Oct 18
A major economic and social component in America’s history was the ownership of American slaves, a practice that not only helped build a region, but would eventually cause its downfall. Yet, slavery was far more than a financial aspect, it was a major social and cultural element in the fabric of all Americans during the 18th and 19th centuries. I...
Oct 17
Some families are very fortunate that many personal items from their grandparents or earlier ancestors have remained in the family lineage and passed down over the decades. In some cases there is so much that has been saved, that some people feel overwhelmed keeping so much of someone else’s property or stuff. However, there are solutions to k...
Oct 15
In an early August FamlyTree Genealogy Blog the online site ‘Seeking Michigan’ and its death records from 1897 to 1920 were explained. This same site has even more to offer a researcher with ancestors from the state of Michigan. Their large Michigan Collection is divided into other aspects of her people and history that makes up Michigan. Ther...
Oct 13
The United States Library of Congress has joined with the online photo site ‘Flickr’ to help bring the massive collection of photo images to the homes of researchers. Inspecting this homepage offers up such a variety of topics. Known as the Library of Congress’ Photostream, there are seventeen major set of photos. They range from images...
Oct 11
It is wonderful that maps were made decades and centuries ago which now offer up a window into places across the United States and other continents. The land has always been there, but names of regions, villages, towns, states have changed over the years. An interesting online site, titled David Rumsey Historical Map Collection helps to provide ...
Oct 10
Many family researchers find English ancestors in their lineage. Some immigrates were coming to America in the 1600s and others in the 1900s. My own father, his immediate and extended family came from Manchester, England arriving at different periods between 1893 and 1914. By tracing these family branches, using the U.K. censuses and vital records ...
Oct 9
The television show “Who Do You Think You Are?” originated in the United Kingdom about nine years ago and is hugely popular each season there. They also love their historical programs. So the history channel in Britain, called ‘Yesterday’ is joining forces with web site findmypast.co.uk to bring to the British viewing public a mixture of ...
Oct 7
Not all our ancestors remained in Northern or Southern regions of the United States, or along the Pacific coast. Many people ventured out to the wide-open ranchland and mountainous locations of this nation. The state of Wyoming is an excellent example of an area with open high plains, foothills of the Rocky Mountains as well as full mountainous r...
Oct 5
The 1880 U.S. Federal Census, under U.S. President was Rutherford B. Hayes, was the tenth enumeration of the United States population and represented more than a 30% growth in the country compared to the 1870 census. Many of our ancestors came from Europe, Canada, South America or Asia during the 1860s and 1870s, so it is understandable the nation�...
Oct 4
All across America during the month of October is celebrated National Family History Month. This concept started off small with different genealogical societies in several states back in the 1990s. Within a few years the idea caught on and was eventually recognized by the Federal Legislature and Executive branches, so proclaiming a National Famil...
Oct 3
So many of us within the United States, England, Australia and Canada have ancestors who originated in Germany. Just looking at the many German-based surnames such as Schroeder, Bixler, Groff, Smythe, Braun, Neumann, Schwarz, Kaiser, Klein and Hahn to name a few; nearly everyone has some German heritage. In doing your family history research you...
Oct 2
With only a few days remaining before Halloween, you may be giving serious thought to what fantastic costume you’ll be wearing to that big Halloween party or event. With the popularity of the television show “Who Do You Think You Are?” and the enormous following the genealogical hobby has, you just might have the answer on your family pedigre...
Oct 1
The islands of Hawaii had been a territory of the United States for a long before it became the 50th state on August 21, 1959. The main islands are Hawaii, Lanai, Oahu, Maui, Kahoolawe, Molokai, Kauai, and Niihau. Before it was a U.S. territory the islands were an independent kingdom from 1810 to 1893 and then an independent republic from 1894 to 1...
Sep 30
Besides the U. S. Federal Census records which are done every ten years starting in 1790, the United States also had included during certain years a mortality schedule to record those American individuals who had died the previous year. These additions were done during the 1850 through the 1880 Federal census years. When the census taker asked if a...
Sep 29
The British hit television series "Who Do You Think You Are?" (WDYTYA) started in October 2004, showcasing about six U. K. celebrities as they go on a journey to discover their family history. The show is still going strong with its Series 8 airing August through October 2011. The American version with the same name as this British show began Ma...