Ancestry.com continues to add or update its record collections at a fast pace for us to search. For the period of May 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!
The strongest family trees are built from verified facts, not hopeful leaps into distant generations. The Insight One of the most common mistakes new genealogists make is rushing toward distant ancestors before fully documenting the generations closest to them. The excitement of discovering colonial-era relatives, famous surnames, or connections to historical events often pulls researchers […]
Family stories often point you in the right direction—but records determine whether the story is true. The Insight Many genealogy journeys begin with a story passed down through generations. A grandparent mentions a Revolutionary War ancestor. An aunt recalls Native American heritage. A family Bible references an immigrant who arrived under dramatic circumstances. These stories […]
A matching name may start the search, but evidence is what proves identity. The Insight One of the easiest mistakes in genealogy is connecting two people simply because they share the same name. In many communities, the same names appeared repeatedly across multiple families, generations, and even neighboring households. A record may seem like a […]
FamilySearch continues to add or update its record collections at a fast pace for us to search. For the period of May 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 […]
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 Apothecaries and druggists prepared, sold, and dispensed medicines and medical compounds for local communities. In the eighteenth, nineteenth, and early twentieth centuries, they played important roles in healthcare before modern […]
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 Prison guards supervised inmates and maintained security within jails, prisons, and correctional institutions. In the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, prisons expanded as governments developed more formal correctional systems. Guards […]
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 Asylum attendants cared for patients housed in mental institutions, state hospitals, and related facilities. In the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, asylums were established to house individuals suffering from mental […]
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 Midwives assisted women during childbirth and provided care before and after delivery. In the eighteenth, nineteenth, and early twentieth centuries, midwives were central figures in community healthcare, particularly in rural […]
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 Nurses cared for sick, injured, and recovering patients in homes, hospitals, military settings, and medical institutions. In the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, nursing evolved from informal caregiving into a […]