
The Ancestor Hunt regularly adds and updates new collection links, as well as searches for and fixes broken links.
(This page's most recent update is November 2025)
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If an ancestor ran a business, practiced a trade, or offered a specialized service, they likely left a paper trail in the form of occupational licenses or business permits. These records—often hiding in county files or state archives—can reveal important details about a person’s livelihood, mobility, and identity at moments not captured anywhere else.
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