Letters from dead relatives, a woman who scares off her own grave robbers, an army of black cats, and more! For Halloween, we've gathered tales from our readers about the spirits of the past. Read Now
October Used Book Sale
Extra 10% Off Used Book Titles
We've refilled our shelves with hundreds of unique and hard-to-find titles! Stock up on essential resources in history and genealogy, and save an additional 10% on all used books through the end of October. Shop Now
If discount is not automatically added upon checkout, enter coupon code UB0102022 to redeem. Membership discounts do not apply to this promotion. Prices valid through 10/31/22, while supplies last.
The Weekly Genealogist Survey
This Week's Survey:
Printed Ephemeral Items in Your Family Collections
Share your thoughts about the survey at weeklygenealogist@nehgs.org. Responses may be edited for clarity and length and featured in a future newsletter.
Last Week's Survey:
Do You Belong to a Family Association?
Total: 3,782 responses
39%, Yes, I belong to at least one family association.
9% No, I used to belong to at least one family association, but I am no longer a member.
8%, No, I used to belong to at least one family association that is no longer active.
30%, No, but I would like to be involved in a family association.
19%, No, I have never belonged to a family association and I am not interested in joining one.
Readers Respond:
Wendy Callahan, Plattsmouth, Nebraska: I have been a member of the Society of Descendants of Robert Bartlett since 2001. When the newsletter editor announced in 2007 that he was looking for a replacement, I volunteered. Several years later, I also took on the role of webmaster. One of my proudest accomplishments was modernizing the website to make it cleaner and easier to navigate. When I volunteered for the newsletter at age 33, I hoped that my involvement would encourage fellow GenX genealogists to follow suit. Outreach to younger generations is so important to keep family associations moving forward, and we need to see more of it.
Charlie Bass, Corpus Christi, Texas: Years ago, at a family Christmas gathering in North Carolina, a cousin mentioned a family story that we descended from immigrants to Boston, Massachusetts. That conversation made me curious, and I began researching. When I had gathered enough material, I submitted an application to the Society of Mayflower Descendants—while the U.S. Army had me stationed in Iraq. The association has been richly profitable for further genealogical research and application to other familial hereditary organizations, who store their records into perpetuity. Also, it's been possible to share my genealogical files with many others. Genealogy is a gift given to generations not yet born.
Carol Austin, Garden Grove, California: In the 1970s, I contacted Edith Austin Moore, a founder of the Austin Families Association of America, for help completing my husband’s Austin ancestry. Edith provided vital information that enabled me to trace his ancestry to Samuel Austin of Boston. In 1994, I contacted the AFAOA to inquire about their new project to put Austin lines on the internet. I offered to add my research to their database. Thus began my association with the group. AFAOA recently celebrated the 80th anniversary of their founding. They offer free help to anyone researching the Austin surname and have a DNA project as well. I have formed many friendships with fellow Austin researchers over the years.
Harry Whitney, Labadie, Missouri: I have a very interesting family. My notable ancestors include US and state congressmen, a hero who rescued Mrs. Rowlandson from her captors, a minuteman, and the inventor of a vise—but I have never found a family association to join. I wish there was one.
Deborah “Hicks and her eight siblings are now enjoying a small window into their mother’s early teen years after looking at her wallet photos and reading the short inscriptions in her notebook, she said.”
Database News
Canadian Headstones: New Cemeteries
We're excited to announce an update to Canadian Headstones, adding 36 cemeteries from Alberta, Manitoba, and Nova Scotia. We will continue to release updates regularly over the next few months. Search Now
Spotlight: Newspaper Archive, Sidney, Nebraska
by Valerie Beaudrault
The city of Sidney is located in western Nebraska and is the seat of Cheyenne County. The Sidney Public Library's digital newspaper archive includes twelve newspapers from 1875-2021, comprising over 235,000 pages. Search by keyword across all titles or within a single newspaper, and limit results by newspaper title or date range. Individual newspapers can also be browsed. Search Now
Discover essential resources, how-to tips, and information on locating and using records to find your French-Canadian ancestors. This guide focuses on Québec. Learn More
Planning for the Future?
Your Legacy. Your Peace of Mind.
Your Free Will.
Family historians know the importance of wills for research purposes—but have you created a will for yourself? A legal will ensures that your hard work will have an impact on future generations and your legacy will be preserved. Identify beneficiaries for your assets, support the causes that are important to you, and plan for the preservation of your research through this easy and free online will creation tool from our friends at Free Will. The step-by-step guided process takes just 20 minutes or less to complete. Learn More
