The Legacy Tree Genealogists Blog

Hand-picked, tested and trained, our professional genealogist team knows how to find your story. We search the world for answers. Find the un-findable. And we’re experts at everything from tracking down rare international records to analyzing DNA test results. Based near the world’s largest family history library in downtown Salt Lake City, we also work with researchers and archives around the globe. Contact us today if you would like help discovering your ancestors!

Tragedy and the Importance of Historical Context

November 21, 2014 by Elly - Legacy Tree Genealogists Project Manager 3 Comments

Encountering tragedy is common in family history research, and understanding the historical context can make the events even more personable to us. Learn how to research beyond names and dates to discover the stories of your ancestors.In doing genealogical research, it’s extremely important to look beyond the bare-bones names and dates of your ancestors, and learn about the culture, history, and events that took place during their lives. If we neglect this vital piece of the puzzle, there will often be crucial elements to our ancestors’ story that we will miss. The tragic story of the Bruse family is a lesson in this principle.The Bruse FamilyIn June of 1870, August Bruse and his wife Sophia lived with their five children, ages seven to twenty-one, in Peshtigo, Oconto (now Marinette), Wisconsin.[1] German immigrants, the family were farmers and laborers, with Sophia keeping house and the younger children at school.A little over one year later, life as they knew it was …

6 Valuable Resources for Tracing French Ancestors

November 18, 2014 by Paul - Legacy Tree Genealogists Researcher 5 Comments

These are the resources you've been searching for to trace your French ancestry! Use the tools professional genealogists use to break through century-old brick walls. One of the greatest challenges in tracing immigrant ancestors is determining their town of origin in the home country. Some records may provide clues of their nationality or ethnicity, but narrowing the search further can be difficult.Though this article deals specifically with tracing French immigrants, these principles are applicable in tracing immigrants of other nationalities as well and similar resources may exist for other areas.Finding Successful RecordsBefore attempting to pursue foreign research, all sources available in the receiving country should be consulted for clues regarding an ancestor’s place of origin. Research on any immigrant, regardless of origin, should include home sources, naturalization records, passenger lists, census records, obituaries, newspapers and local histories.Most …

Meet Carolyn, Project Manager for Legacy Tree Genealogists

November 17, 2014 by Legacy Tree Genealogists 1 Comment

Meet Carolyn, a passionate Project Manager for Legacy Tree Genealogists. Carolyn has an extensive family history of genealogy work and has been involved in various research opportunities around the country. Learn more about Carolyn!Carolyn Tolman comes from “one of those” families whose pedigree goes way back, thanks to diligent great-grandmothers who were passionate genealogists. She grew up hearing stories of her ancestors’ immigrations from Northern Europe and settlement in the untamed Wild West. She has always felt connected to them on many levels, and interested in the lives they led. All it took was an “Intro to Family History” class at Brigham Young University to convince her that genealogy was her life’s work. She graduated with a degree in Family and Community History Studies, and has gained 25 years of valuable experience researching for clients as well as her own family and friends. She is knowledgeable in both European and United States research, and has recently been …

5 Great Records About Your Military Ancestor

November 10, 2014 by Katy - Legacy Tree Genealogists Senior Researcher & Editor 4 Comments

Are you looking for a way to honor your American military ancestors this upcoming Veteran’s Day? How about using historical records to learn about them and their service? Throughout various repositories and websites, there are many different collections spanning many conflicts that you can use to find your soldier-ancestor. From the Revolution to World War II, chances are you had a family member that served – and you can find record of him! Here are some quick – but by no means comprehensive – ideas for performing military research.The options are myriad and some are more easily accessible than others. For example, during both World Wars, young men had to register for the draft. Obviously not all who filled out a card ended up serving, but they can be a fascinating resource for researching any man of appropriate age in your tree. Found on FamilySearch.org, Ancestry.com, and Fold3.com, these cards contained information ranging from birth date and place, address, employer, and even …