Today’s episode of Research Like a Pro is about the book American Nations: A History of the Eleven Rival Regional Cultures of North America by Colin Woodard. Heidi Mathis gives us a snapshot of these 11 nations so that no matter where your ancestors settled in the U.S., you may learn something about the “nation” they lived in. Transcript Links DNA Research Plan – https://familylocket.com/product/10-hour-dna-research-plan/ DNA Research Consultation – https://familylocket.com/product/dna-research-consultation-3-hours/ Merging DNA and History: American Nations by Colin Woodard: Part 2 – https://familylocket.com/merging-dna-and-history-american-nations-by-colin-woodard-part-2/ American Nations: A History of the Eleven Rival Regional Cultures of North America – https://amzn.to/3E0IvGR...
Today’s episode of Research Like a Pro is a discussion of the book American Nations: A History of the Eleven Rival Regional Cultures of North America by Colin Woodard. Heidi Mathis, one of our researchers, joins us to discuss the general idea of American Nations. The book gives us a hypothesis to understand U.S. history as we research our ancestors. Also, the book excitingly has DNA evidence to back up the hypothesis it proposes for understanding U.S. history. Transcript Links American Nations: A History of the Eleven Rival Regional Cultures of North America – https://amzn.to/3E0IvGR (affiliate link) Merging...
I have been reading How to Find Your Family History In U.S. Church Records: A Genealogist’s Guide, a new book by Sunny Jane Morton and Harold A. Henderson, CG. I just finished it, and I’m excited to share my thoughts about with you. Genealogical Publishing Company sent me a copy of the book to review. I am grateful for the opportunity to read the book and the motivation that having this task provided. When I received the book last fall, I wondered when I would make time to read. I usually listen to all my content while I’m doing other tasks...
Do you need a great summer vacation book? One to lose yourself in? If so, then These is My Words – The Diary of Sarah Agnes Prine 1881-1901 by Nancy E. Turner is the book for you. I first discovered this book several years ago and recently reread it with an ear for the family history included. The author wrote it in the form of a diary, based on her family memoirs, so it’s a perfect fit for our July book club selection. These is My Words is historical fiction and a wonderful example of putting an ancestor in her place...
What would you do if you promised your grandfather at age 15 to write his story? If you were Jackie Dougan Jackson, you’d eventually gather up all 70 years worth of letters, documents, and assorted papers stored in the attic; interview hundreds of people, and publish the story of The Round Barn, one hundred years after it was built. It would include not only the building of the unique round barn W.J. Dougan designed to house his dairy operation, but also stories of the family, workers, customers, and even the cows! We featured Jackie in our spotlight, Family History is For...
If you read just one book this year, read The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics by Daniel James Brown. Since we’ll be cheering on our favorite athletes in Brazil this month, this is the perfect book to get into the Olympic spirit. This post contains affiliate links. If you click the link and make a purchase, we receive a small commission but it doesn’t change the price of the item. Step back in time and discover the sport of rowing. Set in the northwest, mainly in Seattle, this book...
My Grandfather’s Coat by Jim Aylesworth, illustrated by Barbara McClintock, teaches about the hard work, thrift and conservation of our ancestors. This book club post will share discussion questions, family story ideas, and an activity you can do with your own kids to teach about these important values. This post contains affiliate links. If you click the link and make a purchase, we receive a small commission but it doesn’t change the price of the item. Thank you! Story Summary My Grandfather’s Coat is based on the Yiddish song, “I had a Little Overcoat.” The author says the story is an ode to immigrants...
Losing a loved one is part of life. Living without that loved one is also a part of life, but how can you keep their memory alive in a meaningful and appropriate way? Allison Gilbert, author shows us how in her new book “Passed and Present.” (This is an affiliate link. If you click the link and make a purchase, we receive a small commission). We love the book so much, we want to give away a copy. See the end of the post for details. (Giveaway closed). This book is not about sadness and grieving. These pages are about...
Today I have the pleasure of introducing you to Allison Gilbert’s new book, Passed and Present, about celebrating the lives of relatives we’ve lost. Enter our giveaway of the book here! Remembering loved ones who have passed away is a unique kind of challenge. We want to celebrate their lives, yet sometimes sharing memories can be difficult. We may wonder if our family members (children, teens, etc.) are even interested. As family historians, we have many stories of loved ones long past that we’d like to tell. How do we do this in our everyday lives? Allison Gilbert answers this question with...
Have you ever researched an ancestor so extensively that you felt like you knew them? Have you wished you could tell their story in a way that would do justice to their life experiences? Connie LaPallo did just that with our April book selection: “Dark Enough to see the Stars in a Jamestown Sky.” Her journey in writing the story of her ancestor, Joan Peirce, one of the few women who survived the Jamestown “starving time” in the spring of 1610 is remarkable. Join us this month as we step back in time and discover the story that Connie...