Do Not Fall into this Common Genealogy Trap…
This article might start off sounding a little smug. It is not meant to. My intention is to help you to find your correct ancestors, or at least start on the right path, and...
Looking among the living for clues to your past
When we think of genealogical research, most of us typically focus on finding past records, locating deceased relatives and making sense of historical documents. But family historians often overlook an important resource in their...
Family History in New England
How Family Trees Grew in America Early genealogy in America was an extension of the European quest for verification of aristocracy, heraldry, and legitimacy. Tracing one’s genealogical roots in colonial America was seen as...
Involving Children in the Exploration of Family History
As I have delved more into my own genealogical history, I have thought about how to involve the younger generation, especially my children, in the process. One of the most valuable gifts we can...
Pedigree Collapse
My family tree has married cousins. If you trace your family back far enough it is normal and even required to have marriages of cousins in your family tree. This is known as Pedigree...
Exposing the Mythology That Can Hinder Your Genealogy
There are some popular myths in the field of genealogy that are misguiding and may derail your progress in discovering your lineage. You might even recognize some of these myths as assumptions you have...
The Purposes of the Family Tree
The ancient Irish were among the earliest civilizations to value genealogy. John O’Donovan, Irish language scholar, wrote in 1849, in his book, Miscellany of the Celtic Society: “Those of the lowest rank among a...
Pedigree Charts for Education and Sharing
A pedigree chart is a simple enough thing but they are also very personal and I don’t just mean they are personal because of who is shown on your pedigree chart. The number of...
10 Websites to Help Search and Enjoy Your Family Tree
Misty is just beginning to search her family tree, but is finding it a daunting task. Her desk is piled with papers, photos, and documents, and it’s getting difficult to distinguish fact from guesswork....
What is Genealogy?
The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines genealogy as “The study of family history,” but anyone who has studied, or wants to study, his or her own family tree, knows that genealogy is so much more than...
