The expert staff at American Ancestors has compiled a list of tips to help you advance your research and avoid some common pitfalls. These tips offer a road map for beginners and a valuable reminder for more experienced researchers. Download Now
Upcoming Online Seminar, August 7–28
Louisiana Family History Research: Four Centuries of History and Genealogy
Characterized by the convergence of diverse cultures—primarily French, Spanish, African, Native American, and Caribbean—Louisiana embodies a unique blend of people, geography, and history. These diverse cultural roots impact how family historians trace their Louisiana ancestors. Going century-by-century, each class will explore the historical context, records, and research strategies critical to making headway in your family history research and uncovering the stories of your Louisiana ancestors! Register Now
Cartoon Caption Contest!
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:
Date Your Earliest Ancestor Arrived in North America
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.
32%, Yes, my family visited the same vacation destination for 1 to 10 years.
19%, Yes, my family visited the same vacation destination for 11 to 25 years.
11%, Yes, my family visited the same vacation destination for 26 to 50 years.
7%, Yes, my family visited the same vacation destination for 51 to 75 years.
3%, Yes, my family visited the same vacation destination for 76 to 99 years.
3%, Yes, my family visited the same vacation destination for 100 years or more.
35%, No, my family has not returned to a particular vacation destination.
2%, I don't know / I'm not sure.
Readers Respond
Carolyn J. Palmer, Jackson, Michigan: As a child, I was in foster care with six other girls in the family of Harry and Gertrude Easter. At the beginning of each summer, we all travelled to Clark Lake, Michigan, to prepare a lakeside property for summer renters. Instead of paying rent, we cleaned and painted the cottage and repaired any damage that occurred over the winter. We also cleaned up the waterfront and yard. We always made some time to relax and have fun. Pa Easter taught me to fish and row a boat. We did this for many years, and it was always wonderful. These are my happiest memories.
Patricia Rentz, Reston, Virginia: My great-great-grandfather William A. Simonds raised his family of eight on a farm in Sharon, Vermont. William died in 1908, leaving the farm and the house he built in 1858 to his children. None of them wanted to live or farm there, but they maintained the property and it became a family gathering place. My father told us stories of his family’s trips to the farm every Memorial Day. Their grandfather would load them into his truck for the drive from Massachusetts. My family has continued the tradition. Each summer we gather at the farm for Sharon Old Home Day.
Victoria English, Valdosta, Georgia: My family was assigned to Moody AFB in Valdosta, Georgia, in 1960. The base was close to Jekyll Island. There was very little development on the island at that time, only a few hotels and a small shopping center. Our family stayed at the Buccaneer Hotel, which has since been replaced with a condo development. Every night, Dad drove us around at sunset to see how many white deer we could count. My sister was married on Jekyll Island in 2018; her wedding was the last time Mom and Dad were on the island. Dad passed in 2019, and Mom passed in 2020. My sister and I placed a small jar of Jekyll Island sand in their niche at Jacksonville National Cemetery in Florida. I went back to Jekyll Island one last time, but there are too many memories.
Staff at the Norman B. Leventhal Map & Education Center in Boston recently shared “maps that showcased the peoples, regions, and nations that worked to revolutionize their social structure and gain independence.”
“Shalom Korai never knew his real name or his birthday. He was saved from the streets of a burning Warsaw neighborhood while he was a toddler during World War II, when the rest of his family was killed by Nazis in Poland.”
The latest Library of Congress Headlines & Heroes blog post focuses on unique or interesting newspaper titles.
Spotlight: Gasconade County Historical Society, Missouri
by Valerie Beaudrault
Gasconade County, seated in Hermann, is located in east-central Missouri. Gasconade County Historical Society as made a number of resources available under the Archives and Records section of its website. Online resources include marriage records indexes (1822-2003), Gasconade County naturalization records index, an alphabetical county probate index, and two circuit court testimony indexes, one sorted by defendant and the other plaintiff. Click the About Gasconade County link in the contents bar to learn more about its history and the histories of the county towns and villages. Search Now
Database News
Nine New Volumes of the General Society of Colonial Wars Membership Applications, 1893-1949
We have added 24 new volumes to our General Society of Colonial Wars Membership Applications, 1893-1949, database. Covering application numbers 2630-3469, these additions include 648,285 records and 1,522,381 names on 61,326 pages. Search by given name and surname. Records provide birth, baptism, marriage, death, and burial information.
This database was created through a partnership of the General Society of Colonial Wars and American Ancestors. The database is available to Individual-level and above members of American Ancestors. 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
