Patent 6506148 B2
Imagine sitting quietly at your desk, watching your favorite TV show or browsing a genealogy archive late at night. You’re alone—or at least you think you are. But what if the screen in front of you...