PBS series explores U.S. identity

Every now and then, a television project comes along that underscores the importance of genealogy, something many people are passionate about. Read More

Be curious in ancestry research

When genealogists hear that researching African-American ancestors is difficult, many who are tracing them begin to expect some degree of failure. They may even decide that whatever information is recorded about those ancestors will be found in federal censuses, city directories and one or two other sources. Read More

Newsletters keep track of issues

If you haven't considered reading genealogy newsletters, you should. Genealogists who want to keep up with the ever-widening scope of family history issues read newsletters on the Web fairly regularly. Such publications report on a variety of issues of interest to genealogists. Read More

Find clues in prison records

Every now and then, it seems an ancestor must have vanished from the face of the Earth. The family historian researches one set of records after another to find him, but he doesn't turn up. Read More

Don't pitch old records

Saved papers could be further value to others

As you flex those organizing muscles these next few weekends, pause before pitching the stacks of papers you find in attics and closets. While the old trunk holding such papers could fetch a pretty penny in this tough economy, the papers have value, too. They have a different kind of value. Read More

Web to offer local slave study data

An eagerly anticipated genealogical study destined to have a great impact on much of Lowcountry family history research should be wrapped up in a few months. Read More

Research comes a long way

While all advances made in identifying my ancestors are met with a degree of gratitude, they aren't usually shared in this column. But something happened lately that falls squarely into the category of "gift." Many family historians can identify with my situation, so I will share. Read More

Rejuvenate search in new year

In little more than a week, you'll need to decide on those genealogy resolutions for the new year. Read More

Learn how census data can be used

Family historians track ancestors in federal population censuses more than in any other documents. The information they learn from those censuses, collected every 10 years, provides the foundation for an untold number of family history research projects. Read More

Find gifts for 'genie' of family

As the new year approaches, family historians will reflect on milestones they reached in 2009 and resolve to do more in 2010. The genealogical journey never ends, so it's a safe bet that gifts that help them travel further back in time will be the best ones they receive. Read More

Maps track family history

Occasionally, I wish that several walls in my house were covered with historic maps of the communities where my ancestors lived. Having easy access to such maps would provide many opportunities for me to encounter them and study those places. Read More

Post queries on Web to get leads

Little more than a decade ago, most of my genealogical research was focused on the Bahamas and Dominica. I was searching for information on a planter who had very common first and last names. His records had quite a bit of information on my ancestors. Read More

Clues are critical to research

Genealogists can feel pretty satisfied while filling in the blanks of their family tree. We find the answer to a question. We note it. We move on to search the next set of records. Read More

Finding British ancestors

Site puts 19th-century newspapers at fingertips

Genealogists hunting for 19th-century British ancestors could find their search enhanced by a new Web site designed primarily for them. Family historians can uncover details about their ancestors by searching among the 2 million newspaper pages recently digitized and made available to the general public. Read More

Library resources aid search

Once genealogists have collected information about ancestors from family Bibles, keepsakes and interviews, they typically take their research to the next level by looking for resources outside of the home. Their first stop is usually the South Carolina Room of the local public library. Th... Read More