Genealogy Rocks! Columns

Where were you in ’92? 1492, that is. There are so many genealogy websites by now, along with books on every aspect of colonization, that with time and effort you can actually answer that question. But I over- simplify. You don’t have to pick 1492. Pick any date in your family history that attracts you and explore other, perhaps lesser -known … (read more…)

When I first started looking at the 1950 U.S. census, I was searching for 110 N. 19th Street in Philadelphia. That was the address for my family that I had diligently researched. It was the address on my sister’s birth certificate. But they were not there.

I knew they had moved to a new house by January 1951 but I did not think they had moved … (read more…)

Is your computer your enemy or your friend? Do you use your computer just for reading e-books, watching movies and sending emails? I want to take this opportunity to tell you that you live in amazing times. You have the world of information at your fingertips – and that includes for genealogy research. Even if you limit yourself to free sites … (read more…)

Linda … (read more…)

As the fall and winter months come on, you may have more time to work on genealogy, explore new websites and write up the stories of your ancestors that you have been ‘too busy’ to create. I want to remind you of the many opportunities available to you through ZOOM meetings throughout the U.S. Locally, the Colorado Council of Genealogical … (read more…)

As we go into the fall and winter, we will have more time to expand our research and our writing. Here are just a few of the opportunities available to you.

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You were sure his name was “Wild Bill Hickok” and he was alive in 1870 perhaps in the Dakota Territory. [name, date, location]. Perhaps you didn’t know that his legal name was James Butler Hickok, born in Illinois in 1837. (Wikipedia) The “Bill” came from his brother’s name. Any William may also be called Bill, Willie or Will. … (read more…)

Some of us start our genealogy search to find the heroes in our family tree. Others look for the horse thief – because we are more likely to find newspaper reports, court proceedings and prison records. Most of us fail on both counts. We look at census records, birth and death records and come away with only a superficial knowledge of what our … (read more…)

I’m on my third jigsaw puzzle of the pandemic and I am finding more and more comparisons with genealogy. First, I literally could not do the puzzles without the picture on the box. But we almost always try to put together the puzzle of our ancestors with no clear idea of the family size or shape. But I can use a workaround like the straight edges … (read more…)

The Denver Public Library – www.denverlibrary.org, College Hill Library in Westminster, Jefferson County Library and apparently every library in between is allowing access to Ancestry Library Edition (that’s the Worldwide edition) for FREE from HOME.

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Our world has changed. In March, we didn’t expect a statewide ‘Stay at Home’ order as Colorado and the world are dealing with COVID-19. This is an opportunity to work on your family history and organize your files and photos. This will increase the chances of photos being preserved after you are gone. There are many FREE opportunities to work … (read more…)

Someone in a class told me they had been doing genealogy for 12 years and asked if they should start over. My answer is no and yes. No, because you have already gathered some great information. It may be disorganized. It may be filed in piles on your desk or in boxes you haven’t opened in years. Yes, because you need a new beginning and maybe a … (read more…)