A week or so ago, I was introduced to a new website and capability called memo. It is a simple function – adding audio to the photos in your photo library. I contacted the creator, Maxine Gill, and asked her to write a few paragraphs about the site: Preserving Family History in Your Own Voice: […]
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 Police officers and sheriffs were responsible for maintaining public order, enforcing laws, and protecting communities. In the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, law enforcement systems varied widely, ranging from small-town […]
Women’s organizations in the 19th century played important roles in social, religious, charitable, and reform movements. These groups often generated records that can provide insight into community involvement, social status, and family connections. Religious and Church-Based Groups Benevolent and Charitable Organizations Temperance and Reform Movements Educational and Literary Groups Fraternal and Auxiliary Organizations Community and […]
Census records often contain marginal notes, marks, and annotations that go beyond the standard columns. These details are frequently overlooked but can provide valuable clues about status, conditions, and special circumstances. Enumerator Notes and Comments Corrections and Cross-Outs Symbols and Marks Institutional or Special Status Notes Geographic and Household Clues Research Considerations
Trying to find U.S. yearbooks? This is the place to find free online yearbooks. Why? Yearbooks from high school or college are among the most enjoyable records for a genealogist to search. It provides you with much story-like information about your ancestor’s life. What their interests were, what sports and clubs they participated in, and […]
The Quicksheet Vault is a growing collection of structured, ready-to-use research references — with new additions being added regularly. This past week (March 21, 2026 to March 27, 2026), the following additions were made to the Quicksheet Vault: ✅ QS Core Collection – 0 New – 174 Total✅ QS Glossaries and Notes – 19 New […]
This past week (March 20, 2026 to March 26, 2026), the following additions were made to The Newspaper Research Academy: ✅ Free Resources – 0 New Articles were added – 106 Total ✅ Research Guides – 1 New Guide was added – 131 Total ✅ Video Guides – 0 New Videos – 19 Total ✅ […]
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 Schoolteachers educated children and youth in reading, writing, arithmetic, and other subjects within local schools. In the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, teaching was one of the most common professional […]
International migration often leaves indirect clues across multiple records. Even when passenger lists or immigration records are missing, these indicators can suggest movement between countries. Birthplace and Census Clues Name and Cultural Indicators Naturalization and Citizenship Records Travel and Border Records Community and Social Clues Economic and Occupational Indicators
Obituaries are valuable sources of genealogical information, but they are not always available or easy to locate. Understanding why an obituary may be missing can help guide research toward alternative sources. No Obituary Was Published Published in Unexpected Location Newspaper Coverage Gaps Name Variations and Errors Search Limitations Alternative Record Exists Instead