Are you looking for some genealogy projects to work on in June? June is especially suited to certain genealogical projects. Here are ten of them to do.

The post 10 “Must-Do” Genealogy Projects for June 2026 appeared first on Ancestral Findings.

When you sit down to write about an ancestor, you may have plenty of records in front of you, but still feel unsure how to turn them into something people will want to read. Census records, deeds, wills, military files, church registers, photographs, letters, and family notes can give you the facts, but a narrative […]

The post Tips for Writing Compelling Family History Narratives appeared first on Ancestral Findings.

The National Archives can be one of the best places to turn to when you are trying to take family history research beyond names, dates, and family stories. It holds federal records, which can place an ancestor within the larger work of the United States government. That may include military service, pensions, immigration, naturalization, federal […]

The post Questions To Ask Before Using The National Archives appeared first on Ancestral Findings.

Looking for a record on your ancestor? This week’s featured genealogy databases are now available. Click through and submit a free lookup request.

The post This Week’s Free Genealogy Lookups appeared first on Ancestral Findings.

Memorial Day is a significant day in American history, holding a special place in the hearts of many. Understanding its origins, traditions, and evolution can deepen our appreciation for this day of remembrance, honoring those who have given the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom.

The post Memorial Day: Stories Behind the Sacrifice appeared first on Ancestral Findings.

Tracing an immigrant ancestor requires more than simply finding a ship manifest or a naturalization certificate.  People crossing borders often changed or anglicized their names, traveled with relatives, and may have filed citizenship papers in multiple courts.  This section explains how to use U.S. federal records, port records, naturalization files, and modern research techniques to trace migrants […]

The post Immigration and Naturalization Records appeared first on Ancestral Findings.

Book Giveaway Countdown Who Do You Think You Are? Giveaway ends June 1 at midnight 00 Days 00 Hours 00 Minutes 00 Seconds This giveaway has ended. Stay tuned for more genealogy book giveaways. I’m giving away a copy of Who Do You Think You Are?: The Essential Guide to Tracing Your Family History by Megan Smolenyak. […]

The post Who Do You Think You Are? (Book Giveaway) appeared first on Ancestral Findings.

At some point in every family history, progress slows down. You follow the records, build timelines, confirm relationships, and then you reach a place where nothing new appears. The trail fades. The records seem to stop. The same searches return the same results. This is what genealogists call a brick wall. Brick walls are not […]

The post Breaking Brick Walls in Genealogy Research appeared first on Ancestral Findings.

As your family history begins to take shape, there comes a point where you need more than timelines and patterns. Census records help you follow families across time, but they do not always prove relationships on their own. Names appear together. Ages line up. Locations make sense. But without stronger evidence, those connections remain likely […]

The post Vital Records for Genealogy Research appeared first on Ancestral Findings.

By the time you reach this stage in your research, your family tree should have a solid structure. You have used census records to follow families across time. You have used vital records to confirm key relationships. Names, dates, and places are starting to come together in a clear way. Now the work shifts. Basic […]

The post Land, Probate, and Military Records in Genealogy appeared first on Ancestral Findings.

Every family history begins close to home. Before you search old courthouse books, census pages, ship lists, military files, or newspaper archives, you begin with the people you already know. You begin with your own name, your parents, your grandparents, and the stories that have been carried through your family. That may not feel like […]

The post Starting Your Family History the Right Way appeared first on Ancestral Findings.

You can trace your family history by starting genealogy today. Darth Vader knows how to do it.

The post Darth Vader’s Guide to Genealogy appeared first on Ancestral Findings.

Are you looking for genealogy projects to keep your research moving in May? Here are ten suggestions for your research you will love.

The post 10 “Must-Do” Genealogy Projects for May appeared first on Ancestral Findings.

If you had to choose one record set to build a family history, the United States census would be it. No other source tracks families so consistently over time. Taken every ten years, the census creates a timeline that allows you to follow individuals, households, and entire communities across generations. For many researchers, the census […]

The post Census Records: The Backbone of American Genealogy appeared first on Ancestral Findings.

DNA testing has changed family history in a way few people could have imagined even twenty years ago. It used to be that most people built a family tree with census records, obituaries, marriage licenses, cemetery stones, and whatever stories had been passed down at reunions or holiday dinners. That kind of research could still […]

The post Should You Tell Your Family What DNA Testing Revealed? appeared first on Ancestral Findings.

DNA genealogy is one of the most misunderstood parts of family history research. A lot of people buy a test thinking it will hand them a finished family tree, point to every ancestor they ever had, and carry them back through the centuries with very little effort. That is not how it works. DNA testing […]

The post How DNA Genealogy Really Works appeared first on Ancestral Findings.

Are you looking for some productive genealogy projects to do for April? As the first full month of spring, April offers some interesting and unique genealogy opportunities that just don't fit in as well during other months of the year. If you want to stay on top of things in your genealogy research, these are the projects that should definitely be on your "to-do" list this month. Enjoy them.

The post 10 “Must-Do” Genealogy Projects for April appeared first on Ancestral Findings.

This offer is valid from April 9th through April 13th.

The post Exclusive 50% discount on MyHeritage’s best plan appeared first on Ancestral Findings.

Looking back on last month Last month was one of those good, steady months in family history when I didn’t uncover any huge surprises, but I still got a lot done. I didn’t add a long line of new names just to make the tree bigger. I didn’t solve every question that’s been sitting there […]

The post What I Accomplished Last Month in My Family History appeared first on Ancestral Findings.

The founding of the United States is often treated as a closed chapter, something contained in a handful of documents, a few familiar names, and a short list of dates that everyone is expected to know. That version is easy to recognize, but it is much smaller than the real story. The founding did not […]

The post Remembering the Founding, From 1776 to 2026 appeared first on Ancestral Findings.