Learn about some of the alternative and natural medical remedies that were available to patients in the nineteenth century. For example, Dr. Richard Mott's "Patent Champoo and Medicated Bath" was used to immerse patients in a cloud of medicated steam. Read More
Upcoming Online Seminar, May 1–22
Researching Scottish Ancestors
Scots have been migrating to North America for centuries. This four-session online seminar will provide you with key historical context, strategies, and resources to set you on the right path to trace your ancestry back several generations in Scotland. Register Now
Read Our Annual Stakeholder Report
Our Annual Report for 2023 is now available online! Highlights include new research projects and databases, developments in online programming and in-person events, our national Family History Curriculum, progress on our historic Cornerstone Project headquarters expansion, institutional accomplishments of the last year, and upcoming projects in 2024. To receive a printed copy, email advancement@nehgs.org. View Now
The Weekly Genealogist Survey
This Week's Survey:
Lineage Societies
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.
63%, Yes, at least one of my male ancestors worked in a factory or mill.
48%, Yes, at least one of my female ancestors worked in a factory or mill.
21%, Yes, my ancestor was an owner or a manager at a factory or mill.
13%, I don't know if any of my ancestors worked in a factory or mill.
11%, No, none of my ancestors worked in a factory or mill.
Readers Respond
Jeri Moriarty, Manassas Park, Virginia: My grandmother Lucille Harsch worked at Kellogg's Omaha factory. Her role was to relieve people when they took breaks, so she had to be proficient in every job on the production floor. Our families always looked forward to Christmas, when Lucille gave each household cases of Pop-Tarts and single-serve cereal boxes.
Emily Holmberg, Chesterfield, Massachusetts: My grandfather Nathan Cox worked at the weaving mill in Bristol, Tennessee. His official title, and what he listed as his occupation on the 1950 census, was "fixer"—he was called if machines needed adjustments or broke down. Nathan refused to get a phone installed at his house because he didn't want to be called in to work after his shift ended.
Joy Metcalf, Northport, Maine: My grandmother Julia (Stahnke) Ferguson (born 1902) worked in what everyone called "the fish factory" in Belfast, Maine. Julia snipped the heads and tails off sardines and packed them into cans. Pay was dependent on production, and Julia was proud to be one of the fastest workers. One of the perks of working in the fish factory was that when the smelts were running, she brought some home for a feast.
Rudene Barlow, Atlanta, Georgia: In the early 1900s, my father, Leon Bivins, worked at the Silver Lane Pickle Co. in East Hartford, Connecticut. The company produced vinegar, sweet and dill pickles, chowchow, relishes, and sauerkraut. Leon’s job was to transfer wheelbarrows of salt from one location to another via a narrow track running over large vats of brine. One day he lost his footing. He managed to keep his balance, but the salt-filled wheelbarrow fell into the liquid brine vats below. Fearful of losing his job, Leon never told his boss.
Katie Stilp, Green Bay, Wisconsin: My great-grandpa Melvin Stilp worked at the Proctor & Gamble paper mill in Green Bay, Wisconsin, until he retired in 1963. His son, my grandpa Douglas Stilp, worked at the Fort Howard Paper Company (now called Georgia Pacific) in Green Bay for more than twenty-five years, retiring in 1995. My grandpa always gave family members toilet paper and napkins that he got from work. He made sure we never ran out of paper products!
Jan Elise Cannon, Hampton, Virginia: My ancestor Charles Rule co-owned the Lowry & Rule Marble Works factory in Cincinnati, Ohio. His company created many beautiful monuments installed at Spring Grove Cemetery. They also created the flooring and marble staircases in the Ohio State Capitol and the marble daises in the House and Senate rooms. Unfortunately, Charles’s profession also shortened his life—he died of lung disease (probably silicosis) at age 52. His son Charles Jr. (my great-great-grandfather) worked as an artist at the factory. He died at age 35, also of lung disease.
Spotlight: Digital Resources, Colleton County, South Carolina
by Valerie Beaudrault
Colleton County, seated in Walterboro, is located in the southern part of South Carolina. The Colleton County Memorial Library keeps a digital archive containing a number of genealogy and local history resources. Most notably, Colleton’s Online Historical Archive includes church records, local newspapers, and Walterboro civic records. There is also a collection of scanned and indexed yearbooks from more than thirty schools, as well as an index to The Press and Standard newspaper (1873-2019).Browse Now
Database News
Nineteenth Century U.S. Newspapers
Don't miss this essential newspaper collection! With 1.8 million pages to search, Nineteenth Century U.S. Newspapers from Gale Primary Sources features publications of all kinds, from major newspapers to titles from smaller communities across the country. Join American Ancestors today to access this and many more unique collections available through our partner organizations. Learn More About External Databases
Our quarterly magazine is seeking a caption for its next cartoon, pictured here! (Click image to view at full size.) The winning entry will be featured in our spring issue. Submit your caption today! Enter Now
Planning for the Future?
Name Your Beneficiaries Today
Non-probate assets such as an IRA, 401(k), or life insurance policy are not covered in your will or trust—you must name beneficiaries separately. Our friends at FreeWill.com have provided a free and secure online tool to guide you through naming beneficiaries for your non-probate assets. Learn More
