This article was published on the FamilySearch Blog by Amie Tennant Exploring your African American heritage has historically presented challenges, especially before 1870, when records rarely mentioned the names of enslaved people. However, it is becoming increasingly easier to uncover these histories. A growing number of databases, indexes, and digital collections are now making it… Read More Slave Names: Finding the Formerly Enslaved
Note: This article was previously published by Bob Taylor on The Family History Guide Blog. When we focus on our family history research, we often think only about finding documents and records. Photographs can be a valuable research tool, providing clues that match people with locations, events, and other people. The Family History Guide has… Read More Using Photos for Research
My name is Asher Bell. I would like to share a pioneer story from my family history. The story I want to share is about my four times great grandpa. His name was Peter Janse. On December 23, 1911, two Mormon missionaries came to the home of Peter and Gertie Janse in Middleburg, Holland. After sincere… Read More Weeping to Whisperings from Beyond
We remember the stories of pioneers because they remind us that we, too, can overcome the trials and hardships that life throws our way. Pioneer Day, celebrated on July 24 each year in Utah, USA, is a state holiday that honors early pioneers who migrated to and settled in the Western United States, particularly Utah.… Read More Celebrate Pioneer Day by Finding Your Pioneer Ancestors
In May 2024, my wife Joy and I travelled to England to search for and meet our ancestors, both living and deceased. My great-great grandparents on my mother’s side, Lucy Clayton and Thomas Bullock, were early converts to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Preston area of Manchester, England. In May… Read More Pathway to Meeting My English Ancestors
By FamilySearch July 2025 Recently, FamilySearch expanded its free online archives with over 30 million new records from 8 countries. Some exciting additions include 16 million civil registrations from Italy, 5 million cemetery records from Brazil, and nearly 1 million deceased physician records from the American Medical Association (AMA). Other countries with significant record additions… Read More New Historical Records from 8 Countries | July 2025
Years ago, Elder Wilford W. Anderson gave a talk asking if when we danced, could we hear the music? He recited the story of an elderly Native American visiting an emergency room and a young doctor asked, “How can I help you?” The elderly gentleman looked straight ahead and said nothing. The doctor tried again, explaining that… Read More Can You Hear the Music?
In May 2024, my wife Joy and I traveled to England to search for and meet our ancestors, both living and deceased. My great-great grandfather Thomas Bullock was an early convert to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Preston area of Manchester. As I have reviewed my family history, I’ve always… Read More Meeting My English Relative Charles Hall
This article was previously published on June 17, 2023, by Sister Janet Helland, currently serving in the Takoradi Ghana Mission A Perfect Gift for Father’s Day Many articles have been written about how to take meaningful family history trips with your family. It is worth a reminder that a “road trip” might just be the perfect… Read More Road Trip with Dad
Note: On June 1, 2025, this article appeared previously on the Family History Guide Blog. It’s a familiar theme: when we see something in print, we often view it as authoritative, especially if it comes from a source we are familiar with. But not all genealogical records are of equal value, and some may even… Read More The Value of Original Records
