Lecture and Memorabilia Show & Tell: An Introduction to Using American Fraternal Records in Genealogical Research
Fraternal organizations have been an important fixture of American community life since the nation’s founding. Join Jeffrey Croteau and Hilary Anderson Stelling of the Scottish Rite Masonic Museum & Library as they share the types of fraternal records that exist, where to find them, and how these records can unlock mysteries in your family history research. Learn More
$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 Aug25 at checkout. Join Today
The Weekly Genealogist Survey
This Week's Survey:
Connections to Massachusetts
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.
What Sparked Your Interest in Researching Your Family History?
Total: 3,029 Responses
12%, An enthusiastic genealogist
3%, A spouse
51%, Another family member
9%, A family reunion
3%, The birth of a child or grandchild
14%, The death of a parent or grandparent
2%, A special family event, such as a golden wedding anniversary
2%, A church, synagogue, or other place of worship
10%, DNA testing
7%, A school project
15%, Reading a family account in a book or article
50%, Seeing family photos, letters, memorabilia, or artifacts
20%, Inheriting a family heirloom
49%, Hearing family stories
1%, Circumstances related to the COVID-19 pandemic
9%, Visiting a historic site or museum
3%, A library program or a librarian
7%, A television program on genealogy
1%, A news item
3%, The Bicentennial, the Semiquincentennial, Plymouth 400, or another significant history anniversary
8%, Alex Haley's Roots
0%, Boy Scout genealogy merit badge
23%, An option not mentioned above
2%, I don't know
Readers Respond
Kathryn Sencabaugh, Chattanooga, Tennessee: I became interested in genealogy in my twenties after having spent many years unable to answer the question, "What kind of name is Sencabaugh?," and correcting the pronunciation.
Joanne Whitney Hill, Maysville, North Carolina: In 2010, my mother, Dorothy B. Whitney, became seriously ill. During her final months, we watched the TV show Who Do You Think You Are? My mother said that my dad’s grandmother was a descendant of John Paul Jones and had been invited to join the DAR. I began researching the claim but could not prove the connection. However, I did prove descent from four Patriots and was able to join the DAR in 2014. I now serve as my chapter’s registrar, assisting prospective members with their applications.
Amanda Madden, Arlington, Massachusetts: When I was eight years old, my Girl Scout troop did a unit on family trees. I was fascinated by how different everyone’s trees were. I come from a very large family on both sides. I loved talking to my cousins and great aunts about their lives and our family history.
David A. De Vecchis, Providence, Rhode Island: My mother died in 2001 and the last of her siblings died in 2009. It hit me that at that moment that my parents, grandparents, and aunts and uncles on my mom’s side were all gone and all their life stories with them. I decided to start a family tree to show my kids and other surviving relatives our roots so they would know who and where we came from.
Jon von Briesen, Forked River, New Jersey: When I was 11 years old in 1959, I enjoyed watching The Many Loves of Dobie Gillis on TV. Dobie had a wealthy schoolmate named Milton J. Armitage III and I wondered if I might be entitled to a postnominal number. My father produced a small collection of papers and family history information, which I searched for past ancestors who shared my name. While I did not find any previous Jon von Briesens, I did develop a fascination with family history that I still have today.
Charlie Corley, Hudson, Massachusetts: Fifteen years after my father died, I discovered his collection of family memorabilia. On top was a notarized statement signed by my great aunts stating that my great-great-grandfather Patrick Curley fought in the Civil War and that my grandfather Charles Corley was born in Canada. This was all news to me. Other records described members of my family arriving in America in 1635. The discovery led to my twenty-five-year (and counting) journey of family history research.
What We’re Reading
Rationing and Salvaging Through WWII This Cambridge [Massachusetts] Historical Commission blog presents a detailed look at the World War II-era policies that affected consumers nationwide.
Revolutionary Maine: Battle of Margaretta Mementos This Maine Historical Society post tells the story of the June 1775 naval engagement in Machias, Maine, and describes two collection items that were linked to the battle.
Love During the Siege of Boston “Amid this turmoil a young patriot named William Tudor was in love with a beautiful loyalist named Delia Jarvis.”
Crazy About Those Martians! The Library of Congress blog Timeless explores the fascination with Mars that began in the late 1870s.
Spotlight: Historic Newspapers, Chelsea District Library, Michigan
by Valerie Beaudrault
The city of Chelsea is located in Washtenaw County in southeastern Michigan. The Chelsea District Library has made several newspapers available in a historic newspaper archive. This digital collection comprises pages from eight newspapers including Chelsea Standard (1890-1893), The Chelsea Herald (1873-1909), The Chelsea Standard (1895-2019), The Chelsea Standard-Herald (1906-1908), The Chelsea Tribune (1917-1923), and The Dexter Leader (1988). The database can be browsed by publication or year. It can also searched by keyword. Search Now
Upcoming FREE In-Person Event, August 29
August Adventures at American Ancestors
Come explore American Ancestors and the Family Heritage Experience for free! Part of August Adventures (sponsored by Highland Street Foundation), our open house is perfect for family historians of all ages, backgrounds, and experience levels. Learn More
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
