Using WorldCat.org to Find Countless Genealogy Resources
Amy Johnson Crow - Certified Genealogist
by Amy Johnson Crow
1y ago
There are countless resources you can use for your family history or genealogy research, but they are a little tough to track down. Sometimes only a few copies exist, and some are literally one of a kind. With WorldCat.org, you can search more than 10,000 libraries around the world, all at once, to get closer to filling out the branches of your family tree. (Disclosure: Thank you to WorldCat.org for sponsoring this post and video. Opinions expressed here are strictly my own.) Click the play button to watch the video below or keep scrolling to read the post. What Is WorldCat.org? WorldCat.org ..read more
Visit website
Are You Really Related to Someone Famous?
Amy Johnson Crow - Certified Genealogist
by Amy Johnson Crow
1y ago
Family stories abound with tales of being related to someone famous, whether it’s George Washington, Queen Elizabeth, or Elvis. But how do you know if that story is actually true? Here’s a strategy you can use. Click the play button or scroll below to keep reading. A Common – and Frustrating – Way to Prove It The most common way to try to prove the connection to a supposed famous relative is also one of the most frustrating. It’s common to start researching the famous person’s descendants and try to make a connection to your own family tree. But that method is filled with obstacles. First, yo ..read more
Visit website
When Your Ancestor Isn’t in the Will
Amy Johnson Crow - Certified Genealogist
by Amy Johnson Crow
1y ago
Wills can be excellent resources for your genealogy research. But what does it mean when your ancestor isn’t included or received only $1? Let’s take a look at the possibilities and what they mean for your family history. Click the play button or scroll below to keep reading. What Being Out of the Will Means for Your Genealogy Genealogists use wills to connect two generations. When you look at a will and don’t find someone listed as an heir, it’s easy to presume that person wasn’t a child of the deceased. However, in the United States, there is no requirement that you include all of your chil ..read more
Visit website
Healing Through Family History
Amy Johnson Crow - Certified Genealogist
by Amy Johnson Crow
1y ago
Genealogy can be more than just an enjoyable hobby. It can be a way to explore issues like generational trauma. That’s exactly what actor Zachary Levi did in his episode of Who Do You Think You Are. Click the play button or scroll below to keep reading. Zachary Levi Explores Generational Trauma Unlike some celebrities who were hoping to find a famous ancestor, Zachary Levi wanted to find out why his maternal grandmother had been abusive. It wasn’t long before he uncovered generations of abusive behavior. His great-great-grandparents did not have a healthy relationship. Their marriage began un ..read more
Visit website
What Billy Porter’s WDYTYA Episode Can Teach You
Amy Johnson Crow - Certified Genealogist
by Amy Johnson Crow
1y ago
“Who Do You Think You Are” can be not only entertaining and inspiring, but can also show you some good insights into genealogy research… if you look closely. Here’s one important lesson from the Billy Porter episode. Click the play button or scroll below to keep reading. Who Is Billy Porter? Photo by Steam Pipe Trunk Distribution Venue. Used under CC2.0. Billy Porter is an actor who has won both a Tony and an Emmy. He’s a native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and was raised by his mother and step-father. He went into the episode knowing that one of his ancestors had been shot and killed. Profe ..read more
Visit website
An Overlooked Part of the 1950 Census: The Notes
Amy Johnson Crow - Certified Genealogist
by Amy Johnson Crow
1y ago
The 1950 US Census has helped countless genealogists. However, there’s a portion of the census that many people are overlooking: the enumerator’s notes. Let’s take a look at what they are, where to find them, and how to associate them with the right people. The 1950 Census Enumerator Notes Unlike other federal censuses, the 1950 census instructed the enumerators to make notes of unusual entries or irregular situations. (You can download the full instructions for the population schedule from the Census Bureau.) Finally, we have some insight into why some entries are the way they are! The enume ..read more
Visit website
Clues for Discovering Military Service
Amy Johnson Crow - Certified Genealogist
by Amy Johnson Crow
2y ago
Digging into military records can yield an incredible amount of information about our ancestors. (My favorite is my 3rd-great-grandfather’s Civil War pension file. It showed that he married his second wife 12 days after she divorced her previous husband. Yeah, that.) While some records will spell out military service, there are times when we need to tease that fact out. Here are clues to look for to discover your ancestor’s military service. Obituaries Henry Clay Ruby’s obituary doesn’t come out and say that he was a Civil War veteran. However, it does state that he was a member of the O. P ..read more
Visit website
When Ancestors Changed Names
Amy Johnson Crow - Certified Genealogist
by Amy Johnson Crow
2y ago
In genealogy, we deal with a lot of names. It can be confusing when our ancestors changed their names or used a name we aren’t expecting. Here’s how you can sort everything out. You can listen to the audio: Or watch the video (or scroll below to keep reading): Our Ancestors Used Multiple Names We tend to think of our ancestors always using their “proper” names. However, names can be quite fluid. The name a person uses can depend upon the situation. Take one of my friends, for example. To his family and close friends, he’s Johnnie. To his co-workers, he’s John. But his “real” name — the name ..read more
Visit website
Getting Ready for the 1950 Census
Amy Johnson Crow - Certified Genealogist
by Amy Johnson Crow
2y ago
The 1950 US census will give genealogists another valuable tool to use in their research. Here’s what you can do to get ready for when the 1950 census is released — including how to narrow a location before the indexes are ready! You can listen to the audio: Or watch the video (or scroll below to keep reading): Why You Should Care About the 1950 Census If you’ve been doing genealogy for awhile, it’s easy to fall into the “eh, what’s so great about the 1950 census” trap. There are 3 big reasons why you should be excited: First, you never know what is in a record until you actually look at it ..read more
Visit website
Major Update to FindAGrave Memorials
Amy Johnson Crow - Certified Genealogist
by Amy Johnson Crow
2y ago
FindAGrave just announced two big updates that will have an impact on memorials for the recently deceased and who qualifies for a required transfer. These are changes that members of the genealogy community have requested for years. You can listen to the audio: Or watch the video (or scroll below to keep reading): FindAGrave Updates Memorials for the Recently Deceased The first FindAGrave update pertains to a sensitive subject – the creation of memorials for the recently deceased. This change comes as more people discover that someone on FindAGrave created a memorial for their loved one befo ..read more
Visit website

Follow Amy Johnson Crow - Certified Genealogist on FeedSpot

Continue with Google
Continue with Apple
OR