Family history research lives and breathes. It involves small acts of finding, classifying, categorizing and analyzing documents and records for the evidence of our ancestors’ lives. Tap or click the stories below to read about genealogy in action.
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The Stielows and their ‘Surviving Children’
A family faces the stolen joy of child mortality in the early 20th century.
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The Connor’s Creek Tragedy: An 1860s Detroit Murder
Genealogy records reveal the misdeeds of grand larcenists, snake oil salesmen, hustlers and, sometimes, murderers.
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Genealogy in Action: Revising Conclusions Based on New Evidence
What happens when yesterday’s genealogical conclusion no longer fits today’s evidence?
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‘Men of the Throttle’: Researching Your Ancestors’ Professions
An ancestor’s profession gives valuable social clues to who they were in the time and place they lived. Tips to help you make easy work of your own research.
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Proving Canadian Citizenship Using Michigan Family Records
Thousands of Americans with Canadian ancestry are currently exploring Canadian citizenship by descent. For many families — especially those with roots in Detroit and other areas across Michigan — the records needed to prove eligibility may exist on both sides of the border. When birth records, marriage records, or direct evidence are missing or hard…
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The Tragic End of James Lynch
Research can often turn up ancestors who died in notable, even unusual, ways.
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Proving Descent from Pioneer Ancestors
What does it take to prove descent from an ancestor for heritage program, citizenship or a lineage society application?
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Pinning Your Ancestors to a Map
How to cross-reference census and other documents with historical maps.
Professional Organizing | Genealogy Research | Writing & Editing