For families with roots in historic Süd Tirol (now Trentino-Alto Adige, Italy), tracing ancestors often requires more than searching online family trees. Because this region belonged to the Austrian Empire until after World War I, records may appear in German or Italian, and the most valuable genealogical evidence is frequently found in Catholic parish registers, not modern civil records. Our team recently worked with a family hoping to learn more about an ancestor from this fascinating Alpine … [Read more...]
Beyond the Percentages: Reclaiming Identity, Culture, and Birthright with AfricanAncestry.com
What does it mean to truly know where you come from? For many Black Americans, tracing family roots eventually hits a historical "brick wall"—the painful disruption of the transatlantic slave trade. In a powerful, deeply personal conversation, lineage researcher Adrienne Abiodun sat down with Dr. Gina Paige, co-founder of AfricanAncestry.com, to discuss how genetic genealogy is tearing down those walls. From the evolving celebration of Juneteenth to the profound emotional realities of DNA … [Read more...]
Tracking an Elusive Entrepreneur: Interwar Business Genealogy
From Textiles to the Racetrack: Tracking an Elusive Early 20th-Century Entrepreneur Across the Midwest Image created by Gemini, 26 May 2026. Every family history project presents its own distinct challenges, but few are as captivating as tracing a relative who constantly shifted occupations and moved across state lines. When our team was approached to investigate a relative rumored to have spent the Interwar period producing entertainment events across multiple states, we knew this required … [Read more...]
How to Use Historical Newspapers for Genealogy Research
Did your ancestors make the news? Many record groups used by genealogists are documents created under the direction of a government or church organization. They have regular rules they follow, and you can quickly learn what to expect from them. For example, the U.S. Census has been taken every ten years since 1790 and each entry in them has the same kind of information. Historical newspapers tend to break the mold as a record group—with not only diversity of content but also a multitude of … [Read more...]
Preserving Family History: Beyond Names and Dates
When we think of genealogy, we often picture sprawling family trees, census records, and birth dates. But true family history is so much richer than that. It is found in the faded photographs, the quirky keepsakes, and the hilarious, heartwarming, and sometimes heartbreaking stories that are passed down from generation to generation. In a recent episode of The Legacy Tree Podcast, host Mandy sat down with two incredible guests who are experts at capturing these very things: Heather Nickerson, … [Read more...]
The 442nd Regiment Combat Team: Honoring Japanese American Bravery and Legacy
The generation of Americans who survived the Great Depression and enlisted during World War II has often been called the “Greatest Generation.” Their stories of sacrifice, patriotism, and achievement are legion. Among them, the Japanese American soldiers of the 442nd Regimental Combat Team exemplified these qualities with extraordinary courage and devotion. U.S. Army promotional pamphlet, 1943. Courtesy Wikimedia Commons. Isolationism and Immigration Between 1639 and 1852, Japan practiced … [Read more...]
Obon: The Japanese Festival of Reverencing Ancestors
Whether it’s Mexico’s Dia de los Muertos, Guatemala’s Kite Festival, or the multinational Christian holiday of All Saint’s Day, many countries and cultures have holidays and festivals dedicated to reverencing, celebrating, and remembering those who have come before. Japan’s version of this celebration, a summer festival called Obon, provides an opportunity for millions of Japanese people to come together as families and communities to pay respect to and better connect with their ancestors … [Read more...]
Meet Jennifer, Project Manager for Legacy Tree Genealogists
Jennifer is a Project Manager at Legacy Tree Genealogists, where she combines a lifelong love of storytelling with a passion for helping people uncover their roots. Her journey into genealogy began in 2020 when she started tracing her own family tree—an adventure that led to unexpected discoveries, including traces of Coptic Egyptian and Eastern European ancestry in her predominantly Italian lineage. With a background in customer service and experience as an insurance agent, Jennifer brings … [Read more...]