ancestor

  • Kindred Spirits

    Sep 1

    Have you thought about the concept that you -- a descendant -- may be very much like an ancestor - one you never meet or knew?? As you do the research on the family tree including the branches, such as great aunts and uncles, you just might strike a cord or a 'Kindred Spirit' with one or two of those ancestors. You might find so much in common, bet...

    More

  • Lighthouse Day

    Aug 7

    You might  not have realized it, but lighthouses have a very long history and are not located just along a coastline but on islands and at very large lakes such as the Great Lakes. Because they have always been important for safe navigation for boats and ships, you may have had an ancestor or two connected to a lighthouse. Some of the occupations...

    More

  • Where Else to Locate Photos of Relatives

    Jul 19

    You have checked with other family members first to see if there are additional photos of various relatives and ancestors. Keep in mind some of those photos may not be labeled and will have to be studied by comparing with known photos to see if any match. Yet, after checking with family members, there are a few other locations to check. If your r...

    More

  • Ancestor in the Military Service

    Jun 27

    You may know for sure your father and / or grandfather served in the United States military at some point. You may have photos of them in uniform or their discharge papers or the medal they were awarded. As you go further back in time and generations if does get harder to know if a relative did serve in the military. Here are a few clues to look f...

    More

  • Selfie-Day

    Jun 21

    Yes, there is now a special day to recognize taking 'selfies'. Just like you might any day, simply take your smartphone out of your pocket or purse, and take a selfie. Better yet, get a couple friends, and take a selfie with them. Of course, with a group of friends that might be a 'groupie'. Make sure to put on as big smile. And, don't forget to po...

    More

  • National Teacher Day

    May 7

    In 2017, National Teacher Day is May 9th. It is the Tuesday of the first full week of May. Teachers certainly are among the most deserving individuals over the decades. This day honors those hard working, patient and understanding people whom we entrust our children to. Teachers mold our kids in a positive direction, affecting who they are and who...

    More

  • MacGregors of Scotland

    Mar 15

    Could you believe that a surname and the people attached to that name could be 'banned'? Well, it did happen to the Scottish highland clan surname of MacGregor, including the spelling form of McGregor and Gregor. In 1603 the new king to the English throne was King James IV of Scotland, becoming King James I. Scotland was divided at the time into c...

    More

  • Your Ancestors Used Those Words?

    Jan 3

    Just like many things (buildings, technology, food, clothing styles, transportation, etc), words and phrases change over the years.   One area to have changed a good deal are the use of certain words and what they meant. Since the United States was a British colony for decades, many of their words and phrases were also used in America. There a...

    More

  • A Little Productive Time Pays Dividends

    Dec 31

    For the new year here are ideas to increase your knowledge of your ancestors. How about setting aside a short period of time once a week, every other weekend or even once a month to do some research on your family tree? Here are a few approaches: Create a 'To-Do List' - start with just a few of the resources (census, state archives, military reco...

    More

  • Requesting a Copy of an Ancestor’s SS Application

    Nov 5

    In your collection of vital records on the family ancestors, make sure you do get a copy of each one's Social Security application. This document was completed by your ancestor when they first applied for social security card. For some relatives that could have been in the late 1930s. If you are looking for a relative who died before the late 1930s...

    More