Learn about the Chinese repatriation of bones and how you can uncover records related to your Chinese ancestors.The Chinese people were one of many cultures who immigrated from their homeland seeking better opportunities. Beginning in the mid-19th century, Chinese immigrants sought their fortunes in the Gold Rushes of the United States, Canada, and Australia. They significantly contributed to the labor forces by building railroads, working in mining and agriculture, and establishing … [Read more...]
Legacy Tree Onsite: Using the Bulgarian State Archives in Family History Research
Legacy Tree Genealogists works with researchers from across the globe to access records for our clients. We asked one of our onsite researchers located in Bulgaria to share an overview of the various record collections available at the Bulgarian State Archives for family history research.The Bulgarian State ArchivesBulgaria, officially the Republic of Bulgaria (Република България), occupies the eastern part of the Balkan Peninsula in southeastern Europe. The national record keeper is the … [Read more...]
Pandemonium and Family Reunions: The Best Laid Plans
Planning a family reunion? We've created a list of activities for planning the perfect family reunion - whether that's in-person or virtual!This has been a crazy and difficult year! Even if work has been stable and consistent, the kids have been out of school a lot more than usual and things at home have been chaotic. But in between the stress and the online homework, there have been happy moments too: reconnecting with those closest to us and finding ways to get together through technology … [Read more...]
DNA to the Rescue! Solving an Irish Genealogy “Brick Wall”
A case study that demonstrates how to use document evidence in conjunction with DNA evidence to resolve an Irish genealogy "brick wall". *Shared with client permissionResearchers with Irish ancestors have often thrown up their hands in despair when they learn about the massive record loss on that small island. Knowing one’s birthdate or even one’s age was not an Irish cultural value until well into the 20th century, which further complicates Irish research. “Crossing the pond” to document … [Read more...]
Legacy Tree Top 10: Best Family History Blog Articles from 2020
A countdown of the best family history blog articles from 2020.Another year has come and gone, and what a year it has been! Before we usher 2020 out the door, we want to share our countdown of the best family history blog articles from the past year. Did your favorite make the list?10. There’s a Degree in That?? Genealogical Education Opportunities9. Third Cousins Twice Removed and Consanguinity: Figuring Out How You’re Related to Your Relatives8. Understanding Your AncestryDNA … [Read more...]
Secrets of Murder: Uncovering a Family History Mystery
People often ask professional genealogists why they chose genealogy as a profession. What was the catalyst that started their journey into family history? Mine was simple: my grandparents grew up during the Great Depression in rural Alabama, and they chose not to relive those experiences and never passed on their family history to their children or grandchildren. I had been interested in my family history from a young age, but efforts to glean any information about my grandmother Marie’s … [Read more...]
A Step-by-Step Guide to Researching Historical Newspapers
For many record groups used by genealogists, there are intuitive molds of sorts for getting started. The U.S. Census is taken on the “0” year every decade. American vital records are usually documents controlled on the state level. The type and availability of church registers is determined by a denomination’s beliefs.But historical newspapers? Well, they break the mold as a record group—with not only diversity of content but also a multitude of sources that need to be used harmoniously for … [Read more...]
Legacy Tree Onsite: So, You Have an Alberta Ancestor?
Legacy Tree Genealogists works with researchers from across the globe to access records for our clients. We asked one of our onsite researchers located in Alberta, Canada to share an overview of the various archives available to research your Alberta ancestry. If you have ancestors that hail from Alberta Canada, this article will share the information you need to help you get started with research at the various archives throughout the province. If your Canadian ancestor lived in a … [Read more...]
5 Tips for Writing a Good Genealogy Report
Whether you are writing up a genealogy report for a client, for your family, or just to document your research for future researchers to understand what has already been done, writing a genealogy report can be tricky. We share five tips to writing a cohesive genealogy report.Why write a genealogy report?Most professionals will write a genealogy report, for very specific reasons. Besides helping others understand what you have learned about your ancestors, it can help you to organize your … [Read more...]
The Journey of DNA’s Inheritance Paths: X-DNA and Autosomal DNA
The stories in this article demonstrate how X-DNA and autosomal DNA can be used to solve research problems based on DNA inheritance patterns.*This article originally appeared in NGS Magazine, and is reprinted with permissionThe DNA in humans today has taken a far- ranging journey from ancestors of long ago. The stories in this column demonstrate how DNA can be used to solve research problems based on inheritance patterns. Each human has DNA, a biological code that affects many physical, … [Read more...]