Labor Day arrives each September, signaling the close of summer and the approach of autumn. Many people see it as a three-day weekend for rest, cookouts, or back-to-school shopping. Yet beneath the...
Latest Articles
Free Genealogy Book Giveaway on Patreon
This weekend, I’m giving away a copy of Who Do You Think You Are?: The Essential Guide to Tracing Your Family History by Megan Smolenyak. Entering is easy. Just click Join for Free at...
Using Bastardy Bonds in Family Research
A missing father can stop a family line very quickly. You may know the mother, where she lived, and what happened to the child later in life, yet still have no record that names the father. There may...
Ancestoring: Understanding Records, Family, and Ourselves (Book Giveaway ENDED)
This giveaway has concluded. Stay tuned for our next giveaway.
10 Perfect Genealogy Projects for September
Discover 10 genealogy projects perfect for September. Refresh your family tree, explore records, and share discoveries with loved ones.
What School Records Can Tell You About Your Ancestors
Family research often follows the adults. We search census records, marriage licenses, deeds, probate files, military records, obituaries, and death certificates. Those records are essential, but...
Your Ancestor’s Neighbors May Hold the Clues You Need
Genealogy research often begins with one person. You find an ancestor’s name. You locate a census record, discover a marriage record, or uncover a family connection that moves your research forward...
The People Who Disappeared From History
Every genealogist eventually finds one. You follow a family line through the years, finding names, dates, places, and relationships. One record leads to another. You discover where your ancestors...
Finding Your Ancestors in Fraternal and Lodge Records
For much of the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, belonging to a lodge or fraternal organization was a normal part of American community life. In towns large and small, men and women joined...
What Coroner’s Inquest Records Can Tell You About Your Ancestors
A death certificate can tell you when and where your ancestor died. An obituary might name surviving relatives and tell you where the funeral was held. But what if the death was sudden, accidental...