Hello to The Ancestor Hunt readers! Here is the latest Monthly Newsletter. It includes links to all of the articles published since the previous newsletter and articles that I think you might find interesting from other authors. It also includes research tips, a joke or two, and other interesting genealogical stuff. I hope that you […]
FamilySearch continues to add or update its record collections at a fast pace for us to search. For the period of November 1-15, 2025, 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 […]
This past week (November 7, 2025 to November 13, 2025), the following additions were made to The Newspaper Research Academy: ✅ Free Resources – 0 New Articles were added – 83 Total ✅ Research Guides – 1 New Guides were added – 82 Total ✅ Video Guides – 0 New Videos – 19 Total ✅ […]
Local histories are one of the most overlooked resources in genealogy — but they often contain more narrative detail about ancestors than official records. Small-town histories, county historical volumes, centennial celebration books, and community anniversary publications were written to document local people, families, events, and achievements. Because many were produced for a town’s 50th, 75th, […]
Between the mid-19th and early 20th centuries, newspapers used a wide vocabulary to describe marriage and engagement events. Many of these phrases did not include the literal word “married” — which means traditional searches often miss them. This Quicksheet has a large variety of marriage and engagement terms that help you to home in on […]
Business advertisements and trade notices were often the only printed records of small shops, family firms, or self-employed craftsmen. These seemingly routine ads provide valuable genealogical detail — names, partnerships, occupations, and sometimes even reasons for a business closing or changing hands. Phrases like “successor to,” “late of,” “retiring from trade,” or “estate of” can […]
Auction and estate sale notices were a public record of change — death, debt, relocation, or transition. When property, belongings, or livestock were sold, a legal announcement followed in the local newspaper. These notices often list names, addresses, property details, and even relationships, making them a goldmine for genealogists who read between the lines. Download […]
When your ancestor disappears from the records, don’t look for a stranger — look next door. Neighbors appear again and again in censuses, deeds, newspapers, and probate files. They often migrated together, intermarried, and served as witnesses or executors. Tracking the families around your ancestor builds a community map that can expose hidden kinship links […]
In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, local newspapers published “Personal Mention” or “Local Happenings” columns — the community’s version of Facebook status updates. Reporters (and often readers themselves) submitted short notes about who was visiting whom, who returned from a trip, or who entertained guests for Sunday dinner. A single column could mention […]
Court records are among the richest, yet most overlooked, sources for genealogists. They can reveal names, relationships, occupations, property details, and even glimpses into your ancestors’ daily lives. These records go far beyond criminal cases — they document the legal, financial, and social fabric of a community. Download the Quicksheet PDF To obtain a two-page […]