Ancestral Findings

Every so often, a genealogy book comes along that makes me look at research in a completely new way.  Researching Ancestral Crisis in Ireland  by Chris Paton did that for me. If you have ever chased Irish ancestors, you already know it is not for the faint of heart. Records vanish. Churches burn. Counties split and rename. Sometimes the trail just goes cold. What this book does so well is explain...

Every postcard has its surprises, and this one from my collection is a little unusual. Instead of showing a scenic view or a tourist attraction, it shows a mural of a man who was both feared and admired:  Jesse James, the famous Missouri outlaw . The mural is located inside the  Missouri State Capitol in Jefferson City , and the fact that it ended up on a postcard tells you a lot about how America...

Every postcard in my collection has a story to tell, and this one takes us to Forest Park in St. Louis, Missouri. On the front, you see a lively crowd gathered at the  Municipal Opera , better known today as  The Muny . The seats are packed, the stage is bright, and the performance is in full swing. Just looking at the card, you can almost hear the music floating through the summer night air. On t...

Every postcard has a story to tell, and this one from my collection takes us into the world of Utah mining. The front of the card is filled with colorful illustrations of mines, towns, and the people who worked them. At the center is a portrait of an older prospector, George P. Watson, who spent nearly five decades searching for ore in Utah. Around him are views of famous mines: the Alta United Mi...

As October approaches, many of us eagerly anticipate engaging in seasonal activities, from pumpkin carving to family baking. But have you ever considered that this could be the perfect time to dig deeper into your family history as well? This month offers you a golden opportunity to enrich your understanding of your roots through various genealogy projects. Whether you're keen on outdoor explorati...

If you've been researching family history for any length of time, you've probably heard someone say, "Well, the trail stops with the immigrant ancestor. Once you hit the ocean, you can't go any further." This idea is one of the most persistent myths in genealogy. Many people stop at the ancestor who stepped off the ship, resigned to the belief that records from "the old country" are too hard to fi...

In recent years, DNA testing has become one of the hottest tools in genealogy. It promises quick answers to old questions, colorful charts that tell you your ethnic breakdown, and even lists of genetic cousins you never knew you had. For many researchers, DNA has been a game-changer. It has reunited families, broken through long-standing mysteries, and added a powerful new dimension to traditional...

Many of us grow up hearing stories about our family's background. Maybe your grandmother insisted her side of the family was "pure Irish." Or perhaps your grandfather proudly declared that his ancestors were "completely German, no mixture at all." In some households, there is even the belief that one particular ancestor was "full-blooded Cherokee," "100 percent Scottish," or "pure Italian." These...

One of the most tempting shortcuts in genealogy is the idea of the "master family tree." A single, giant, authoritative tree where everyone is already linked, all the names and dates are correct, and all you have to do is plug your family into the right spot. You'll hear this myth from new researchers, see it implied in online ads, and sometimes even find it in casual conversations: "Isn't there o...

The internet has changed genealogy forever. A few clicks can uncover census records, passenger lists, or even digitized newspapers that once took months of travel and library time to access. Companies like Ancestry, FamilySearch, and MyHeritage have built enormous databases. Google can even surface obscure family references. With so much at our fingertips, it's easy to believe the myth:  "All of g...

For genealogists, the census is like a treasure chest. Those big sheets of names, ages, occupations, and birthplaces are often the first stop when we start tracing a family tree. They feel official, stamped with the authority of the government, and that makes them seem ironclad. But here's the myth we need to bust:  the census is not always correct. Yes, census records are invaluable. They offer d...

Have you ever heard a family story that sounds just a little too good to be true? Maybe it's the tale of a "Cherokee princess" somewhere in your tree. Or maybe a great-aunt swore that your family is connected to European royalty. These are two of the most popular legends in genealogy, and they've been told so many times that they start to feel like fact. Here's the truth: Native tribes didn't have...

Family stories have a way of becoming family legends, and one of the most common you'll hear in genealogical circles is this:  "Our ancestor came through Ellis Island, and the clerks changed the family name because they couldn't spell it." It's dramatic, almost cinematic. Imagine the scene—ships crowding New York Harbor, weary travelers clutching suitcases, and an impatient official scribbling dow...

This postcard shows Nela Park in Cleveland, Ohio, home to the General Electric Company's experimental headquarters. More than just an industrial site, Nela Park became one of the most famous research campuses in the United States. It represented innovation, wartime contributions, and the lives of thousands of Cleveland-area families. Mailed in 1944, the card also carries a personal note that conne...

This vintage postcard captures a sweeping view of Bridgeport, Ohio, and Wheeling Island in Wheeling, West Virginia. The Ohio River bends through the middle of the scene, crossed by several bridges that carried workers, families, and goods from one side of the river to the other. Postcards like this were small treasures of the early 20th century. They preserved local landmarks, and today they serve...

Cincinnati has always been a city that valued its public spaces, and one of its most fascinating historic gathering places was Chester Park. While the postcard image gives us only a glimpse of a statue in a pavilion with the clubhouse in the background, the story of Chester Park goes much deeper. For decades, it was one of Cincinnati's favorite spots for leisure, recreation, and community life. To...

Every city has a spot that feels like its true center, the place where people gather and memories are made. For Cincinnati, that place has always been Fountain Square. It's where families have met up for generations, where kids toss coins into the water, and where people pause for a moment to take in the rhythm of the city. This old postcard brings that feeling back, showing the Tyler Davidson Fou...

Chimney Rock is one of those places that's impossible to forget once you've seen it. Rising more than 200 feet into the air, that massive granite column looks like it's reaching up to hold the sky. With an American flag at the top, it feels like a landmark that was always meant to be there—solid, steadfast, and full of meaning. Nature shaped it, but for us, it's been a source of inspiration, a fam...

If you've followed this series from the beginning, you already know this wasn't really about war. It was about what came  after . The quiet years. The long drives to work. The nights spent filling out pension forms by lamplight. The new marriages, new names, new babies, and sometimes, the distance — emotional or physical — that never fully closed. I've spent years digging through military records,...

"Many thanks, Will. You have rekindled my 40-year quest to find my family origins. Your weekly letters are greatly appreciated." – Bryan When Bryan wrote those words to me, they carried more than gratitude. They spoke of a lifetime spent searching, hoping, sometimes pausing, and then returning again. A forty-year quest is no small thing. It's the better part of a life, and it reminds me of why we...

Some postcards capture landscapes or landmarks; others capture a moment of pride. This one from Morgantown, West Virginia, does both. On the front, a yellow Personal Rapid Transit (PRT) car glides along its elevated guideway, the Appalachian hills forming a textured backdrop. On the back, a handwritten date—October 3, 1994—sits alongside the publisher's mark from Paige Creations and a credit to ph...

The air is crisp, the leaves are beginning to turn, and children have returned to their classrooms. It's September, and what better time to reconnect with your family history? Genealogy isn't just a summer vacation activity; each season offers its own unique opportunities to explore your past and build your family tree. As you swap out your summer decor for autumnal wreaths and pumpkins, consider...

You find them in a draft card , a pension file , or a service roster —and then nothing. No census record. No marriage. No obituary. No trace. Every family historian has run into a veteran ancestor who seems to disappear after the war. These are the quiet mysteries of the family tree. They served their country, came home (if at all), and then vanished. And while they may not have left behind a full...

Labor Day arrives each September, signaling the close of summer and the approach of autumn. Many people see it as a three-day weekend for rest, cookouts, or back-to-school shopping. Yet beneath the sales and celebrations lies a deeper meaning—one that connects directly to the lives of our ancestors. It is a holiday born of struggle, built on sacrifice, and sustained by the ongoing dignity of work....

Some families have stories that begin with war but continue through decades of work that followed. A man who served in a supply battalion later owned a hardware store. A woman who drove an ambulance in Europe spent her post-war years as a nurse. A quiet grandfather who never spoke about the war was known around town as the best electrician anyone had ever seen. These are more than coincidences. Th...