Hittin' the Bricks with Kathleen

Let us know what you think! Revolutionary War research presents unique genealogical challenges, as records are scattered across multiple countries and unconventional sources. Kathleen answers audience questions from her recent presentation, explaining why ancestors vanish from Revolutionary War records. For presentation handouts and slides from Kathleen's April 12th presentation "From Mu...

Let us know what you think! Most family trees contain unexpected branches, but few conversations address the complex relationship between Irish American and African American heritage as candidly as our latest episode.  a3Geanealogy blog Support the show Be sure to bookmark linktr.ee/hittinthebricks   for your one stop access to Kathleen Brandt, the host of Hittin' the Bricks with Kathleen. An...

Let us know what you think! The stories of our female ancestors are often stripped down to the simplest narratives – they were farm wives, mothers, teachers – but beneath these sanitized descriptions lie complex lives filled with surprising choices, passionate relationships, and occasionally scandalous secrets. Join Kathleen and John as they peel back the layers of family folklore to reveal the tr...

Let us know what you think! Join us with Glenn North, Director of Inclusive Learning and Creative Impact at the Museum of Kansas City, as we talk about the vital connection between art, history, and social justice.  Visit Glenn's site at:  https://www.glennnorthpoetry.com/ Lynch Family by Joseph Hirsch https://art.nelson-atkins.org/objects/24036/lynch-family Support the show Be sure to bookma...

Let us know what you think! Unlock the secrets of your ancestry with Sherri Camp, our featured genealogy librarian from the Topeka and Shawnee County Public Library.  Join us as Sherri takes us on her remarkable journey through the world of genealogy and discover the invaluable resources available at the library, including the family history collections. Resources Cited: The Topeka & Shawnee C...

Let us know what you think! Unlock the secrets of turning your family's rich history into a dynamic digital treasure trove with the help of Amazon's Kindle Direct Publishing. Discover how digital publishing not only facilitates easy distribution but also creates a lasting resource for family reunions. 1. Prepare Your Book for Publishing 2. Publish via Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP...

Let us know what you think! In this genealogy podcast episode, we discuss the significance of presidential libraries for genealogical research as part of our 2025 Presidential Library series. These libraries are an underutilized resource for genealogical projects, and Kathleen has uncovered dozens of ancestral documents for clients using them. Kathleen also shares tips and tools for tackling genea...

Let us know what you think! Prepare to be inspired as we feature the illustrious genealogist Amy Johnson Crowe on "Hittin' the Bricks with Kathleen." Discover how Amy's knack for uncovering family histories has influenced countless enthusiasts, including our host Kathleen herself.  Embark on a journey through the innovative "52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks" program that cham...

Let us know what you think! Check out this Link: Eternal Veteran Network -What Impact Will This Donation Have? What if the holiday season is just a lens into a richer, more complex history? Kathleen and I share heartfelt gratitude to all our listeners. We reminisce about the laughs, learning, and connections formed throughout our podcasting journey. This episode is not just about reflecting on wha...

Let us know what you think! Discover the hidden stories of African American history in Missouri with our passionate guests, Michelle Cook and Riley Sutherland from the Salus Populi Project .  Michelle and Riley are on a mission to bring to light the overlooked narratives of the United States Colored Troops (USCT) and unmarked African American burials in Missouri. With Michelle's storytelling...

Let us know what you think! The October Mailbag: Naval Veteran Research and Heritage Month Journey through the National Archives with us as we highlight the distinctions between researching Navy records and other branches.  Let's celebrate in October:  Family History Month, Hispanic Heritage Month and  Naval Research.  Family History Month Resources Family Search 31 October celebrations ideas...

Let us know what you think! Join us as we sit down with Sofia Stewart, a remarkable intern from the University of Missouri-Kansas City. Sofia's journey began in a Russian orphanage and led her to Arkansas, where her deep-seated passion for sociology and understanding societal dynamics took root. Through her work at Tracing Ancestors, backed by the Mellon Grant program, Sofia channels her back...

Let us know what you think! How would you feel if your loved one's ashes were left forgotten on a dusty shelf or found on the side of the road? In this episode of Hittin’ the Bricks with Kathleen, we unravel the journey of Lanae Strovers, a dedicated funeral director and trainer, who has found over 300 unclaimed urns. With great compassion and determination, Lanae is committed to giving these...

Let us know what you think! Imagine uncovering hidden athletic gems within your own family tree! This episode of Hittin' the Bricks with Kathleen promises just that, as we celebrate the achievements of our ancestors from the amateur, collegient, professional, or Olympian athlete. Did your ancestor face challenges like gender or racial discrimination?  Or did a military draft or War outbreak s...

Let us know what you think! Part 2 of our interview with David W. Jackson dives deeper into the creation and distribution of your Do It Yourself Genealogy Book. " My Jackson family identified as Caucasian for the last five generations, but after 30 years of genealogical research I rediscovered a family secret. My great-great-grandfather, Arthur Jackson, was born an African-American slave in V...

Let us know what you think! " My Jackson family identified as Caucasian for the last five generations, but after 30 years of genealogical research I rediscovered a family secret. My great-great-grandfather, Arthur Jackson, was born an African-American slave in Virginia in 1856." David W. Jackson, founder of the Orderly Pack Rat and author of "Born a Slave," reveals the hidden c...

Let us know what you think! June is a busy month! We start by celebrating Pride Month and our June Newsletter ,  Secret's Revealed,  that gives hints on researching your ancestors' secrets.    One of our best historical secrets held from textbooks takes us to  Southern Claims Commission, where ex-slaves and free coloreds joined enslavers to navigate the complexities of Civil War property...

Let us know what you think! In this episode, we answer inquiries from the HTB Mailbag .   Are you relying on online resources and phone communication to conduct remote research? Kathleen offers some tips to effectively communicate with repositories when conducting remote research.  Are there strategies or resources to explore in order to successfully access newspaper publications that have not yet...

Let us know what you think! Let's get techy with the latest Artificial intelligence tool from FamilySearch that's rewriting the rules on historical record-sleuthing. Plus,  family reunion planning; mistakes made & lessons learned.  Keep those genealogy questions coming! Support the show Be sure to bookmark linktr.ee/hittinthebricks   for your one stop access to Kathleen Brandt, the h...

Let us know what you think! Have you ever peered into your family tree and found a story that's tangled, moving, and a little surprising? That's exactly what Kathleen and I discuss in our latest podcast episode. Kathleen answers two emails on air from the HTB Mailbag: 1.  A compelling case is presented where a man seeks to understand his uncle's paternity, bringing to light the sens...

Let us know what you think! We kick off Season 4 of Hittin' the Bricks with Kathleen covering military research at the National Archives, St. Louis with Lori Berdak Miller of Redbird Research. What if your ancestor's military personnel records were lost in the 1973  Fire?  Lori gives hints on reconstructing these lost records. Her passion as a document retriever and military researcher s...

Let us know what you think! Support the show Be sure to bookmark linktr.ee/hittinthebricks   for your one stop access to Kathleen Brandt, the host of Hittin' the Bricks with Kathleen. And, visit us on YouTube: @HTBKRB with Kathleen John and Chewey video recorded specials.  Hittin' the Bricks is produced through the not-for-profit, 501c3 TracingAncestors.org.  

Let us know what you think! Is Black and White genealogy research different? John dropped by the office to have a chat with Kathleen.  It gets personal! linktr.ee/hittinthebricks  Support the show Be sure to bookmark linktr.ee/hittinthebricks   for your one stop access to Kathleen Brandt, the host of Hittin' the Bricks with Kathleen. And, visit us on YouTube: @HTBKRB with Kathleen John and Ch...

Let us know what you think! Have you ever hit a brickwall in your family history research that seemed insurmountable? Howard Murray joined us from Colorado to trace his elusive two times great-grandmother Francis/Frances. She vanished from records between 1880 and 1900. Our HTB with Kathleen conversation offers strategies that you may use to leap over similar hurdles. Surprise : Family ties emerge...

Let us know what you think! Researching your ancestor was "placed out" during the orphan train movement of 1854 - 1920's? Brace yourself for an episode that might just reshape how you research this pivotal, yet shadowy, segment of American history. John questions Kathleen on the transport of children bustling East Coast cities to all 48 states.  No state was missed as the trains tra...