Previously, I discussed the challenges encountered by African-Americans searching for ancestors who pre-date the Civil War and strategies for accessing both basic and more detailed information about this time period. Similarly, genealogical research for...
One of the most promising applications of DNA testing is its potential to provide information to a population with limited access to genealogical records: adoptees. While adoptees can obtain certain records, the venture...
In many cases, searching for ancestors or documents dated after 1850 will yield a considerable amount of information and resources. The proliferation of data is largely a result of the detailed federal censuses that...
Land records are an important, and sometimes overlooked, source of information in genealogical research. Land records are not simply descriptions of the details of a plot of land. Besides providing evidence of where...
Of the various types of vital records to search when beginning a family tree, those relating to the death of a family member provide some of the most prolific and accurate information available. In...
While military records are a great source of information for genealogical research, tracking down the appropriate record requires some investigative work. Identifying the branch of service, the war your ancestor was involved in and...
One of the most valuable things you can do while researching your family tree is to properly organize your documents and notes. This process will allow you to evaluate your resources, draw conclusions and...
Like other ethnic and religious groups who have been subject to periods of immigration, war and displacement, Native American family history can be difficult to document and trace. Throughout history, many Native Americans were...
While tracing one’s family tree can be an ambitious undertaking for anyone, the widespread availability of resources has done much to democratize genealogy as a hobby and an industry. However, there are ethnic and...
In 2007, the New York Times featured an article about Henry Louis Gates, Jr., director of the W.E.B. Du Bois Institute for African and African-American Research at Harvard University. Mr. Gates hosted a televised...
