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 Printers and printing press operators produced newspapers, books, pamphlets, and other printed materials using mechanical presses and typesetting systems. In the eighteenth, nineteenth, and early twentieth centuries, printing was a […]
This past week (March 13, 2026 to March 19, 2026), the following additions were made to The Newspaper Research Academy: ✅ Free Resources – 1 New Articles were added – 106 Total ✅ Research Guides – 3 New Guides were added – 130 Total ✅ Video Guides – 0 New Videos – 19 Total ✅ […]
The Quicksheet Vault is a growing collection of structured, ready-to-use research references — with new additions being added regularly. This past week (March 14, 2026 to March 20, 2026), the following additions were made to the Quicksheet Vault: ✅ QS Core Collection – 0 New – 174 Total✅ QS Glossaries and Notes – 15 New […]
Religious life extended beyond traditional church congregations. Many organizations provided spiritual, social, and community support while also generating records that can be valuable for genealogical research. Fraternal and Benevolent Societies Religious Orders and Associations Ethnic and Cultural Religious Groups Charitable and Relief Organizations Youth and Educational Organizations Community and Social Groups
Many historical records were created using information provided by an informant rather than the individual themselves. The reliability of a record often depends on who supplied the information and how well they knew the details being recorded. Who Is the Informant The informant is the person providing information for a record. Types of Informants Different […]
Draft registration cards were created during periods of military conscription and contain valuable personal information about eligible men. These records often include standardized fields and terminology describing identity, residence, occupation, and physical characteristics. Term Definition Address Residence of registrant at time of registration. Age Age of individual on registration date. Board Number Identifier for local […]
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 Masons and bricklayers were skilled tradesmen who constructed buildings, walls, chimneys, foundations, and other structures using brick, stone, and mortar. In the eighteenth, nineteenth, and early twentieth centuries, they played […]
Online family trees can provide valuable clues, but they often contain errors, assumptions, or incomplete information. Evaluating the reliability of a tree before accepting its conclusions is essential for accurate research. Source and Evidence Questions Consistency and Accuracy Research Depth Red Flags Research Approach
Indexes and transcriptions are valuable tools for locating historical records, but they are not perfect representations of original documents. Understanding their limitations helps researchers avoid errors and locate more accurate information. What Indexes Provide Indexes are finding aids that point researchers to original records. What Transcriptions Represent Transcriptions are written copies of original records. Common […]
Land patents and homestead records document the transfer of land from the government to private individuals. These records are especially important in public land states and often contain terminology related to land acquisition, settlement requirements, and property description. Term Definition Acre Unit of land measurement equal to 43,560 square feet. Affidavit Sworn statement supporting a […]