Family Tree

Several months ago, I was reading thru my Family Tree Magazine and noticed an error in the list of newspapers for Kansas and Arkansas [March/April 2023, “Extra, Extra!”]. You have an Arkansas newspaper listed as the Arkansas City Traveler. Arkansas C

Genealogy how-to downloads and videos, plus PDF back-issues of Family Tree Magazine  Detailed online courses and webinars full of expert advice about key research subjects Your ticket

May saw the launch of two podcasts from experts in the genealogy field: • Finding Family DNA, hosted by the founder of BirthParentFinder and a TV anchor who was adopted, shares inspiring and poignant stories of people who

Chris Hussey never met his maternal grandfather, Frank Herbert Stacey. And his mother never said much about him. But she did show Hussey a photo of her father in a Canadian military uniform—unusual, since the family is from England. At the age of 17,

Deep dives into genetic genealogy set apart this blog from respected expert Roberta Estes. Family Tree Magazine columnist Denise Levenick specializes in preserving family heirlooms and keepsakes. <

COMPILED BY RICK CRUME Each year, we also publish a list of the best websites for each US state and territory. All of the websites here are free. See the full list (with short descriptions of each) at

Ancestry.com is constantly changing, whether it’s adding new collections or introducing new tools to help users find and analyze records. Have you seen the latest? ▸ Pro Tools: These add-ons to Member Trees unlock error-checking, additional print opt

Each online course covers the best research tips and strategies using a mix of easy-to-understand text, videos, slideshows and exercises. Consult with knowledgeable instructors, who are on-hand to answer questions and provide guidance. Learn on your

YOU MAY THINK OF WASHINGTON DC, as the denizen of only politicians, lawyers and an army of lobbyists. But the District of Columbia has evolved beyond what you might have seen in politically minded TV shows such as “The West Wing,” “Madam Secretary” o

Cyndi’s List: Washington, DC DCGenWeb DigDC FamilySearch: District of Columbia Linkpendiu

WELCOME TO WISCONSIN, WHERE THE CHEESE curds are squeaky, the lakes are plentiful, and the genealogy resources are as good as they get! Located in the United States’ Upper Midwest, Wisconsin has a diverse and vibrant history. Read on for how to resea

A trading post is established at Green Bay Frenchmen Louis Joliet and Jacques Marquette explore the Upper Mississippi River Great Britain gains France’s land east of the Mississippi The United States gains independence and British lands south of the

Archival Resources in Wisconsin digicoll.library.wisc.edu/wiarchives Cyndi’s List: Wisconsin FamilySearch Research Wiki: Wisconsin Linkpendium: Wisconsin

You don’t have to be a genealogist to love heirlooms. But if you’re the keeper of your family’s stories and history, you probably also oversee your family’s photos, documents and memorabilia. As the family archivist, you may have conscientiously orga

Walls are generally the safest place to display framed documents, photographs or art. But you’ll need to think about other environmental factors in the space before deciding where to hang your heirlooms. Here are some criteria: × Above or below a rad

Coverage: Varies by locale, but generally began in the early 1800s Jurisdiction where kept: Individual schools or (for religiously affiliated schools) parishes or dioceses; today, held by local or religious archives Key details: Age and/or birthdate;

Created for genealogists, this freemium tool helps you craft well-formatted citations. Simply choose a type of record (such as a death certificate), fill in the citation details (name, date, place, etc.) and choose a preferred

Q Which is best: Y-37, Y-111, or “Big Y-700”? A When talking about both DNA tests and chocolate, more is better. But more isn’t always prudent—for our wallets or our waist-lines. In a perfect world, we’d always choose more. But dollar signs and calor

Knowing where your ancestor was born or married is important because the majority of Italian records were created at the town or parish level. Therefore, if you don’t know your ancestor’s town of birth, it’s very difficult to find his birth record. T

Portale Antenati (Italian State Archives) Archivio di Stato di Milano (State Archives of Milan) Communi-Italiani (Italian Municipalities) Corriere Della Serra/

If you can’t find records online or on microfilm, you’ll need to request them from the Italian archive or parish with jurisdiction over your ancestor’s records. Write in Italian, referring to the letter-writing guide at

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

Back in 2021, I wrote in this column about how my wife got a new phone that I couldn’t figure out. Our phones were just different enough to confuse me whenever I tried to use hers. Already—just three years later—my wife and I both have new phones aga