Whether you're heading to Washington, D.C. for a vacation or family history research, your trip is not complete without a visit to the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum. Founded on the premise of being a "permanent living memorial to the victims of the Holocaust" by an act of Congress, the Museum opened to the public in April 1993. Located just a short distance from the National Mall, the austere façade welcomes those seeking to gain knowledge on this tragic chapter in world history.For … [Read more...]
Civil War Pension Files Research Tips
The Civil War was fought in the United States from 1861-1864, and approximately 622,000 Americans served on either the Union (Northern) or Confederate (Southern) side. Afterwards, a provision was set up for Union soldiers or their surviving dependents to receive pensions from the federal government, though the qualifications to receive one varied through the years. Until the 1890s, only those soldiers who had incurred an injury or permanently debilitating illness as a result of their military … [Read more...]
Public Libraries: Local Treasures for Genealogy Research
When you think about places you can search for your family, how often do you remember your local public library, or more importantly, the one near where your ancestor lived?Public libraries can be one of the most overlooked resources in family history research, and are one of the most valuable. Even the smallest one might hold the largest historical collection in the surrounding area.Most people visit libraries for their general offerings. Accessibility to books and magazines, rental … [Read more...]
Legacy Tree Onsite: Allen County Public Library in Fort Wayne, Indiana
Legacy Tree Genealogists works with onsite researchers around the globe. Our editor, Christy, recently traveled to Indiana for a genealogy conference and didn't miss the opportunity to research at this fantastic repository while there. Check out her thoughts!Fort Wayne, Indiana is home to one of the largest genealogical libraries in the country. The Allen County Public Library (ACPL) is most well-known in genealogical circles as the home of the Periodical Source Index (PERSI), an important … [Read more...]
How to Prepare for a Family History Trip
After identifying and documenting your ancestry (including the crucial step of determining your family’s foreign hometown), a natural next goal might be to visit the sites, scenes, and places where your ancestors lived and died. Genealogy and research tours can be exciting and enlightening, but require ample preparation. Paul Woodbury, Legacy Tree’s Outreach Manager and genetic genealogist, has made several such trips of his own. Below, he shares some tips both from his personal experience and … [Read more...]
Legacy Tree Onsite: Archives in Adelaide, South Australia!
Legacy Tree Genealogists works with researchers all across the world to access records for our clients. We asked Benjamin from Park Holme to give us insight into doing archival research in South Australia. Check it out!As we mentioned in a previous post, South Australia is blessed with so many major archives located in close proximity to each other. That article contained a discussion of the Lutheran Archives located just outside of the Adelaide city limits. Presented here is a rundown on … [Read more...]
Legacy Tree Onsite: The Family History Library
The rapid expansion of internet digitization projects and genealogy websites means that, now more than ever, genealogy can be generally be done and done well using a variety of online sources accessible to researchers (both professional and hobbyist) from the comfort of their own homes. From vital records to newspapers and wills, there has never been a better or easier time in history to work on your family tree. Many genealogists who have been in the industry since before the advent of the … [Read more...]
Why You Should Never Neglect the Newspapers
One underutilized genealogical source of information that can aid in extending family pedigrees is newspapers. It is well known, for example, that obituaries can provide family names and often maiden or married names of females that might otherwise be difficult to trace. However, obituaries are not and should not be the only sorts of articles sought. Newspapers in general add historical context to the lives of ancestors and report on other non-vital events – some significant, and some more … [Read more...]
Legacy Tree Onsite: The State Archive of Hamburg, Germany
Legacy Tree Genealogists works with researchers all over the world to access records. We asked Rieke from Germany to write this post, discussing what it's like to conduct research at the State Archive of Hamburg. Take a look!Family history research in Germany can be very confusing because of the bureaucratic and variable complex structures of the different types of archives. The organization and preservation of documents is not consistent, which sometimes makes locating a repository for the … [Read more...]
Legacy Tree Onsite: The Chodovec Archive Complex, Czech Republic
Legacy Tree Genealogists works with researchers all over the world to access records. We asked Helena from the Czech Republic to write this post, discussing what it’s like to research at the Chodovec Archive Complex in Prague. Take a look!At the outskirts of Prague, you can find a giant building complex housing three large archives – three genealogical eggs in one basket! Completed in 2001, it has research rooms, conference halls, exhibition areas and even a cinema hall, and is … [Read more...]
