How long has it been since you looked at some of your oldest research? A year or two? Several years? You might be surprised and in for a treat if you pick up one of your loose ends. With the number of new databases added daily to the internet, the answer to a nagging question might be waiting. Need more convincing? Keep reading for three reasons to revisit your research. I recently revisited a Confederate soldier in my family: C.B. (Charles Baldwin) Royston. He enlisted in the Confederacy but never came home from the Civil War. I researched the Royston...
Are you sure you've found all of the clues in the census records for your family? After you look at the names, ages, and birthplaces, do you pay attention to the rest of the questions and answers? Census records are one of the most valuable tools for a researcher, not only for the information reported, but for the clues to other records. I recently revisited the 1910 census looking for clues on my great, great grandfather, Robert Cisney Royston. He died in 1915, so this was the last census of his life. Records for him are scarce. Aside from census...
What are you giving your dad this Father's Day? Here are some ideas that won't take long but can be made meaningful by including a little family history. 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. Thanks! Custom Bottle labels Use an old photo of Dad or another family photo to customize his favorite soda or drink with bottle labels from Pinhole Press. Here's a tutorial about how to remove the original bottle labels and replace with the ones...
How much do you know about the military service of your family members? Do you wonder about the events that shaped their lives? How can you honor their sacrifice? In the next few weeks we have several opportunities to consider their part in preserving our country's freedom: Memorial Day, Flag Day, and Independence Day. Like most World War II veterans, my dad didn't talk much of his war experiences. When he passed away five years ago, all that remained of his military service were his sailor pants, some photos, his discharge papers, and a couple of paragraphs in his personal history outlining...
