Two Dead Presidents
On July 4, 1826, the fiftieth anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, two of America's founding fathers died. Former president Thomas Jefferson died at his Monticello estate...

Boston University Certificate in Genealogical Research Online
Boston University's new genealogy program will be expanded to include an online format this coming fall. Developed in coordination with nationally recognized experts, the Certificate in Genealogical Research is an...

Genealogy Apps for the iPhone and iPod Touch
I never thought I would say this about a cell phone, but the iPhone my husband gave me for Christmas finally has me enjoying my phone. It makes it so...

Reading Secretary Hand
The most popular handwriting style in Elizabethan Europe is a script commonly known as the Secretary Hand. This handwriting appears in official documents such as wills, deeds, and parish records,...

1911 Census for Wales Goes Online
2.4 million people in Wales were recorded in the census taken on the night of April 2, 1911. Today the records of those people living in Wales in 1911 are...

Historic Map Overlays in Google Maps
There's been a bit of discussion on genealogy mailing lists recently regarding historical overlay maps available for Google Maps. This technology has actually been in use for some time, with...

2009 Ellis Island Family Heritage Awards
Iconic quarterback Joe Namath; Nobel laureate Dr. Eric R. Kandel; comedian and producer Jerry Seinfeld; and music superstars Gloria and Emilio Estefan were the distinguished honorees recognized on May 19,...

More Counties Added to 1911 Ireland Census
An additional five counties have been added to the National Archives of Ireland's Census of Ireland 1911 Web site. Census returns for Cork, Donegal, Galway, King's County (Offaly) and Wexford...

Butcher, Baker or Candlestick Maker?
When surnames first came into popular use in 14th-century Europe, many people came to be identified by what they did for a living. A blacksmith named John, became John Smith....

Missing Evolutionary Link Found?
Google's logo today is just part of a carefully orchestrated publicity campaign unveiling what many scientists are calling the Holy Grail of human evolution; a nearly intact fossil of a...