Tomorrow is Thanksgiving, and that means family time. For the genealogist in the family, it is a great time to hear family stories, both new and old, get the group together for some family photographs, and as always, listen for new family history facts that you can include in your research. You are probably even going to enjoy some of your family’s favorite recipes. This Thanksgiving, our Thanksgiving table will have something on it that is not usually a part of our menu. Because of where Thanksgiving ended up on the calendar this year, my son’s birthday cake will be … Continue reading →

With the Super Bowl just a couple of weeks away, now is a good time to think about sports and how they relate to family history. Whether you have athletes in the family, sports fans, or both, it is very likely that at least some family members have an interest in sports. If you think about your relatives and what sports they like to play or watch, you may see some similarities between family members. You might also see some major differences of opinion, which can make for memorable family events if there is a game on television featuring the … Continue reading →

Whether you support the Occupy Movement, are against it, or are somehow unaware of its existence, one thing remains true. This is a historic event. Generations from now, genealogists will wonder if any of their ancestors were part of the 99%. This year, Thanksgiving was celebrated in a different way. Holidays, and the way we celebrate them, are important. Thanksgiving is usually a day that people spend with their families, in a warm and comfortable home, surrounded by plenty of good food. It is a day to give thanks for everything that we have. Genealogists can learn a lot about … Continue reading →

Imagine how difficult it would be to leave your children with other family members, and immigrate to another country, in search of a better life for your family. For one woman, it took twelve years before her family could be reunited, just in time for the holiday season. Stories about families that have been reunited are always touching. I think it is because everyone can relate to what it would be like to be far away from your family for a very long time, and how hard that would be. It seems like we hear more of these kinds of … Continue reading →

As Thanksgiving approaches, I have been reflecting on how the way that I have celebrated Thanksgiving has changed through the years. Each year has been enjoyable, but there have been a few changes along the way. When I was a child, my parents would pack my sister and I into the car and we would have a mid-day meal at one grandmother’s house and an evening meal at our other grandmother’s house. Both grandmothers lived in the same city which was near the town that we lived in, so the traveling was not a big deal. The food that was … Continue reading →

Thanksgiving is a time for being thankful for all the wonderful things in your life. Many people spend the week of Thanksgiving visiting with members of their family. Genealogists can spend this holiday hearing about, and recording, the family stories that are shared over dinner. Does your family have stories about Thanksgiving? It seems like every family has some Thanksgiving traditions that they do each and every year. Maybe everyone meets for Thanksgiving dinner at grandma’s house. Your family might spend Thanksgiving day itself at the home of your parent’s, and the day before, or day after, visiting with your … Continue reading →