MyHeritage continues to add or update its record collections at a fast pace for us to search. For February 1-15, 2026, there are 2 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!
Author: Kenneth R Marks
Kenneth R Marks was born and educated in the San Francisco Bay Area, receiving a BS in Mathematics in 1968. His career was in Information Technology; with the last 20 Years as a software executive with Boeing, Pearson, and NASA. His genealogy career began in 2004. He is an expert in newspaper research for genealogy, as well as additional genealogy topics. He regularly conducts webinars on the subject and has authored three genealogy books. See the About page for more details.
The Ancestor Hunt, founded in 2008, is focused on helping genealogy and family history researchers of all skill levels to achieve their goals, by providing links to free online genealogy collections, and search tips and techniques, largely via easy-to-understand Quick Reference Guides.
Ancestry.com continues to add or update its record collections at a fast pace for us to search. For the period of February 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!
Naturalization in the United States was typically a multi-step legal process rather than a single document. Researchers often search for “naturalization papers” without realizing that several distinct records may have been created over time — and that some immigrants completed only part of the process. Understanding how these documents relate to one another is essential […]
Military records are another useful set that will help you find out more about your ancestors. There are a ton of records that are available for free online, and there are some very robust collections (such as Fold3 and Ancestry) that have sizable online military collections as well. Typically, military records online fall into 5 […]
FamilySearch continues to add or update its record collections at a fast pace for us to search. For the period of February 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 […]
Military service records contain specialized terminology that varies by era, branch, and country. The terms below are commonly found in enlistment papers, service records, pension files, draft registrations, muster rolls, discharge papers, casualty reports, and compiled military service records. Understanding this language helps clarify rank, duty status, unit organization, eligibility for benefits, and the scope […]
Land records aren’t just about who owned a piece of ground. They can reveal family relationships, migration paths, neighbors, and even financial trouble. If you’re skipping deeds and property records, you’re missing a major part of your ancestors’ lives. Why Land Records Matter for Genealogy Key Types of Land and Property Records Genealogy Clues to […]
Burial and cemetery records often contain specialized terminology that can be confusing to modern researchers. The terms below are commonly found in cemetery registers, burial permits, sexton’s records, gravestone transcriptions, church burial entries, and interment records. Understanding this language can clarify burial location, religious affiliation, family relationships, financial status, and record context. Term Meaning Interment […]
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 Lumber workers harvested, transported, and processed timber for construction, fuel, and industrial use. During the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, lumbering was a cornerstone industry across the Northeast, Upper Midwest, […]
Understanding military records requires knowing what the abbreviations actually mean. Service files, draft cards, pension records, headstones, and even newspaper notices frequently use shortened rank titles. This quick reference guide lists common military rank abbreviations and their full meanings to help you interpret records accurately and avoid misidentifying service level or status. Army / General […]