A new law enacted in March 2025 may render some of the information below inaccurate. Legacy Tree Genealogists’ Sarah Gutmann was excited to have stumbled upon a record that could potentially change the narrative of her family’s history. In this article, she describes her journey toward dual citizenship to pay homage to her family’s Italian heritage. For eight decades my grandpa believed his father, Joseph Fraggetta was a first-generation American. Despite this claim, I could not find my … [Read more...]
Ask a Genealogist: Tracing Ancestry in Spain
We sat down with Katy Barnes to discuss research in Spain. She spent seven years as a senior editor and researcher with Legacy Tree Genealogists, with a wide range of geographic specialties, and has a degree in family history and genealogy. What interested you in genealogy and specifically research into Spain? I've always loved history, writing, and other topics that frequently intersect with genealogy, such as politics, culture, and law. I discovered genealogy as a hobby in high school, … [Read more...]
Ask a Genealogist: Exploring Your Cherokee Heritage
Michelle Carroll uses a combination of genetic genealogy and traditional research to help clients break through genealogy brick walls. In addition to holding a certificate in genealogical research from Boston University, her diverse background has resulted in a breadth of genealogical knowledge including Cherokee, African American, French Canadian/Acadian, and Norwegian ancestry. What got you interested in genealogy? I became interested in genealogy when I was in grade school and … [Read more...]
Guest Blog: My Genealogy Travels and Research
A family tree has many branches and researching ancestors can be an ongoing process. In fact, nearly half of our clients order additional genealogy research projects to answer more questions about their family history. One client, Norman E. “Ned” Donoghue, II, embarked on a quest to trace his ancestry half a century ago and has enjoyed learning more about his family’s past. When he wanted to extend his ancestry beyond his own available resources, he reached out to Legacy Tree Genealogists and … [Read more...]
Mykoseki.com: A Helpful Site for Japanese Genealogy Research
The month of May was Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month. Ryan Rockwood, who specializes in Japanese genealogy research, discusses a relative newcomer to the Japanese research space that has already become a go-to resource for Japanese ancestry: Mykoseki.com. Mykoseki.com is a not-for-profit website geared towards helping people of Japanese descent request and access their ancestor’s koseki, or family register. The koseki record is the primary place vital information has been … [Read more...]
Joining a Lineage or Ethnic Society?
Family history societies, also known as genealogical societies, are organizations where members benefit from their love of genealogy by connecting with others to share research, experience, and knowledge. They are especially helpful because of the access to records and resources that they provide, such as birth, marriage, death, migration, and other biographical information. Societies typically have a focus and range from very small, local organizations to others with hundreds of thousands of … [Read more...]
What Can You Do with Legacy Tree Genealogists’ Research? Meet Some of Our Affiliates!
Since 2004, Legacy Tree Genealogists has had the privilege of helping thousands of clients around the world discover their family history. Once you have completed a research project with us, you can share your family history in new ways. Many of our affiliate partners offer a variety of services that complement the genealogy services that we provide. In this blog, we are highlighting just a few of our newest affiliates. We encourage you to visit their websites and explore some of the great … [Read more...]
Uncovering Hidden Jewels in British Isles Genealogy Research
Legacy Tree Genealogists’ Sharon McWilliams specializes in British Isles genealogy research. In this article, she discusses enlightening resources, or “hidden jewels,” in London that may help you trace your family history in the British Isles. The National Archives is now open to the public, but for those of us who can’t make the trip to Kew, there are millions of digital records available online at The National Archives Discovery Catalogue. Records that have been digitized can be downloaded … [Read more...]