Last Thursday was our grand opening of the Family Heritage Experience, our new visitor attraction at 97 Newbury Street in Boston designed to get people thinking about their ancestors. After a ribbon-cutting ceremony with Harvard professor Dr. Henry Louis Gates, Jr., philanthropist and preservationist Thomas B. Hagen, Lt. Governor Kim Driscoll, State Senator Lydia Edwards, among others, guests explored the exhibits, took in the artwork, and brought the space to life through their curiosity and connections. What an incredible milestone for our 180th anniversary year! Visit the Family Heritage Experience.
Upcoming In-Person Research Tour, May 21–23
Connecticut Research Tour
Uncover your Nutmeg State roots on a special research visit at the Connecticut State Library and Archives. While there, you will have exclusive access to city directories, town records, newspapers, probate records, special genealogy files, published resources, and much more. Our experts will help you plan your research during a pre-trip consultation and also offer on-site assistance. Learn More
Take Advantage of Our Spring Sale—$25 Off New American Ancestors Memberships!
Join American Ancestors today and save $25 on your membership cost. An American Ancestors membership offers access to billions of searchable names on our website, a subscription to American Ancestors magazine, discounts on books and research for hire, and more! Use code Apr25 at checkout.
Genealogist Jeff Record delves into his family's past and uncovers the extraordinary story of an ancestor who brought electricity to a city, served as mayor, and even hosted the 23rd president of the United States. The discovery leaves him wondering, "How did no one in the family know about this?" Read More
The Weekly Genealogist Survey
This Week's Survey:
Home Sources in Your Family History Research
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.
78%, Yes, I have books that belonged to one or both of my parents.
68%, Yes, I have books that belonged to one or more of my grandparents.
44%, Yes, I have books that belonged to earlier ancestors.
35%, I have books that belonged to other relatives.
9%, No, I do not have any books owned by my parents, grandparents, earlier ancestors, or other relatives.
Readers Respond
Linda Hipple Phillips, Milledgeville, Georgia: My great-grandmother Almina (Rhodes) Dean was 9 years old when her sister Amy Lillian Rhodes died at age 17 in western Pennsylvania. On January 3, 1874, a collection of short stories and poems written by Amy Rhodes was published as Souvenirs of a Short Life. A copy of this book was given to me by my grandmother Amy (Dean) Kreitz, who was named for her aunt.
Laura C. Rader, Youngsville, North Carolina: I have my mother's Bible and her early 1900s editions of Hiawatha and a little poetry book by Blanche Jennings Thompson called Silver Pennies (1926). I also have some of my history professor father's 18th-century books, my paternal grandmother’s 1920 book of daily prayer, my maternal grandmother’s first edition of The Blue Fairy Book, and my paternal great-grandfather's 1866 diary, written after he returned from serving in the Union Army.
Nancy L. Gaynor, Crystal Lake Illinois: I inherited a number of N. C. Wyeth illustrated books from my father and his brothers. I have my mother’s drafting books from her time as a “Rosie the Riveter.” Also in my collection is a book on marriage that my great-great-grandmother gave to her daughter in 1867.
Diane Moxness, Anchorage, Alaska: This month I found amongst my mother’s books a leather-bound book of fables from Rochdale, England, printed in 1723. It was inscribed to my 3rd great-grandfather (born in 1824) on his third birthday. I look forward to reading it to my soon-to-be-born grandson.
Nita Wallinger, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma: I inherited a Braille Book of Psalms from my great-grandmother’s oldest sister, Sarah Ann Haner. The book was presented to 15-year-old Sarah by the Pennsylvania Institute for the Blind in Philadelphia for superior scholarship on June 28, 1865. My great-grandmother used the inside covers of the book to preserve family obituaries and a few locks of hair.
Janice M. Sellers, Gresham, Oregon: The only book in my possession from my maternal grandmother, Lily Gordon, is her first Hebrew primer. Lily’s first language was Yiddish; she learned English when she started school. Lily signed her name in the book in a childish but legible scrawl.
Joann S. Wood, Bethel, Vermont: I have my parents’ 1935 edition of Gustav Kobbe’s The Complete Opera Book, with this written on the inside cover: “December 25, 1937, To Tony, Were it not for music we never would have met and as long as I live, I’ll cherish kind remembrances of you and wish you every joy and happiness in the world. Addie.” My parents sang in the choir at the Annunciation Church in Brooklyn, and I believe this Christmas gift was given at the start of their courtship. They married in June 1941.
What We’re Reading
Museums Tell Stories of American Independence “Before the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, exhibitions and events in many states offer a variety of voices and views.”
A Gold Rush of Witnesses “Letters, diaries, and remembrances shared on JSTOR by University of the Pacific reveal the hardships of day-to-day life during the California Gold Rush.”
Spotlight: Hall County Newspaper Digitization Project, Nebraska
by Valerie Beaudrault
Hall County, seated in Grand Island, is located in central Nebraska. The Hall County Newspaper Digitization Project is a collaborative effort involving historical and genealogical societies, newspapers, public libraries, and museums in Hall County. This collection comprises more than 321,000 pages from 148 newspapers including The Grand Island Daily Independent (1885-1930), Wood River (1884-2003), The Cairo Record (1907-2012), Grand Island Independent (1882-1912), The Doniphan Herald (1923-2005), and West Nebraska Register (1987-2020). The databases can be searched by keyword or browsed. Search Now
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
