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...
Latest Articles
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.
Jesse James and the Missouri State Capitol Mural | Postcards from the Past
Every postcard has its surprises, and this one from my collection is a little unusual. Instead of showing a scenic view or a tourist attraction, it shows a mural of a man who was both feared and...
The Municipal Opera in Forest Park, St. Louis | Postcards from the Past
Every postcard in my collection has a story to tell, and this one takes us to Forest Park in St. Louis, Missouri. On the front, you see a lively crowd gathered at the Municipal Opera, better...
Mining, Utah’s Greatest Industry | Postcards from the Past
Every postcard has a story to tell, and this one from my collection takes us into the world of Utah mining. The front of the card is filled with colorful illustrations of mines, towns, and the people...
Genealogy MythBusters: Does Genealogy End at the Ocean?
If you’ve been researching family history for any length of time, you’ve probably heard someone say, “Well, the trail stops with the immigrant ancestor. Once you hit the ocean, you can’t go any...