War has a way of pausing life. Plans are put on hold. Relationships are delayed. Young people grow older quickly. And when the fighting ends, the urge to settle down often comes fast — sometimes with...
Latest Articles
WWI Doughboys and the 1920s: What Happened Next
The guns fell silent on November 11, 1918. But for millions of American “Doughboys” — the nickname given to U.S. infantrymen in World War I — the story didn’t end there. They returned home changed...
The Aftermath You Didn’t Expect: PTSD and Its Early Signs
For generations, families quietly wondered why a veteran ancestor drank too much, kept to themselves, startled at loud noises, or refused to talk about the war. Some were labeled “nervous,” “moody,”...
A Life Rewritten: When WWII Veterans Changed Everything
When the Second World War ended in 1945, it didn’t just bring a global conflict to a close — it launched millions of lives into motion. Soldiers, sailors, nurses, airmen, and civilians who had served...
From Soldier to Civilian: Rebuilding Life After the Revolution
When we think about Revolutionary War ancestors, we usually picture them in uniform—standing guard at a winter camp, marching along a dusty road, or writing letters home with inky quills and weary...
Discharged and Displaced: Civil War Veterans Who Moved West
When the Civil War ended in 1865, the United States was scarred but standing. The fields were silent, the guns were still, and the soldiers — Union and Confederate alike — began the long journey home...
Pension Paper Trails: Post-War Struggles and Paperwork
When the gunpowder settled and the flags were folded, Revolutionary War soldiers had to return to lives that often looked nothing like the ones they’d left behind. For many veterans, survival during...
Why You Should Incorporate Periodicals into Your Genealogy Research
What are periodicals, and how can they help you with your genealogy research? These are actually highly valuable and woefully underutilized tools you need.
Murder, Mayhem, and Infamy in the Family Tree
Every family has secrets. But some secrets are darker than others—and some leave behind headlines, scars, and a trail of records in their wake. Murder cases, unsolved crimes, public hangings, or even...
Petty Crimes, Big Consequences: Minor Offenses That Shaped Family Histories
Not every crime makes headlines. In fact, many of the offenses found in old court records are small—petty theft, vagrancy, disturbing the peace, trespassing, or breaking local ordinances. These...