May/June 2024

Family Tree

The Leading Family History Magazine

Family Tree1 min read
Family Tree
Editor Andrew Koch Art Director Julie Barnett Digital Editor Melina Papadopoulos New Media Editor Rachel Christian eLearning Producer Amanda Epperson Contributing Editors Lisa A. Alzo, Rick Crume, David A. Fryxell, Nancy Hendrickson, Sunny Jane Morto
Family Tree1 min read
Out On A Limb
At my cousin’s wedding, the father of the bride shared a quote from author J.R.R. Tolkien in his toast: “All that is gold does not glitter/Not all those who wander are lost/The old that is strong does not wither/Deep roots are not reached by the fros
Family Tree3 min read
What’s New
More than 100 million record images at FamilySearch that were previously unindexed are now searchable thanks to new developments in artificial intelligence . FamilySearch trained AI to “read” the full text of US
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5 QUESTIONS with: Crista Cowan - Corporate Genealogist, Ancestry
ANCESTRY IS ONE of the biggest genealogy companies, offering billions of online records, a family tree-building platform, and a network of millions of users and DNA test-takers. Crista Cowan, also known as the Barefoot Genealogist, celebrates her 20t
Family Tree2 min read
Homecoming
Rochelle McNorton descends from a group of families who migrated from Virginia to Ohio in 1844. Theirs was an unusual story. The 56 members weren’t just finding a new home; they were also finding freedom. Their enslaver, Virginian Thacker V. Webb, co
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Time Capsules
The Ellis Island Museum opened the American Immigrant Wall of Honor in 1990 as way of supporting the Statue of Liberty—Ellis Island Foundation. Initially, the wall commemorated those who arrived through Ellis Island (or descendants of those immigrant
Family Tree9 min read
Budget Booking
Traveling for genealogical research and finding our ancestors’ homes, farms and faith communities can be enriching. There’s nothing quite like seeing the original baptismal font in your ancestral family’s church, or standing on the land your family f
Family Tree1 min read
Your Travel Pre-Check
• Which ancestors lived in this place, and when?• What country is the place part of today?• What language(s) do the locals speak? Will I need a guidebook or translator?• Do I need a passport to travel? If so, is mine up to date?• Am I up to date on a
Family Tree11 min read
Tour Guides
Many people dream about their ultimate vacation destinations. Cruising in the Bahamas. Skiing in the Alps. Paris in the spring. Genealogists often daydream about more … unusual vacations. Bucket-list destinations include obscure ancestral hometowns a
Family Tree5 min read
ON the ROAD AGAIN
San Francisco, Calif. The “Ellis Island of the West,” Angel Island Immigration Station received some 500,000 immigrants between 1910 and 1940, most of them from countries in Asia (notably China, Japan and India). A museum
Family Tree7 min read
New Hampshire
NEW HAMPSHIRE, ONE OF THE ORIGINAL Thirteen Colonies, is known as the Granite State. Its motto, “Live Free or Die,” represents the fierce independence of its people. And its first-in-the-nation status in presidential primary elections reflects its hi
Family Tree7 min read
North Dakota
YOU MIGHT FIND YOURSELF SURPRISED WHEN traveling along I-94 between Fargo and Valley City. Amid flat, prairie farmland, you will come across a sign saying, “Continental Divide.” Despite what you might expect, that sign is entirely accurate. “The” Con
Family Tree1 min read
Find Your U.S. Ancestors
Each state-by-state guide includes: Notes on how and when key documents were kept in the state, including vital records, state censuses and land records Narrative history with special emphasis on events that affected your ancestors, including year of
Family Tree8 min read
National Myths
The National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) is the caretaker of records the United States government has deemed critical to retain permanently, for legal or historical purposes. As of January 2024, NARA holds more than 13.5 billion paper
Family Tree8 min read
Jolly Old England
Over the past few years (as we’ve been hibernating and dealing with COVID-19), a lot has changed in English genealogy research. Obtaining original records from England is cheaper and quicker than ever before. Large indexes name everyone (or almost ev
Family Tree1 min read
Genealogy At A Glance
• Key facts, figures and dates about the most important genealogy topics• An easy-to-read format perfect for quick reference and for storing with research documents• A roundup of websites and books you can consult for further reading Download today <
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Treetips
LOOK FOR SUBSTITUTE RECORDS, especially when you’re struggling to find a specific document for your ancestor. Multiple sources can provide the same details—don’t think you’ve hit a brick wall just because you can’t find the most obvious. Consider wha
Family Tree1 min read
An Emma Dilemma
> Have a photo mystery you’d like Maureen to investigate? Email FamilyTree@Yankeepub.com with your photo, any details you know about it (including links to online trees), and Photo Detective in the subject line, and your question may be selected for
Family Tree6 min read
Pension Records
Did your ancestor serve in the military during the Revolutionary War, War of 1812 or Civil War? If so, look for a pension record related to his service. Military pension records are some of the richest family history resources available, often contai
Family Tree3 min read
Searching American Ancestors
American Ancestors is the website of the New England Historic Genealogical Society, the oldest genealogical society in the United States. The site boasts 1.4 billion records and several free resources, making it a must-use
Family Tree3 min read
Saving Baby Blankets and Quilts
1 Determine the style—knit, crocheted, or stitched? A hand-knit or -crocheted blanket requires different care from a sewn fabric quilt. What do you have? The material used to make the piece (see No. 2) is one clue. Yarn baby blankets (also called afg
Family Tree3 min read
Now What?
Q How can I find a record of a stillbirth in New York? A As with other vital records in New York, the answer depends on whether the event occurred. Different counties adopted record-keeping at different times, and New York City has kept its vital rec
Family Tree1 min read
Free Digital Libraries
Anyone can search this all-digital library with millions of contributions from US repositories. Search using keywords and Boolean operators; refine results by copyright status, type (format), subject and more. Watch for items from the Nationa
Family Tree2 min read
Color-Coding DNA Matches
Q Why would I color-code DNA matches? A Color-coding DNA matches, sometimes called match-labeling (or a dot system), can maximize your research time and ensure you’re focusing on the DNA matches that matter most. Databases at test companies continue
Family Tree2 min read
Research Trip Packing List
◻ street map of destination ◻ address and contact details for each stop ◻ driving directions to and from each stop ◻ GPS or smartphone ◻ fanny pack/tote bag ◻ research binder with copies of ancestor charts and family group sheets ◻ to-do list of reso
Family Tree1 min read
Ellis Island Research
1892–1954: years of operation 12 million unique immigrants processed, 71% of all US arrivals between 1892 and 1924 11,000 immigrants processed per day at its peak, in 1907 40% of Americans today who trace their ancestry through Ellis Island $170 mill
Family Tree2 min read
Tips For Ellis Island Research
Because Ellis Island is iconic, many families claim descendancy from an arrival there. But Ellis Island only operated between 1892 and 1954. (See the myths below.) Know, too, that many first- and second-class passengers didn’t even set foot on Ellis
Family Tree2 min read
Timeline Of Ellis Island History
New York merchant Samuel Ellis purchases the island that now bears his name. Ellis Island comes under federal jurisdiction. The US Army and Navy use it variously over the next few decades, dubbing a fort built there “Fort Gibson.” The US government r
Family Tree3 min read
Tutorial: Passenger List Search
The Statue of Liberty—Ellis Island Foundation has a database of 65 million passenger records from the port of New York City . Covering 1820 to 1957, the collection includes all years that Ellis Island was active. Create
Family Tree1 min read
Castle Garden, 1855–1890
If your “Ellis Island” ancestor arrived in New York City between 1855 and 1890, they were actually processed at Castle Garden. Originally built in 1811 as Fort Clinton, Castle Garden was the nation’s first immigration station. The site has also funct
Family Tree1 min read
Visiting Ellis Island
Today, Ellis Island is a popular destination for both historians and the general public. Hop on a ferry from Manhattan’s Battery Park or New Jersey’s Liberty State Park to visit. Attractions include the National Museum of Immigration (which has self-
Family Tree1 min read
Resources
“A Guide to Interpreting Passenger List Annotations” by Marian L. Smith, et al. “Ellis Island Records: Search Guide to EllisIsland.org and More” by Rick Crume

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