Historical Records

The 1870 census was the first time farmers fell below 50% of American wage earners. Even then, they were still close, at 47.7%. By 1920, farmers were less than one third of the American population. Between 1870 and 1920, 11 million Americans migrated to cities. Learn about the events that spurred this migration and changed our ancestors from rural to urban dwellers and how to reconstruct their stories.

Learn how to use the free Google Earth Web platform to create and share engaging, interactive, multimedia stories that follow the footsteps of your ancestors. Although both the web and desktop versions have Google Earth in their name, they are very different. Learn how to navigate the platform interface, add multimedia content to your digital story, share your digital family history story, and preserve it. We will also discuss best practices for planning your Google Earth Web story. No coding skills needed!

OldNews.com serves as MyHeritage’s focal point for historical newspapers. This recently added website is an incredible pipeline of additional content and features and will become the number one online repository of international historical newspapers beyond the English-speaking world. Come and learn how to use this valuable tool to enhance the depth of your genealogical research.

A detailed look at the origin and development of the American Genealogical and Biographical Index, along with detailed instructions on how to access it today.

Was your ancestor listed in a School Census? Count yourself lucky if they were because you may just find their full names, birthdates, and the answers to family mysteries that have eluded you. Learn what they covered and the purpose, when they were made, and where to find those that still exist.

Whether researching a Depression-era ancestor or looking for historical context, there’s likely to be something of interest to you in the records of the Works Progress Administration. This lecture explores a wide range of WPA projects that have special interest to genealogists and researchers including historical records surveys and some of the most comprehensive studies of American life that have ever been conducted. Also covered is how to access the WPA’s published works as well as those that remain as unpublished manuscripts.

Early surveys can often resolve issues of burned or unindexed records. Learn how to follow a specific property and the individuals involved, while building a more complete story of that land.

Using gravestone clues to grow your family tree may be one of genealogy’s best-kept secrets! Gravestones function as a journal of sorts – one written in stone. Do you have some brick walls in your family tree? A trip to the cemetery may be just the thing to help you break through! In this webinar, you will learn 12 ways to use gravestone clues to grow your family tree.

The more research you do, the more unusual records you find, and the more you learn about possibilities for solving seemingly difficult genealogical problems. Enjoy ten favorite sources and learn how they helped solve mysteries. After this webinar, you will be primed to get beyond censuses, vital records, and passenger manifests!