• 60%, I am a member of American Ancestors.
• 33%, I have been a member of American Ancestors for over 10 years.
• 12%, I have been a member of American Ancestors for over 25 years.
• .4%, I have been a member of American Ancestors for over 50 years.
• 2%, I am a Life Member of American Ancestors.
• 5%, At least one of my ancestors is/was a member of American Ancestors.
• 19%, I used to be a member of American Ancestors.
• 4%, I am planning to join American Ancestors.
• 10%, I am a guest member of American Ancestors.
• 3%, I have volunteered for American Ancestors.
• 4%, I have contributed scholarship to American Ancestors or donated a manuscript or collection.
• 19%, I have donated to American Ancestors.
• 35%, I have visited the American Ancestors headquarters in Boston.
• 47%, I have participated in an online or in-person program, conference, or tour.
• 1%, I attended the sesquicentennial conference in Boston in 1995.
• 35%, I have benefited from American Ancestors scholarship through publications or databases.
• 11%, I have connected with American Ancestors in a way not mentioned above.

Readers Respond

Virginia Stark, Hilliard, Ohio: My 4th great-grandfather Elijah Hayward (1786-1864) was a member of New England Historic Genealogical Society (NEHGS) [now American Ancestors]. Elijah was an attorney, member of the Ohio legislature, justice of the Ohio Supreme Court, commissioner of the United States General Land Office under President Andrew Jackson, and, later, the state librarian of Ohio. Elijah was an enthusiastic genealogist. Some of his papers were donated to NEHGS.

Lisa Taylor Tompson, Los Angeles, California: Growing up in Scituate, Massachusetts, I became fascinated with NEHGS on my trips to Boston. At age 13, with my two younger brothers in tow, I visited the Newbury Street headquarters for the first time. I sat my brothers at the huge table in the lobby and sternly told them to sit still and behave while I took the elevator up to the library. I was in awe of all the books and materials, and inspired to one day return and spend hours researching. At age 77, I'm enjoying my family history as much as I did when I began my journey 64 years ago!

Deborah Nowers, Belfast, Maine: My great-grandmother Hetta Kimball Southard made extensive family notes, which were stored in a Bible stand in our house. Over Christmas vacation in 1968, when I was 18 years old, my mother and I drew up a family tree based on those notes. Mother then suggested we visit the NEHGS library for more information. I was the youngest patron in the 6th floor reading room that day. The librarians brought us Kimball and Putnam genealogies and I filled in the provided Somerset genealogy forms. It all seemed so easy! Fifty years of membership later, I’m still trying to fill holes in my 10-generation charts.

Austin Spencer, Alexandria, Virginia: When I joined NEHGS about 15 years ago, I had been conducting genealogical research for more than a decade and was starting to think about publishing my work. I have now published—as sole author or coauthor—nine articles in the Register and one in Mayflower Descendant. Long may this connection continue!

Julia Hunter, Newcastle, Washington: In September of 1979, I was hired as a receptionist at NEHGS. It was my first job after college. The next year, I moved upstairs to run the Book Loan Library, which mailed books to members all over the world. After four years, I left for graduate school and went on to work in museums and historical research for forty years. In retirement, I am working on my own family’s extensive manuscript holdings, and I am delighted to reconnect with American Ancestors via the internet.