ancestors

  • Discovering Family Secrets – A Real Case

    Aug 28

    Parents don’t necessarily discuss with their children every aspect of their life, figuring the youngsters might not comprehend some adult issues.  However, once those children are adults, in charge of their own lives would seem to be the perfect time to discuss earlier events covering the parent’s life.  When that is not done, the parent’s ...

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  • Start with a Good General Search Site

    Aug 22

    If you are just beginning or have been doing family history research for awhile, it is always beneficial to check out some of the basic online genealogical sites.  A good overall general site is Access Genealogy. It has been and remains a free resource online for genealogical data. The original backbone to the site over ten years ago was inform...

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  • Decorating with Family Heritage

    Aug 17

    I have blogged before about displaying family heritage in your home with examples like an ancestor wall, shadow boxes, or heritage blocks. Decorating your home with family heritage is a good idea for a few reasons. First, your children will know where they come from, ask questions, and be more interested in genealogy and family history. Second, it ...

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  • Floods, Tornadoes, Earthquakes, Etc. Part of Your Ancestral History?

    Aug 14

    All regions across the United States and other countries around the world have experienced numerous natural disasters over the years.  It is not a nation’s government affected as it is the individuals - the families who must then struggle to put their homes and lives back together after any disaster. A unique online site known as GenDisasters...

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  • Database Resources for a Few Canadian Relatives

    Aug 8

    With the United States bordering Canada it is only natural that many U. S. ancestors may have lived in provinces of Canada over the centuries. Many ancestors also first came to North America from Europe or Asia to settle in Canada. So it is worth reviewing any databases with Canadian information. In the web site That’s My Family there are a ...

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  • Throw a Party to Get Your Family Involved

    Jul 18

    Are you the only one in your family that is interested in family history? Do you sometimes discover a story about an ancestor that you want to share with other family members? Do you wish you had someone in your extended family doing the "digging" with you? Then, I might just have an idea to help get others in your family involved and excited about...

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  • Create a Family Newsletter

    Jul 15

    A fun way to share family history is by creating a family newsletter.  This need not be a complicated and elaborate undertaking. A newsletter is simply a way to keep family members up-to-date with genealogical research that has been done and what is still being searched. It also provides a platform to keep family members knowledgeable of current f...

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  • Posting Questions on A Social Message Board

    Jul 11

    With so many online messages boards available: Rootsweb, GenForum, WikiTree, Facebook, Twitter, Surname Societies, local genealogical societies or historical societies; you have some excellent opportunities to locate new information, photos, charts, documents, records, journals or artifacts you had no idea existed. However, you have to make any req...

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  • Searching for Immigrant Ancestors at the Boston Port

    Jul 9

    Researchers too often just think of their immigrant ancestors landing in Ellis Island in New York.  Yet, this major port for new arrivals did not open until January 1, 1892.  From that point until 1954, millions of immigrants were handled at Ellis Island, the first Federal government processing center. Before 1892, millions of earlier immigran...

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  • The Symbols on Headstones

    Jul 7

    Once you have viewed, photographed and made a rubbing of an ancestor’s headstone, you need to study very carefully the symbols and designs placed by the family to represent that person’s life. Dates and words tell the family researcher a good deal, but those symbols can open new prospects of understanding one’s ancestor. The engraving of...

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