If you’ve ever found an old obituary while researching your family tree, you probably know the feeling. There it is. Your ancestor’s name. Their date of death. Perhaps the name of a spouse or a few children. You add the information to your family tree and move on to the...
Every family historian eventually reaches a point where the trail seems to end. You’ve searched census records, examined birth and marriage certificates, scoured passenger lists, and even tracked down military and land records. Yet one ancestor remains stubbornly out of reach. It’s a frustrating experience, and if you’ve ever found...
There is something special about standing in a graveyard where your ancestors are buried. You may have spent years looking at their names on census records, birth certificates, marriage records, and family trees. You may have wondered what they looked like, where they lived, and what their lives were like....
There is something about standing in an old cemetery that makes genealogy feel very real. You can spend hours staring at census records, birth certificates, marriage registers, and family trees on your computer. But eventually, there is something special about walking between the stones and finding your ancestor’s name carved...
One of the things I love most about genealogy is that our ancestors were terrible at keeping secrets. Oh, they certainly tried. Some carefully avoided talking about uncomfortable moments. Others never mentioned a first marriage, an adopted child, or a family feud that lasted forty years. But life has a...
If family history were a giant jigsaw puzzle, census records would be the corner pieces. They provide structure, context, and clues that help you connect generations, confirm relationships, and uncover stories that might otherwise remain hidden. Whether you’re building a family tree, writing a memoir, or preserving your family’s legacy...
“I can still picture the hallway…but was the bathroom before or after the kitchen?” If you’ve ever found yourself asking that question while writing your memoir or documenting your family history, you’re in good company. Memory is a funny thing. We often remember the smell of cinnamon rolls cooling on...
When we think about family history, we often focus on parents, grandparents, siblings, and relatives. Yet some of the most influential people in our lives are not related to us at all. Friends help shape who we become. They share our triumphs and disappointments, witness our growth, and often provide...
Have you ever looked at an old family photo and thought, “Wait… that person looks exactly like my cousin?” Or maybe you’ve discovered that your great-grandmother loved gardening just as much as you do, despite living 120 years apart. Family history has a funny way of showing us that the...
Maps are often thought of as tools for navigation—ways to get from point A to point B. But in genealogy, maps are far more than directional aids. They are storytellers. They reveal movement, context, and the physical realities that shaped our ancestors’ lives. At the same time, maps are not...
