MyHeritage continues to add or update its record collections at a fast pace for us to search. For March 1-15, 2026, there are 8 new and 10 updated collections. The new and updated collections are: I hope that some of these are what you have been waiting for! Good Luck and Happy Hunting!
Ancestry.com continues to add or update its record collections at a fast pace for us to search. For the period of March 1-15, 2026, the new and updated collections are: I hope that some of these are what you have been waiting for! Good Luck and Happy Hunting!
Background Historical Occupation Profiles explain what ancestors actually did for a living and how those occupations shaped the records genealogists rely on today. Occupation Overview Sharecroppers were agricultural workers who farmed land owned by others in exchange for a portion of the crops produced. This system became especially widespread in the United States after the […]
Not all immigrants completed the naturalization process. Many remained non-citizens for a variety of legal, personal, and practical reasons. Understanding these possibilities helps explain why naturalization records may not exist. Legal and Eligibility Factors Personal Choice Practical Barriers Interrupted Process Legal and Social Circumstances Record Loss or Misidentification
Genealogical research often involves working with both original records and abstracts. Understanding the difference between these two types of sources is essential for accurate interpretation and analysis. Original Records Original records are documents created at the time of an event. Abstracts Abstracts are summaries of original records. Differences in Content Abstracts do not always include […]
Alien registration records document non-citizens residing within a country. In the United States, large-scale alien registrations occurred during periods such as World War I and World War II. These records often contain detailed personal information and specialized terminology related to immigration status and legal identification. Term Definition Alien Person who is not a citizen of […]
Genealogists frequently encounter records that appear to describe two different individuals but may actually refer to the same person. Identifying these situations helps resolve apparent contradictions and reconstruct accurate family histories. Matching Personal Details Consistent Occupation Stable Residence Patterns Family and Associate Clues Name Variations Chronological Consistency
Historical records frequently contain variations in the spelling of names. These differences occur for many reasons, including pronunciation differences, literacy levels, and clerical interpretation. Understanding these variations helps genealogists identify individuals across multiple records. Phonetic Spellings Names were often recorded as they sounded to the person writing them. Literacy and Self-Reporting Many individuals could not […]
Guardianship records document the legal responsibility for managing the care, finances, or property of a minor or an individual unable to manage their own affairs. These records often appear within probate courts and may contain valuable genealogical information about family relationships and inheritance. Term Definition Accounting Financial report submitted by guardian detailing expenditures. Administrator Person […]
FamilySearch continues to add or update its record collections at a fast pace for us to search. For the period of March 1-15, 2026, the added/updated collections are: For a complete list of all added/updated collections, go to https://familysearch.org/search/collection/list I hope that some of these are what you have been waiting for! Good Luck and […]