Category: Research and Resources
Posts that discuss specific books or databases for finding information about ancestors.
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The story behind the book You can get your copy here: Hardcover (only): $38.10 I don’t remember when I first learned about Grandpa John’s book of poems, but I feel like I remember the adults – Dad, Aunt Vicki, Grandma Nancy, and Grandpa Bob – were standing between me and Grandma’s swimming pool at the…
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posted Friday, October 28, 2016 Note: if you care to revisit the original version of this post from 2016, you will note a few major changes: If you happen to be one of Prof’s Progeny, drop me a note, or leave a comment! Prof’s Progeny In our earlier post, 20th Century Callin Clan, we recounted…
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Taking a moment for a little shameless self-promotion I first encountered the term “hoardings” in England, where I took it to mean the same thing as a billboard. But “advertising hoardings” refers to the large boards erected around a construction site, which can prominently feature printed graphics and designs. And that seems an appropriate description…
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What to expect when you’re expecting collaboration By now, you may have noticed that I love using WikiTree. I do my original research primarily using my Ancestry membership (which is expensive and not an option for everyone), and then take what I learn about each family/relative and craft it into a biographical profile on WikiTree…
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Behind the curtain at Mightier Acorns At the risk of sounding pleased with myself, I wanted to share some of the habits and organization that go into this newsletter. Folks new to writing often start a project like this only to tire of the constant deadlines. They may feel like they’ve run out of things…
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Taking stock of the journey so far We have been climbing a ladder of evidence for a couple of months now – a metaphorical ladder leaning against the side of one of my “family palm trees”. The first several rungs felt like very solid footing, but the last three have been increasingly shaky. Depending on…
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A tour of an excellent secondary source Let’s do a little bit of math, just for fun. (A thing my math teachers would never have predicted I would say.) Starting with “one” – that’s you – and working backward through preceding generations, you have probably already noticed how each generation doubles in size. You, your…
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Sometimes it’s okay to fantasize I spend a lot of time on this blog emphasizing the importance of evidence and critical thinking in assembling a factual family history. But as some of my Substack friends will tell you, context and the construction of a narrative are also important elements for telling your family’s story. CuZens…
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A valentine for my surname A couple of weeks ago, I had some unexpected time off (thanks, persistent pandemic!) and since my brain was still functional, I decided to use that time to launch a One-Name Study for my surname on WikiTree. (This post is short because I want you to follow that link.) I…
Mightier Acorns 