Newspapers: A Brief History, the 5 Ws & Why I LOVE Them
By Scott Phillips on March 11, 2013
In this article, Scott Phillips explains why newspapers’ use of the “5 Ws” is tremendously helpful to genealogists.. (Read More)
Tag: history
Help Solve a Genealogy Mystery: Who Is Uncle L in My Old Photo?
By Scott Phillips on March 4, 2013
In this article, Scott Phillips asks our readers for help in deciphering the writing on the back of an old photo identifying his “Uncle L.”.. (Read More)
Rosa Parks Statue: Honoring an American Civil Rights Pioneer
By Tony Pettinato on February 28, 2013
When Rosa Parks refused to give up her seat to a white person on an Alabama bus 58 years ago, her act of defiance against racist laws sparked the Montgomery Bus Boycott and accelerated the Civil Rights Movement, forever changing America. In a ceremony Wednesday in Washington, D.C., which was attended by dozens of... (Read More)
Clues in Petitions: Did Your Ancestors Petition the Government?
By Mary Harrell-Sesniak on February 21, 2013
Introduction: Mary Harrell-Sesniak is a genealogist, author and editor with a strong technology background. In this guest blog post, Mary writes about our ancestors’ petitions to the government, an often-overlooked source of family history information. From the establishment of companies, to divorces, to relief from tobacco weighing, the right to petition the government “for... (Read More)
The Disappearance—and Mysterious Reappearance—of Matthew Brayton
By Thomas Jay Kemp on February 20, 2013
Here’s a 19th century mystery concerning a certain Matthew Brayton, who disappeared as a small boy, was held an Indian captive for 34 years, then one day reappeared. But, was it really him? This is a gripping story about a young boy being kidnapped and then returning home as an adult. You will want... (Read More)
Valentine’s Day History Facts & My Sweet Genealogy Karma
By Scott Phillips on February 14, 2013
Introduction: In this article, Scott Phillips turns to old newspapers to research the history of St. Valentine’s Day—and shares a personal Valentine’s Day story. Scott is a genealogical historian and owner of Onward To Our Past® genealogy services. Nothing much beats holidays as a way to get everyone talking about family, memories, stories, and... (Read More)
Do You Know Where in Ireland Your Ancestors Came From?
By Thomas Jay Kemp on February 13, 2013
Finding the town or county where your family came from in the “Old Country” can be difficult. That’s where Irish American newspapers can really help you locate your ancestor’s place of birth when researching your ancestry from Ireland. For example, look at this 1859 obituary from an old Irish American newspaper: This typical historical... (Read More)
Understanding Terms Found in Historical Newspapers
By Mary Harrell-Sesniak on February 11, 2013
Introduction: Mary Harrell-Sesniak is a genealogist, author and editor with a strong technology background. In this guest blog post, Mary explains some of the unusual or archaic terms often found in historical newspapers, and provides examples from period newspapers. When I first started searching historical newspapers to help with my family history research, certain... (Read More)
The Importance of Old Newspaper Advertisements to Genealogy
By Gena Philibert-Ortega on February 4, 2013
Introduction: Gena Philibert-Ortega is a genealogist and author of the book “From the Family Kitchen.” In this guest blog post, Gena writes about the value of a resource in newspapers that is often overlooked by genealogists: the classified ads. “Be sure to drink your Ovaltine. Ovaltine? A crummy commercial.”—Ralphie Parker from the movie A... (Read More)
