Join experts from American Ancestors for a series of lectures, one-on-one consultations, and assisted research at the Midwest Genealogy Center—one of America’s preeminent family history research centers. Access published resources that span all fifty states and include published genealogies, local histories, compiled county records, and more. Learn More
We are excited to introduce Revolutionary Roots, our new hub for exploring family connections to the American Revolution. This site brings together research guides, records, expert articles, and personal stories to help you discover how your ancestors experienced this pivotal era in history. With the 250th anniversary approaching, it's the perfect time to explore your family's history and see what Patriot or Loyalist connections you might uncover! Learn More
Giving Tuesday is Back on December 2!
Join us in celebrating this global day of generosity by supporting the mission of American Ancestors. Your donation expands access to our essential resources—from our archives and databases to our scholarship and educational programs. Every gift helps us educate, inspire, and connect people through the discovery of family history. Please plan to support us this Giving Tuesday. Thank you for being part of our mission!
The Weekly Genealogist Survey
This Week's Survey:
Observing Thanksgiving
Share your story! Each week in our Readers Respond column, we publish a selection of reader-submitted stories related to our most recent survey. Submissions must be 150 words or fewer and include your full name, city, and state. Published responses will be edited for clarity and length.
51%, Yes, at least one of my ancestors or relatives had work published in a magazine, newspaper, or journal.
49%, Yes, at least one of my ancestors or relatives wrote or contributed to a published book.
12%, Yes, at least one of my ancestors or relatives had work published in a format not mentioned above.
21%, No, none of my ancestors or relatives had work published in a magazine, newspaper, or journal.
20%, No, none of my ancestors or relatives wrote or contributed to a published book.
34%, My work has been published in a magazine, newspaper, or journal.
24%, I wrote or contributed to a published book.
14%, I had work published in a format not mentioned above.
Readers Respond
Deryn Avritt, Broomfield, Colorado: My 2nd great-grandfather John Stetson Barry, a member of New England Historic Genealogical Society [now American Ancestors] from 1853, published many genealogical and historical books. While researching his three-volume History of Massachusetts (1855-1857) at the Bishop of London's library at Fulham Palace in England, John discovered William Bradford’s manuscript “Of Plimoth Plantation,” which had disappeared around 1775 from Boston’s Old South Meeting House during British occupation. The manuscript was returned to the State Library of Massachusetts in 1897.
Scott Wilson, University Park, Maryland: My great-grandfather Frederick Augustus Hubbard was a Greenwich, Connecticut, historian who published two books: Other Days in Greenwich (1913) and A History of Masonry in Greenwich, Connecticut, 1763–1926 (1926). Starting in the 1920s, Frederick contributed a weekly local history column called “The Judge's Corner” to the Greenwich Press newspaper. The column ended with his death on February 2, 1933.
Cynthia Nielsen, Isanti, Minnesota: My grandmother Iva L. Nielsen (1902-1994) of Loretta, Wisconsin, wrote her first song lyrics in the 1930s. She worked with a local music teacher to set the words to music before submitting "By the Rivers and Lakes of Wisconsin" to the Library of Congress for copyright registration. The sheet music is available from the Mills Music Library at the University of Wisconsin. She later wrote words and music for two songs that were also submitted for copyright registration: "A Mother's Humble Prayer" and "Wilderness."
Michael Hogan, Georges Mills, New Hampshire: My great-grandfather Benjamin Franklin Winchel was the editor from 1903 to 1917 of the Parker, Kansas, Weekly Message, a local newspaper in a little farm town about sixty miles south of Kansas City. The newspaper offers a fascinating window on life in rural America at that time, with its references to “pop-pops” (motorcycles), agricultural tariffs, and a Middle America take on contemporary politics, women’s suffrage, and happenings in the European war prior to the US’s entry.
Beryl Bryan, Hubertus, Wisconsin: My grandmother Bonnibel Butler Weston (1885–1983) wrote three Bobbsey Twins books—#8, 10, and 15—under the name of author Laura Lee Hope. She also wrote and illustrated The Baby's Record of Mental and Physical Growth and His Horoscope (1913). She illustrated many children’s books, including Mother Goose Favorites (1930) and Let's Pretend: Some Adventures of the Golden Age of Nursery Land (1914). Her real desire was to write a novel about her grandmother Catherine Hotchkiss Burroughs Kneeland (1814–1896), who was orphaned at age five. I inherited Catherine’s memoirs and am currently writing a historical biography about her adventures.
Fall Book Sale
20% off Great Migration & Mayflower Books
Commemorate Thanksgiving with a 20% discount on Great Migration and Mayflower titles from American Ancestors! Save on journals, puzzles, and books--including Robert Charles Anderson’s Great Migration volumes. Use code GMMayflower25 at checkout. Offer ends November 24, exclusions apply. Shop Now
20% Off A British Country House Alphabet: A Historical & Pictorial Journey, Volume 1
A British Country House Alphabet: A Historical & Pictorial Journey by Curt DiCamillo is a series of three high-quality hardback volumes that will enchant readers. The series uses the alphabet to frame the astonishing variety of material, with the first available volume covering letters “A” through “H.” It contains fascinating content and beautiful illustrations, presenting famous historical events or cultural innovations that are associated with specific British country houses. Receive 20% off with code AlphabetHol25. Shop Now
Mr. George Rex, “The Last Slave” Archivists at New York City’s Municipal Archives recently found a notation in an 1885 death record that referred to George Rex as “The Last Slave” in his community. Further research filled out his story.
The Florentine Diamond Resurfaces after 100 Years in Hiding “A legendary jewel of the Hapsburg dynasty—not seen since 1919 and thought lost, stolen or recut—has actually been safe in a Canadian bank for decades.” (The reporter’s insider view of this story is here
Spotlight: Sandwich Town Archives, Sandwich Library, Massachusetts
by Valerie Beaudrault
The town of Sandwich is located on Cape Cod in Barnstable County, Massachusetts. The Sandwich Library has made a collection of historical newspapers from the town archives available in its Community History Archive. The collection comprises more than 102,000 pages from twenty different newspapers titles, including: The Sandwich Enterprise (1997-2025), Sandwich Broadsider (1988-1999), The Village Broadsider (1974-1988), The Sandwich Independent (1895-1932), The Sandwich Observer (1884-1899), and The Seaside Press (1873-1880). In addition to the newspaper databases, the archive offers Sandwich property valuations (2022) and OnCapeMagazine (2023). The databases can be searched by keyword or browsed.
New Database: R. Stanton Avery Special Collections: Family Registers and Bible Records
We are excited to announce the R. Stanton Avery Special Collections: Family Registers and Bible Records database. This database is an ongoing project available on our Digital Library and Archives, and more volumes will be added as they are completed. To date, this database contains 63,127 names and 31,990 records. This database is available to Individual-Level American Ancestors members only. 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
