Germans have been immigrating to America since the seventeenth century and today are the largest self-reported ancestry group living in the country. This online seminar will teach you how to trace your German ancestors, no matter when they arrived in the U.S. Learn More
Visit the Family Heritage Experience in Boston!
Summer is the perfect time to explore Boston’s newest attraction—the Family Heritage Experience! Discover your family story through hands-on exhibits, interactive technology, and centuries of history brought to life. Plan your visit or recommend this unforgettable and meaningful experience to friends and family coming to Boston.
American Ancestors, our quarterly magazine, is seeking a caption for its next cartoon (pictured)! The winning entry will be featured in our summer issue. Click the image to view a larger version (clicking will redirect you to our Facebook page). Enter Now
The Weekly Genealogist Survey
This Week's Survey:
Ancestors Who Were Involved in the American Revolution
Share your thoughts about the survey! Please limit submissions to 150 words or fewer. Your submission may be featured in an upcoming newsletter or shared on social media; please note in your email if you do not want your story to be shared. Published responses may be edited for clarity and length.
23%, Yes, I resemble at least one ancestor from an earlier generation.
29%, Yes, I resemble at least one aunt, uncle, or cousin.
6%, No, I don't think I resemble any of my ancestors.
6%, No, I don’t think I resemble any of my aunts, uncles, or cousins.
5%, I don’t know if I resemble any of my ancestors or relatives.
Readers Respond
Cathy Burns, Wallingford, Connecticut: Three of my sisters and I often say that when we look in the mirror, we see our mother’s face. Our sister Barb, however, doesn’t resemble us. Recently, a DNA test revealed that Barb has a different father. Our mother was no longer alive when we made this discovery, so the story remains our family mystery. We were able to trace Barb’s siblings on her father’s side and discovered she has a half-sister who resembles her closely enough to be her twin.
Dawn Legier, Carbondale, Illinois: When I posted photos on social media of my mom as a child and teenager, many of my friends thought they were photos of me. My brother has long called me "Mom's mini-me." At Mom's funeral in 2018, I overheard a gentleman I'd never met say about me, "I don't know who she is, but she looks just like her." I feel especially blessed to resemble my mother since she passed.
Julie Tarmy, Nahant, Massachusetts: In 2003, I was participating in a bicentennial parade for my town. As I marched along holding a banner with my husband, a gentleman in the crowd pointed at me and yelled, “You’re a Cadigan!” I responded, “Yes, I am!” I was not able to stop and find out who he was, but he must have grown up with my mom and her siblings.
Lindsay Dierolf, Barto, Pennsylvania: I inherited features from different branches of my family. I have a photograph of my maternal great-great-grandmother that depicts her eyes as deep set, with shadows below them—just like mine. A second cousin has the same eyes, as did my great aunt. My nose resembles that of my maternal grandmother, who always credited her small, rounded nose to her Irish ancestry.
Bruce Randall, Ontario, Canada: I've always had what my wife calls a "strong" nose—not so much large or odd, as simply striking. When I look at old photos of my great-grandfather George Martin Randall, I see exactly the same nose. In photos from the 1800s of George’s parents (who were second cousins), I see the strong nose again. The Randalls and Palmers of North Stonington, Connecticut, intermarried many times over nearly 200 years. Either side could be responsible for the persistent heirloom nose.
Lynne Holden, Johnston, Rhode Island: Every time I look in the mirror I wonder, “How did my mother get in there?”
Spotlight: The Community History Archive of the Osborne Public Library, Kansas
by Valerie Beaudrault
Osborne County, seated of the city of Osborne, is located in north central Kansas. The Osborne Public Library has made several newspaper resources available in its Community History Archive. The collection comprises more than 189,000 pages from forty-one newspapers, including Osborne County Farmer (1876-2010), Downs News and The Downs Times (1921-1956), Osborne County News (1883-1920), The Osborne County Farmer (1990-2002), Downs News and Times (1983-2008), and Portis Independent (1904-1943). In addition, the resources include the U.S. Census for Osborne County (1870-1920). The database can be searched by keyword or browsed. Search Now
Database News
New Database: Newport, Rhode Island: Records of Enslaved, Free, and Manumitted People of Color and Enslavers (17th–19th Centuries)
This new 10 Million Names database, the result of a collaboration with the Newport Historical Society, includes records from 1663 to 1865 for more than 1,800 named people of African and Indigenous descent who were connected to Newport, Rhode Island, and the surrounding area. The more than 5,600 documents include deeds, early colony censuses, family papers, ships’ logs, and records from Black-led organizations, religious organizations, and merchants. Search Now
FREE Workshop for Boston-Area Educators: Genealogy in the Classroom
Genealogy is a powerful tool for teaching history, culture, and geography. This three-day workshop at American Ancestors will provide Boston-area Social Studies teachers, English Language Arts teachers, and school librarians (grades 4–8) with the training and resources needed to implement our Family History Curriculum. Receive free lesson plans, teaching strategies, case studies, and more. Each participant will receive a $200 stipend. Learn More
Your Legacy. Your Peace of Mind. Your Free Will.
As a family historian, you know that wills are important in your research—but have you created a will for yourself? Free Will, an easy and free online will creation tool, will guide you step-by-step through identifying beneficiaries for your assets, supporting the causes that are important to you, and planning for the preservation of your research. Learn More
