Master Genealogy Organization in an Hour with One Online Program
Genealogy organization. How important is it? If you’re trying to build an accurate family tree, the simple answer is very. Here’s how to accomplish it with one smart tool.
These Old Fire Insurance Maps Reveal a Surprising Amount of Genealogy Data
When’s the last time you used a paper map? More than likely it’s been a while.
Smartphones and browser-based geographical applications have, for many of us, replaced the physical maps we once so heavily relied on. However, our ancestors did not have the luxury of this technology and so they depended exclusively on paper maps for a wide variety of purposes. One such use that often seems long forgotten was for fire insurance purposes!
Digitizing Family Photos and Records: What’s the Best Format to Use?
By Tony Bandy From official documents and family snapshots to handwritten letters and more – incorporating scanned images and documents into your genealogy research can be rewarding on many levels. However, the process of digitizing them can often be difficult. …
Digitizing Family Photos and Records: What’s the Best Format to Use? .
Were Your Ancestors American Pioneers? Here’s How to Track Them Down Online
From Conestoga wagons on long, dusty trails to pioneers struggling for success on a homestead in Oregon – America’s westward expansion in the latter part of the 1800’s has long held promise for genealogists. There’s a lot to consider when investigating your ancestor’s movement into the American West, primarily because no singular resource or database has it all. In fact, the sheer number of options in this category can make for some very trying research, especially if you are new to the topic.
Searching for Lost Family: These Heartbreaking Ads by Former Slaves Are a Vital Genealogy Resource
Last Seen is a genealogy resource that is as heartbreaking as it is hopeful. Here you can search for personal ads, typically with the headline “Information Wanted,” that former slaves posted in newspapers around the United States and Canada in search of their children, parents, siblings, and friends who had been sold away before the end of slavery. These short newspaper clippings are transcribed for ease of searching and offer some amazing genealogical information. They also pack an emotional wallop!
Millions of Homestead Act and Other Land Records Are Free Online from the BLM
The Homestead Act of 1862 offered a turning point in the lives of many Americans and the land records left behind are an excellent resource for family historians. Discover how to find and use this free online resource.
What is My Family Crest? How to Find Out Without Getting Fooled
Do you have a family crest in your tree? Is it associated with an entire family line or surname? Find out why, according to Jack Turton of The Coat of Arms Database, “family crest” is a misnomer and how to understand the actual meaning and history behind these symbols.
Millions of Immigrants Never Set Foot on Ellis Island – Find Their Records Here
While we can certainly use the existing records from Ellis Island and Castle Garden, two of the better-known immigration points for the United States, these collections only represent part of what is available. These resources leave out many other important historical locations such as Galveston, Texas and Angel Island, California, or even New Orleans.
Google Maps Will Help You Learn More About Your Ancestors
By Jodi Bash Have you ever taken a really long road trip? The kind that takes days to get where you’re going? It’s not as common anymore with cheap, safe air travel. I love the road trip personally – no …
The Important National Death Registers That Many Family Historians Miss
Are you in search of a date or place of death for a certain member of your family tree, but keep coming up empty-handed? If the individual passed away in the mid to late 1800s, U.S. Mortality Schedules – conducted in connection with the federal census – may be the key to finding the missing piece of your genealogy puzzle.