Many people dream about their ultimate vacation destinations. Cruising in the Bahamas. Skiing in the Alps. Paris in the spring. Genealogists often daydream about more … unusual vacations. Bucket-list destinations include obscure ancestral hometowns a

Today, Ellis Island is a popular destination for both historians and the general public. Hop on a ferry from Manhattan’s Battery Park or New Jersey’s Liberty State Park to visit. Attractions include the National Museum of Immigration (which has self-

NEW HAMPSHIRE, ONE OF THE ORIGINAL Thirteen Colonies, is known as the Granite State. Its motto, “Live Free or Die,” represents the fierce independence of its people. And its first-in-the-nation status in presidential primary elections reflects its hi

More than 100 million record images at FamilySearch that were previously unindexed are now searchable thanks to new developments in artificial intelligence . FamilySearch trained AI to “read” the full text of US

New York merchant Samuel Ellis purchases the island that now bears his name. Ellis Island comes under federal jurisdiction. The US Army and Navy use it variously over the next few decades, dubbing a fort built there “Fort Gibson.” The US government r

Over the past few years (as we’ve been hibernating and dealing with COVID-19), a lot has changed in English genealogy research. Obtaining original records from England is cheaper and quicker than ever before. Large indexes name everyone (or almost ev

Q Why would I color-code DNA matches? A Color-coding DNA matches, sometimes called match-labeling (or a dot system), can maximize your research time and ensure you’re focusing on the DNA matches that matter most. Databases at test companies continue

Rochelle McNorton descends from a group of families who migrated from Virginia to Ohio in 1844. Theirs was an unusual story. The 56 members weren’t just finding a new home; they were also finding freedom. Their enslaver, Virginian Thacker V. Webb, co

> Have a photo mystery you’d like Maureen to investigate? Email FamilyTree@Yankeepub.com with your photo, any details you know about it (including links to online trees), and Photo Detective in the subject line, and your question may be selected for

• Key facts, figures and dates about the most important genealogy topics• An easy-to-read format perfect for quick reference and for storing with research documents• A roundup of websites and books you can consult for further reading Download today <

San Francisco, Calif. The “Ellis Island of the West,” Angel Island Immigration Station received some 500,000 immigrants between 1910 and 1940, most of them from countries in Asia (notably China, Japan and India). A museum

ANCESTRY IS ONE of the biggest genealogy companies, offering billions of online records, a family tree-building platform, and a network of millions of users and DNA test-takers. Crista Cowan, also known as the Barefoot Genealogist, celebrates her 20t

American Ancestors is the website of the New England Historic Genealogical Society, the oldest genealogical society in the United States. The site boasts 1.4 billion records and several free resources, making it a must-use

The Statue of Liberty—Ellis Island Foundation has a database of 65 million passenger records from the port of New York City . Covering 1820 to 1957, the collection includes all years that Ellis Island was active. Create

1892–1954: years of operation 12 million unique immigrants processed, 71% of all US arrivals between 1892 and 1924 11,000 immigrants processed per day at its peak, in 1907 40% of Americans today who trace their ancestry through Ellis Island $170 mill

Did your ancestor serve in the military during the Revolutionary War, War of 1812 or Civil War? If so, look for a pension record related to his service. Military pension records are some of the richest family history resources available, often contai

Each state-by-state guide includes: Notes on how and when key documents were kept in the state, including vital records, state censuses and land records Narrative history with special emphasis on events that affected your ancestors, including year of

1 Determine the style—knit, crocheted, or stitched? A hand-knit or -crocheted blanket requires different care from a sewn fabric quilt. What do you have? The material used to make the piece (see No. 2) is one clue. Yarn baby blankets (also called afg

If your “Ellis Island” ancestor arrived in New York City between 1855 and 1890, they were actually processed at Castle Garden. Originally built in 1811 as Fort Clinton, Castle Garden was the nation’s first immigration station. The site has also funct

Traveling for genealogical research and finding our ancestors’ homes, farms and faith communities can be enriching. There’s nothing quite like seeing the original baptismal font in your ancestral family’s church, or standing on the land your family f

The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) is the caretaker of records the United States government has deemed critical to retain permanently, for legal or historical purposes. As of January 2024, NARA holds more than 13.5 billion paper

◻ street map of destination ◻ address and contact details for each stop ◻ driving directions to and from each stop ◻ GPS or smartphone ◻ fanny pack/tote bag ◻ research binder with copies of ancestor charts and family group sheets ◻ to-do list of reso

The Ellis Island Museum opened the American Immigrant Wall of Honor in 1990 as way of supporting the Statue of Liberty—Ellis Island Foundation. Initially, the wall commemorated those who arrived through Ellis Island (or descendants of those immigrant

LOOK FOR SUBSTITUTE RECORDS, especially when you’re struggling to find a specific document for your ancestor. Multiple sources can provide the same details—don’t think you’ve hit a brick wall just because you can’t find the most obvious. Consider wha