The problem isn’t always finding new records. Sometimes it’s remembering where you’ve already looked. The Insight One of the biggest hidden time-wasters in genealogy isn’t a lack of records—it’s repeating the same searches without realizing it. Without tracking what you’ve already done, it’s easy to circle back to the same databases, the same names, and […]
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.
Are you doing Washington genealogy research and looking for Free Online Washington Genealogy Records? Click on a link for your desired category’s free collection links: NewspapersYearbooksBirthsMarriagesDeathsBMD RecordsAlumni RecordsCemetery RecordsChurch RecordsCoroner RecordsCriminal RecordsDigital ArchivesDirectoriesDivorce RecordsImmigration RecordsInstitutional RecordsMilitary RecordsMortuary RecordsNaturalizationsObituariesPhotosProbate and WillsSchool RecordsTax RecordsVoter Records Good Luck and Happy Hunting! Want All of Washington’s Genealogy Resources in […]
An “official” government record isn’t automatically more reliable than a family Bible, letter, diary, or other family record. The Myth Government records carry an aura of authority. A birth certificate, death certificate, census record, marriage record, or other document created by a government agency looks official. It may contain signatures, certifications, official forms, or even […]
Given Name Abbreviations Historical records, newspapers, and family documents often use abbreviated given names rather than the full name. Understanding common Polish given name abbreviations can help you locate records that might otherwise be overlooked. Name Abbreviation Adam Ad. Agnieszka Agn. Aleksander Al. Aleksandra Al. Andrzej Andr. Anna Ann. Antoni Ant. Barbara Barb. Bartłomiej Bart. […]
Are you doing West Virginia genealogy research and looking for Free Online West Virginia Genealogy Records? Click on a link for your desired category’s free collection links: NewspapersYearbooksBirthsMarriagesDeathsBMD RecordsAlumni RecordsCemetery RecordsChurch RecordsCoroner RecordsCriminal RecordsDigital ArchivesDirectoriesDivorce RecordsImmigration RecordsInstitutional RecordsMilitary RecordsMortuary RecordsNaturalizationsObituariesPhotosProbate and WillsSchool RecordsTax RecordsVoter Records Good Luck and Happy Hunting! Want All of West Virginia’s […]
Every year, in August, the National Endowment for the Humanities announces the digitization award grants to states that are a part of the National Digital Newspaper Program that contribute to the Chronicling America database. The total awards this year are $18 million. Here are the 2026 awards and prior award years: State / Territory Award […]
Given Name Abbreviations Historical records, newspapers, and family documents often use abbreviated given names rather than the full name. Understanding common Norwegian given name abbreviations can help you locate records that might otherwise be overlooked. Name Abbreviation Adelheid Ad. Agnes Ag. Albert Alb. Alexander Alex. Alida Al. Alise Al. Amalie Am. Anders A. Anders And. […]
Finding a “Jr.” and “Sr.” with the same name does not prove you have found a son and his father. The Myth When two men with the same name appear in historical records as Senior and Junior, the relationship seems obvious. John Smith Sr. must be the father, and John Smith Jr. must be his […]
Are you doing Mississippi genealogy research and looking for Free Online Mississippi Genealogy Records? Click on a link for your desired category’s free collection links: NewspapersYearbooksBirthsMarriagesDeathsBMD RecordsAlumni RecordsCemetery RecordsChurch RecordsCoroner RecordsCriminal RecordsDigital ArchivesDirectoriesDivorce RecordsImmigration RecordsInstitutional RecordsMilitary RecordsMortuary RecordsNaturalizationsObituariesPhotosProbate and WillsSchool RecordsTax RecordsVoter Records Good Luck and Happy Hunting! Want All of Mississippi’s Genealogy Resources in […]
Given Name Abbreviations Historical records, newspapers, and family documents often use abbreviated given names rather than the full name. Understanding common Italian given name abbreviations can help you locate records that might otherwise be overlooked. Name Abbreviation Alberta Alb. Alessandra Aless. Anna Ann. Antonella Anton. Antonio Ant. Augusta August. Bartolomeo Bart. Battista Batt. Beatrice Beatr. […]