Family historians never have enough time in research facilities. It's especially difficult to have only a few hours or a single day in a mecca such as the library at Salt Lake City or the National Archives in Washington, D.C. ...more

October 25, 2009

It was a cold, snow-driven night on the plains. Only two sounds filled the cabin - the crackling from the fireplace and the whimpers of a newborn baby. The new father sat at the kitchen table and, by the light of a single oil lamp, entered into his Bible the date and the birth of the newest family member. ...more

March 29, 2009

Sometimes I fantasize about what my ancestors would think if time travel were possible and they could visit me today. ...more

March 22, 2009

Staying focused and keeping your records organized are two tough tasks for genealogists. Most professionals advise family historians to focus on one family line rather than flitting from one branch of the tree to another. ...more

March 8, 2009

Obituaries usually aren't about someone's death so much as about his or her life and family. From both standpoints, these newspaper notices are extremely valuable to genealogists. ...more

September 21, 2008

Genealogists are likely to pick up a newspaper in any town where they are paying a visit, conducting business or just passing through. We're after the obituary section, a standard feature in newspapers. ...more

September 14, 2008

A 20-pound rock Jan Grove found at her great-great-grandfather's farm in Michigan is a physical reminder of her family history. ...more

August 18, 2008

When an ancestor was a Civil War veteran, your search for information can lead to genealogical gold. The Civil War produced substantial records, starting with military service files and applications for pensions, both of benefit to family historians. ...more

August 3, 2008

Imagine how crushed I was when my granddaughter told me recently that she isn't interested in "all the stuff that happened in the past." She's only 10. I still hope to win her over. ...more

July 13, 2008

It's mid-May, the time when the school year is nearly over. A ritual of this season is delivery of school yearbooks, and it's likely that none of the students who bought one are thinking about their descendants. ...more

May 18, 2008