Records Archives
Bring Out Your Dead: A Look at Mortality Schedules
Author - Thomas MacEnteeMany states did not keep civil death records in the mid- to late-1800s. Mortality schedules, part of some federal censuses, can help fill in the gap for some ancestors who died during that time. Read More
Using Yearbooks to Learn About Your Ancestors
Author - Lisa AlzoMost Likely to Succeed. Best Athlete. Class Clown. Ever wonder what your parents, or grandparents, were like when they were in high school? Read More
Historical Markers Point to Genealogical Treasures
Author - Jennifer HolikFinding an ancestor's home is not only thrilling, but can also lead to great information about the people who lived... Read More
Understanding U.S. Naturalization Records
Author - Sunny McClellan MortonDuring the peak years of U.S. immigration, an estimated 75% of eligible arrivals applied for citizenship. This status carried practical... Read More
Anatomy of a Death Certificate
Author - Gena P. OrtegaDeath certificates give us so many more clues that just the date of a person's death. Let's take a closer look at death certificates and see how we can best use them. Read More
Using Federal Direct Tax Records
Author - Diane L. RichardThe United States federal government began levying revenue taxes back in 1791 with a tax on distilled spirits. Soon after,... Read More
Research a Relative's College Days
Author - Sunny McClellan MortonWe think of college attendance as a relatively modern phenomenon, and for many Americans, it is. A lot of families... Read More
Dear Diary: Finding Family History in Manuscript Collections
Author - Gena P. OrtegaDo you ever wish you could stumble upon a diary that your ancestor wrote or a letter that mentions your... Read More
Probate Records: A Gift Many Genealogists Fail to Open
Author - Harold HendersonEverybody dies. Many have their property dealt with in probate proceedings afterwards. A few make wills. Why would any genealogist... Read More
Where There's A Will There's A Deed
Author - Harold HendersonWe know just enough about William Berry's life to want to know more.1 When his father died in 1759, six-year-old... Read More
Divorce: Dilemma For Early Americans
Author - Betty MaleskyDivorce is not the 20th century phenomenon it might seem to be. It's nearly as old as creation. Marriage was... Read More
You Don't Know What You May Be Missing: Using Order Books & Chancery Papers
Author - Michael PollockOrder books and Chancery Papers are genealogical resources too rarely utilized to the extent they could and should be. A... Read More
Essential Records You Won't Find Online
Author - Claudia BrelandConsider these words: "But Sir I would implore your Aid and assistance, as far as you can to A Man... Read More
Beyond The Arrival Date: Extracting More From Immigrant Passenger Lists
Author - Lisa AlzoPassenger lists provide genealogists with key information about an ancestor's arrival in the New World. Once located, these records can... Read More
The Good News About Taxes: Finding And Using Tax Records In Your Genealogical Research
Author - Susan JackmanTaxes go so far back that we read about them in the Bible. It would seem there could be nothing... Read More
Genealogy & Property Records
Author - Harold HendersonThe property deeds, mortgages, and other legal instruments filed in county courthouses are the superheroes of genealogy. They may appear... Read More
Clues You Can Use: Dissecting Obituaries
Author - Lisa AlzoObituaries are useful resources for genealogists. They often provide a wealth of information about an ancestor's life tucked into what's... Read More
Civilian Conservation Corps: Records From The Great Depression Era
Author - Diane L. RichardA group of records often overlooked by researchers are the records of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) programs, a "New... Read More
Finding Newspapers: Digitized, Microfilmed And Indexed
Author - Gena P. OrtegaThere's no doubt that newspapers are an important resource for genealogists. But the problem for most researchers is where to... Read More
Finding Clues About Your Ancestors In Fraternal & Social Organization Records
Author - Lisa AlzoUsing social media for genealogy is all the rage. We're flocking to Blogs, and sites such as Facebook, GenealogyWise, and... Read More
Digging Into Cemetery Research
Author - Andy LikinsCemeteries give me chills. No, not because I think they are creepy or I fear a zombie attack. But chills, because they are such a tangible link to our ancestors. Imagine placing flowers at the grave of your fourth great-grandmother. You may be reenacting a scene that occurred Read More
Homestead Records: A Glimpse Into Your Ancestor's Past
Author - Roberta KingThe Homestead Act of 1862, considered one of the most significant pieces of legislation in American history, persuaded eastern-European immigrants, adventure-seekers in the East, and women seeking independence to embrace the notion of founding a home place Read More
Added Value: Non-family Diaries and Letters
Author - Marjory Allen PerezI love to read diaries and letters. I am fortunate that some of my ancestors actually kept diaries and their children and grandchildren saved the wonderful little books. They also bundled up letters with ribbons and passed them down to their children. Read More
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