Marriage Index: IL, IN, 1790-1850

This database contains indexes to approximately 190,238 marriage records from Illinois and Indiana. Records indexed may not be comprehensive for the time and region covered.

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Who Are The Black Dutch?

The term “Black Dutch” is something you may encounter in your genealogy research, or maybe you’ve heard it mentioned in your family as being part of your ancestry? But what does it mean, exactly? Who were the Black Dutch? If…

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Marriage Index: Selected Counties of AR, CA, IA, LA, MN, MO, OR, TX, 1728-1850

This database contains indexes to approximately 108,000 selected marriage records from 227 counties in eight western states. Records indexed may not be comprehensive for the time and region covered.L

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What to Do When There are No Records: 3 Ways to Find Ancestors Who Didn’t Leave a Paper Trail

Not every ancestor will have a large trail of records leading to them. Some won’t have any, except maybe some census entries, and even then, they may be missing (for numerous reasons) on more than one census. Ancestors who lived…

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Marriage Index: GA, 1754-1850

This database contains indexes to approximately 84,624 marriage records from 76 Georgia counties. The earliest records are for Effingham (1754), though most counties have records beginning in the 1800s. Counties not included are: Appling, Baker, Bryan, Burke, Clinch, Cobb, Dade, Gordon, Gwinnett, Heard, Lee, Lowndes, Macon, McIntosh, Twiggs, Walker, and Ware. Records indexed may not be comprehensive for the time and region covered.

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The Purposeful Family Historian: A Guide for Researchers

Family history is more than just a quest for filling out the family tree. It is an experience which is founded on purpose. What drives us to dabble in family history research? Is it because we love history? We love…

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Marriage Index: AZ, CA, ID, NV, 1850-1951

This database contains indexes to approximately 146,000 marriage records from selected counties in Arizona, California, Idaho, and Nevada. Records indexed may not be comprehensive for the time and region covered.

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Tips for Researching British Ancestors

Do you have British ancestors in your family tree? You’re in good company. As a former part of the British Empire, the vast majority of Americans whose families have been here for more than a generation have at least a…

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Bearded Man and Bearded Lady Have a Son (Genetoons Cartoon #12)

Genetoons is a simple, one-panel, Genealogy cartoons or the whole family to enjoy. Using a Genealogical idea or fact, I want the reader to laugh! I hope you enjoy them.

Marriage Index: Maryland, 1655-1850

The Marriage Index: Maryland, 1655-1850 database contains an alphabetical listing of approximately 258,000 individuals who were married in Maryland between 1655 and 1850. Calvert county is not included since the courthouse burned in 1882 and most records were destroyed. In addition Garrett, Howard, and Wicomico counties are not included since they were formed after 1850. Records indexed may not be comprehensive for the time and region covered.

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How to Plan Your Next Genealogy Trip

Even with the wealth of genealogical information available online these days, there is still no substitute for good, old-fashioned “field work” when it comes to finding your ancestors. For one thing, some genealogy records aren’t available online yet, and you…

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Marriage Index: Iowa, 1851-1900

Approximately 157,000 individuals who were married between 1851 and 1900 in select Iowa counties.

Marriage indexes can save you research time by telling you that a particular marriage record containing your ancestor’s name exists. With the information provided, you may be able to find a newspaper announcement, which may provide more details about the bride, groom, and their families.

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Disappointing Branch of Family Tree (Genetoons Cartoon #11)

Genetoons is a simple, one-panel, Genealogy cartoons or the whole family to enjoy. Using a Genealogical idea or fact, I want the reader to laugh! I hope you enjoy them.

Vital Records: Massachusetts, 1600s-1800s

The depth and quality of information contained in Massachusetts vital records is more significant than any other state. Although Massachusetts did not develop a centralized system of collecting vital information until 1844, they did require that towns collect vital records (births and deaths) very early on. Though sometimes incomplete and varying in accuracy, the importance of this data set cannot be over-emphasized.

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Death Certificates: Your Doorway to Your Ancestor’s Life

It might seem strange that a death certificate, which is a document of an ending, could be the beginning of your journey into your ancestor’s life. However, a death certificate can hold a wealth of information that either directly tells…

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Indiana Deaths, 1882-1920

Trace your turn-of-the-century ancestors with information on approximately 886,000 individuals whose deaths were recorded in Indiana. Originally compiled by the Works Progress Administration (WPA), this collection covers 67 of Indiana’s 92 counties.

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Darth Vader’s Guide to Genealogy

Have you ever wondered where your inner strength developed? Have you wondered about the people who may have passed you your intelligence, your fighting skills, and your survival instinct? Do you feel a dark power lurking over you and suspect…

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New York Deaths, 1700s-1900s

This information derives from a great variety of local sources including cemeteries, churches, newspapers, and town records. Because it originated with local sources, the information included here is especially valuable and would otherwise be quite difficult to find.

Knowing the date and location of a vital event such as a death, you can determine where to follow-up with additional research. For example, you may wish to write to the county to obtain copies of the original records. Original death records can provide you with information such as the names of the individual’s parents and the name of a surviving spouse, if any. The birth and death dates and locations may also allow you to find newspaper announcements about the person’s birth or death, which may provide more details about the family.

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How to Archive Family Keepsakes: Learn How to Preserve Family Photos, Memorabilia and Genealogy Records

Here’s another awesome little book that has helped me organize my family photos, heirlooms, and genealogy records.  I hope you find it useful as I have.

In every family someone ends up with Mom’s and Dad’s “stuff”—a lifetime’s worth of old family photos, papers, and memorabilia packed into boxes, trunks, and suitcases. This inheritance can be as much a burden as it is a blessing. How do you organize your loved one’s estate in a way that honors your loved one, keeps the peace in your family and doesn’t take over your home or life? How to Archive Family Keepsakes gives you step-by-step advice for how to organize, distribute and preserve family heirlooms.

You’ll learn how to... 

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The Pennsylvania Genealogical Magazine, Vols. 1-39, 1650-1900s

Published by the Genealogical Society of Pennsylvania, the Magazine is distributed semi-annually to its members. This scholarly journal contains book reviews, methodological case studies, discussions of major resources, family histories and genealogies, and research guides.

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Genealogy Basics: Marriage Research Advice for Beginners

Marriage records are one of the three main types of vital records you need to have in your genealogy collection (birth and death records being the other two). These records tell you the pertinent details of the three most genealogically pertinent events in any given ancestor’s life. Depending on the type of record and the state, county, or town you get it from, these records can tell you not only when and where an event took place, but names of other relatives (such as parents), the age of your ancestor, the name of their spouse, whether they were married more than once, and so much more...

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The National Genealogical Society Quarterly, Vols. 1-85, 1600s-1900s

Among the oldest and most widely respected genealogical journals, the NGS Quarterly contains methodological case studies, discussions of major resources, compiled family histories and genealogies, and guides to research.

Originally published between 1908 and 1997, the essays collected here include information on more than 701,000 individuals.

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How the Seven Years’ War led to the American Revolution

History is a continuous rope of causes and effects. The birth of the United States is no different. Our Revolutionary War was the result of battles across the globe between the world’s major powers. How were you a part? From…

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Rhode Island Vital Records, 1500s-1800s

Referencing approximately 550,000 individuals, this database includes pages of 20 volumes of the Rhode Island Genealogical Register and 13 volumes of Rhode Island Vital Records.

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Tips for Researching German Genealogy

Researching your German ancestors takes knowledge and ingenuity. It is not like researching ancestors in America. Germany has only actually been one unified nation since 1871. Many people doing German genealogy research may find this surprising. However, it is an…

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This Week’s Free Genealogy Lookups

Virginia Family Histories #4, 1600s-1800s This database contains seventeen volumes of Virginia genealogies and family histories. Originally published by a variety of entities, these books contain information about approximately 212,000 individuals. The Virginia resources include vestry books, family histories, vital…

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Genealogy: Your Family History, Doing It Right The First Time

Each week I feature a book from my library that has helped me in my genealogy research.  This Friday I’ve selected a wonderful little book by Valerie Hughes, Genealogy: Your Family History, Doing It Right The First Time. Finding out about…

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Maryland Genealogical Society Bulletin, Volumes 1-38

Maryland Genealogical Society Bulletin, Volumes 1-38

Each volume includes historical and genealogical material, family charts from personal and public records, transcribed public-domain documents, letters to the editor as well as queries and answers...

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Massachusetts, 1620-1930 Local and Family Histories

Massachusetts, 1620-1930 Local and Family Histories

This database contains seventeen comprehensive volumes of Massachusetts local and family histories. Many of the volumes were published in small quantities or for limited distribution and have previously been hard to find and research. They contain information on approximately 192,000 Massachusetts residents and their families, often referencing family members from other states, such as Connecticut, New York, New Hampshire, and Maine...

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Charles M. Schulz: An American Peanut

I had no idea that Charles Schulz was first published in Ripley’s Believe It or Not until my family visited the museum named for him in Santa Rosa, CA. I was a big Ripley’s fan as a child and can recall…

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Maryland Probate Records, 1674-1774

Maryland Probate Records, 1674-1774

This database is a comprehensive index of more than 600,000 individuals who were referenced in one of four collections of Maryland wills and probate records. The wills, inventories, and accounts referenced by these images will provide you with valuable insight into the lives of your Maryland ancestors. If you find an ancestor listed in an abstract, you will also find all of the information you need to track down the original record quickly and easily...

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Faster Than a Speeding Bullet (Chuck Yeager)

We all have to admit it that when we’re doing genealogy research to learn about our families’ histories, we secretly hope to find someone famous in our family trees. Or maybe not so secretly.

Wouldn’t it be cool to say, “I’m related to so and so”? We hope for it to be someone brave, who achieved something no one in the world had before and has a pretty high wow factor.

Since I was a young boy I’ve always been fascinated with airplanes and the men that flew them. Chuck Yeager has always been an interest of mine especially after learning that we’re both from West Virginia.  For most, it would be invigorating to be related to Chuck Yeager. Yeager is a legend in air and space circles throughout the world because he was the first man to go faster than the speed of sound...

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Virginia Family Histories #4, 1600s-1800s

Virginia Family Histories #4, 1600s-1800s

This database contains seventeen volumes of Virginia genealogies and family histories. Originally published by a variety of entities, these books contain information about approximately 212,000 individuals. The Virginia resources include vestry books, family histories, vital records, and historical accounts of the colonization of Virginia and its counties...

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Becoming an Accredited Genealogist: Plus 100 Tips to Ensure Your Success

• Do you need help in completing all of your personal family history research?
• Are you curious about how a professional genealogical researcher makes a living?
• Do you want to understand the steps and procedures involved in attaining the status of Accredited Genealogist?

If you answered yes to any of these questions,Becoming an Accredited Genealogist is the resource book for you! Many professionals have established their personal reputation, in part, through the process of accreditation. Author Karen Clifford presents a clear understanding of what should be expected from the efforts of a professional family historian. Anyone can collect money for genealogical research and be called a paid researcher, but the knowledge, training, integrity, and efficiency of genealogists with credentials set them apart. Becoming an Accredited Genealogist will help you through the process of earning your credentials. This revised edition outlines the benefits of being an accredited genealogist and describes the knowledge and basic research skills expected of a professional. It also examines the experience, testing procedures, and application processes required to apply and ultimately pass the test for credentials. Even if your lifetime goal is not to become a professional genealogist, this scholarly work will teach you what to expect whenever you hire a professional to assist your personal family history research challenges!

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