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Directory of Genealogy and Family History Content.
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GenStack Library
Lisa Maguire
Your family has a story. I am a professional historian and amateur genealogist who can document your family’s journey through history. Contact me if you are interested in preserving your family stories and learning your family’s place in history. Email: ancestory@substack.com Subscribe to the Ancestory Substack to read more about my family and the history of the French and Irish in Canada.
Dr. Mary M. Marshall is an esteemed academic and researcher whose extraordinary journey embodies resilience and inspiration. She has held teaching positions at the New Jersey Institute of Technology and City College of New York (CUNY), and served as Assistant Director of both the Higher Education Program and Minority Student Affairs at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Dr. Marshall’s academic credentials are just as impressive. She holds a BA in Speech Pathology and Psychology from Howard University, an MA in Reading Development from New York University, and both an MPhil and PhD in Nineteenth-Century Studies and Religion from Drew University, with a special focus on women, particularly Black women.
Great Grandmother Mary’s Puzzlement
Recommended by Dr. Mary M. Marshall
Family history storytelling and genealogy. I do family history & genealogy, conversations and ageing. I'm a former correspondent. I dabble in theatre, present workshops and I'm a qualified Pilates instructor. I am not a professional genealogist but I like lurking in archives and crafting stories on all aspects of family history. Apart from ageing, I write about family stories which is another passion. In 2022 I wrote a theatre show about my mother’s upbringing called Lost in Shanghai. For more posts on creating family stories, here’s a good place to start.
Forget Me Not: how we memorialize
Family history is rich with stories. I tell genealogy stories to highlight the importance of bringing family history alive.
Recommended by Cynthia Boatright Raleigh
Gen Tales offers insight into genealogy research, but also offers lineages and family lists. Alicia uses historical records and digitized sources to put the pieces together as accurately as possible. Subscribe to get full access to the newsletter and website. Never miss an update. In addition to the free subscription to GenTales, the paid subscription offers access to paywalled posts. If you prefer ala carte access to a specific paywalled post, they are available individually at Ko-Fi by Aliconia Publishing.
My 16 - where the branches start to dwindle
Pocahontas Didn’t Have a Daughter
Recommended by Alicia M Prater
I’m so glad you found me. I’ve been a writer ever since mom gave me that Girl Scout diary back in 6th grade. Growing up I had lots of penpals from all over the world, and later in life taught others how to journal (or what I called Heartwriting) and also how to write their story. Through my newspaper column I found my voice in art and created a popular dyeing technique. My interest in genealogy hit me nine years ago, and I spend a lot of my time between the dye studio and my genealogy research. Meanwhile I’m a wife, a friend, a cat herder, picture taker, and iris lover. As with my art, I hope this newsletter will inspire you.
In 2021 I was gifted with an unexpected treasure trove of family memorabilia in the form of nine shoeboxes worth of hand-written letters penned by my great-grandmother between 1961-1975. When I added this gift to the letters I had discovered a few years earlier when my mother had passed away, I found that had over 885 weekly family letters written by my great-grandmother. This site is setup to record the insights, discoveries, and even a few personal memories that I am gleaming in the process of reading through her letters in chronological order. My great-grandmother was May Emma Northcutt Hinkson (1880-1975). She lived in the small farming community of LaBelle, MO.
My aim with Rooting Around is to help you improve your own research skills, often by looking in unexpected places. I’ll reveal my secrets and the obscure online sources I use to help you find the facts you’re searching for. I’ll map out my own meandering routes and reverse-engineer passages from my books, retracing my steps so you can see how I got there. After spending two decades writing about other people, it’s become second nature for me to hide behind the stories of other people. But recently I’ve started to work on a memoir, so I’ll also be using Rooting Around to turn the lens around on my own life while helping me grow more comfortable with telling my own stories. Sometimes roots are out in the open, for all to see, while at others even a backhoe or jackhammer won’t jostle them free. Whether you’re working on a book or essay, digging into your family history, or just trying to shake loose a hidden fact to satisfy your own curiosity, Rooting Around will help you find facts and make sense of them, one search at a time.
In Praise of Edith Bunkerizing
Serengenity - Finding something better than what you were looking for. Chance meetings in genealogy, history and cemetery explorations.
Step into the captivating world of genealogy through the newsletter Tracking Down The Family. Written by a passionate family historian, this publication shares the fascinating stories of ordinary people who lived extraordinary lives. With years of experience piecing together her own family history, @Jennifer Jones offers readers the latest news, discoveries, and engaging tales from her personal genealogy journey—stories that may resonate with those uncovering their own roots. What to Expect: The newsletter is published regularly and draws on over twelve years of experience in family history blogging. Jennifer welcomes interaction and enjoys hearing from her readers, so she encourages comments at the end of articles. Always eager to connect with others who share a love for genealogy, she looks forward to meaningful conversations within the genealogy community.
My name is Paul Chiddicks and welcome to My Family History blog. Firstly a little bit about me and why I began tracing my Family Tree; I am 59 years old and I am Married with two grown up children and live in Cheshire in England, having moved from my roots in Essex, through my work, around 25 years ago.
Aryn Youngless is a genealogist who enjoys unraveling ancestral puzzles, tracing lineages, and obtaining documentation for dual citizenship. She helps preserve cherished family stories and legacies.
Welcome to the experiment.
How A Simple Drive Transformed My Heavy Family Story Into A Mosaic Of Connected Memories
I like to write about how our past shapes us, and I have found that we sometimes must embrace some experiences that we initially wanted to keep buried. I bet you’re realizing that too. Let’s explore together how to use a touch of grace when talking about our past and grow more secure as we overcome some of these little monsters we have fed over the years. All of the stories dotting the twists of my DNA elicit questions of how we become the people we are.
Recommendations by Shell Norman
Romance. Tragedy. Mysteries. All a part of your heritage. Each month, we will explore our guests' family trees and the inspirational stories of their ancestors. What lead them to begin their genealogy quest? What have they learned about their heritage? Hosts Barbara Jean May and Hope Callan-Beck are the founding members of Lower Bucks Genealogists, and have been researching their own family histories for 30+ years. We are the Heritage Hunters.
The Blue Fugates of KentuckyL A Fascinating Genetic Legacy
Recommended by Barbara Jean May
I started this publication as a place to pull together narratives that draw on the information in my family history archives. Occasionally there may be articles relating to some other aspect of family history research. I have 2 family history archives. Both are on the WeAredotxyz platform. Both are a work in progress: • My husband and my biological family history which ranges across the UK and Ireland, USA, New Zealand and Australia, • My adoptive family history which is UK-based. Why I Write This publication provides a place for me to share some of my family history research findings and, where possible, give some context to the lives of those I have researched. If your research interests coincide with mine, please do get in touch! Perhaps I have information you don’t have. Perhaps you have information I don’t have. It is always good to engage, and connect, with people researching the same families. As I have been heard to say a few times, lately - “I am not a writer. I am a genealogist that writes”. To that extent, I prioritise accuracy over telling a good story while trying not to be too boring in the process.
George and Elizabeth: Together, Apart & Together Again
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Welcome in! I’m Robin Stewart, the founder of Genealogy Matters, the curator and host of GenStack, and a family historian. GenStack, the weekly post with the best genealogy and family history blogs, newsletters, podcasts and videos. Find this week’s content every Saturday, right here on GenStack. If you want GenStack to be delivered right to your inbox each Saturday, subscribe. It’s free.
Chronicle Makers: Write the family history only you can tell You’ve spent years uncovering your family’s history—now what? The names, dates, and records you’ve collected hold incredible stories, but turning them into something your family will actually want to read can feel overwhelming. That’s where Chronicle Makers comes in. I’m Denyse Allen, and I’m on a journey to bring my own family history to life—not with dry academic reports, but with rich, emotionally compelling stories that take my family on a journey with their ancestors. And I’m inviting you to join me on this path. With Chronicle Makers, you’ll learn by doing—inside a supportive community of people who share your passion for preserving the past. • Follow Denyse’s journey as she dives into the ups and downs of preserving her family’s legacy, sharing what’s worked and what she’s learned along the way. • Enjoy practical, easy-to-use techniques that help you turn raw data into compelling, personal stories. • Connect with a supportive community of family historians who, like you, want to create something meaningful and lasting.
After some 20 years of doing what I would call “casual genealogy,” I have decided to start telling some of the stories that I’ve collected about the people who walked before me. I hope that you’ll find my ancestors to be as interesting as I do. Some of them lived quite remarkable lives. Others are best described as “salt of the Earth” types. But all of them contributed to making me who I am. I’m still working on my formal genealogy. It resides on my personal website at https://bill-moore.us. I am actively researching the following surnames: Moore, Naylor, Brownleigh, Boardman, Ingham, Van Deusen, Hutto, and Brady.
Harry Joe (H.J.) Naylor: My Maternal Great Grandfather
Welcome to Family History Bowerbird where I share my family history research, discoveries and family stories. I hope you find something of interest to you. I have been researching my family history since 1980. During those early, pre-Internet, years, I had to visit libraries and archives to access records. I was fortunate that some older family members talked about our family history and I listened! The development of the internet meant that many records were available at my fingertips. Now, DNA tests are the new frontier of family history research. I enjoy discovering new ancestors and researching their lives. I have completed an Associate Diploma in Local & Applied History, and Bachelor of Arts (History) through the University of New England, NSW, Australia and a Diploma in Family Historical Studies through the Society of Australian Genealogists.
My Sixteen - John Wiliiam Giles - Part 1
My Sixteen - John Wiliiam Giles - Part 1
My weekly journey through my life stories in my autobiographical newsletter. Each edition reveals a unique tale—filled with humour, heart, and hard-earned lessons—that aims to connect and inspire readers from all walks of life. Join me, Dominus Markham, on a weekly journey through my life stories in my autobiographical newsletter. Each edition reveals a unique tale—filled with humour, heart, and hard-earned lessons—that aims to connect and inspire readers from all walks of life. Whether it’s an unexpected adventure, a challenge overcome, or a moment that made me pause and reflect, find relatable experiences that encourage personal growth and engagement.
Want to support keeping local Appalachian and family history alive and connecting it to the present in new, thoughtful ways? Want to support me as I change the narrative of Appalachia? Instead of allowing others to define us, I want to tell our story: about resilience, perseverance, making and growing what we need, and family. I’ll combine my loves of family and local history with my day job of economic development and a certified business advisor. In this newsletter, I’ll write about everything from that local and family history and Appalachian culture to business and entrepreneurship.
Recommended by Crystal Lorimor
I’m a lifelong journalist who turned to fiction writing and memoir. I began my career working for The Jerusalem Report before joining Reuters and eventually the Globe and Mail as a columnist. I once got into a stranger’s car in a deserted part of Jerusalem to meet a spy. Another time, a photographer left me in an abandoned parking lot behind a crack house in Vancouver, where I found my best interview subjects. You can’t make this stuff up. But there are some things that I still can. Most of what I post here is true and focused on my research into my grandmother’s story, the use (and misuse) of Holocaust memory, and its role in Jewish identity. I am calling this work in progress, The Synagogue at the End of the World. It’s not all that serious, I promise.
I started a family-only genealogy blog in 2007 and called it “Mighty Acorns,” referring to the old poems:"as an ook cometh of a litel spyr" [a spyr, or spire, is a sapling] -Geoffrey Chaucer's Troilus and Criseyde, 1374 "The greatest Oaks have been little Acorns." -Thomas Fuller's Gnomologia, 1732 "Large streams from little fountains flow, Tall oaks from little acorns grow." -D. Everett in The Columbian Orator, 1797 (citations courtesy of The Phrase Finder) My research has shaped the way I think about my roots and origins. When I was a kid, I was fascinated with the notion of finding “important people” in my family tree, but as I found more and more “little acorns” - farmers, teachers, and the dozens upon dozens of silent, unnamed women who are all but erased from their own histories - I came to appreciate the fact that I wouldn’t exist at all without any one of the people hiding in the background of history. To me, the fact that they existed and survived makes them mighty. In 2014, I decided to open up my work to the rest of the world, and re-branded the new blog as “Mightier Acorns.”
Families Reunions: Our Sixteens
Recommended by Mightier Acorns
"if Only I" by Ollie is a journey through my life starting from 4 years old, at Black Foxe Military Institute, Hollywood. California. Most Substack posts end with the lessons I wish I had learned from each and every experience, especially in my formative years. My hope is that you find my stories enlightening, engaging, humourous and heartfelt.
Best Friends For Life, John And I Became Inseparable
Every family has a story, but not every story gets told. Welcome to Jenny’s Scrapbook of Family History Stories, where I uncover and share fascinating stories about my ancestors through the generations. From brave soldiers who fought in forgotten wars to pioneering great-grandmothers who crossed oceans in search of a better life, I explore the lives that have shaped our family. Using letters, historical records, and family interviews, I piece together the triumphs, challenges, and mysteries of those who came before us. You’ll discover stories of everyday people with extraordinary experiences - like my 2x great-grandfather, who was transported “beyond the seas” and another who was shipwrecked in the remote north of Western Australian. While some narratives are poignant, many are filled with happiness, strength and even humour. Join me on this journey of personal discovery, where history comes alive through family anecdotes. Whether you’re a fellow genealogy enthusiast or simply love a good story, there’s something here for everyone.
Uncovering A Naughter Ancestor
Recommended by JenealogyScrapbook
Jenealogy Scrapbook on WeAre.xyz
Lori White Olson
Hi, I’m Lori! I’ve been collecting, researching, writing and sharing lost and found stories for decades, and I’ve seen firsthand their amazing ability bring people together, to spark curiosity, creativity and conversation. Who doesn’t want more of THAT in their life? I opened The Lost & Found Story Box on June 25, 2024, with a serialized lost & found story I titled, “Call Me a Bastard”. Set during America’s gilded age, the true story of Aimee Henry and Mary Martha has all elements of a Hollywood blockbuster, including a surprise ending even the best fiction writer would never dare include! Although “Call Me a Bastard” was released over the course of several months, not every lost & found story will be that long, but they’ll all show up in your inbox on Tuesdays and Fridays.
Call Me a Bastard - Chapter 1: Stitched Together
Recommended by Lori Olson White
I’m Dean Kirby, an award-winning journalist, urban historian, genealogist and tour guide exploring and writing about the history of Manchester. Welcome to my newsletter telling stories from the streets of the world’s first industrial city. What is the Manchester History Club? It’s a newsletter and a community of subscribers where we’ll discuss the city’s history — starting with the districts of Angel Meadow, Ancoats and the Northern Quarter which I know best. In time, we’ll also explore other parts of the city.
Welcome to Anne’s Family History, where passion meets meticulous research. Anne dives deep into her family's roots, tracing connections to notable figures like Puritan colonists who migrated to New England in the 17th century and even Anne Bradstreet, one of America's earliest poets. But her journey doesn't stop there. Anne brings to light the importance of "one-place studies," a research method that explores not only individual ancestors but the communities and historical contexts in which they lived. Through her detailed investigation of places like Whitmore, Staffordshire, and Homebush, Victoria, Anne reveals the richness of these ancestral landscapes. Her blog isn't just about names and dates—it's about the lives, stories, and experiences behind those names. Using both historical records and DNA analysis, Anne verifies family connections with precision, providing readers with insight into her process. Whether you're new to genealogy or a seasoned researcher, Anne’s Family History is a treasure trove of inspiration and a guide for anyone eager to explore their own family history. Join Anne as she unearths the past and encourages others to embark on their own genealogy journeys!
This is a version of my personal story. It is inspired by true events. However, characters, dialogue, and some events have been fictionalized for dramatic purposes.
Do you love reading stories about real people in the context of their place and time in history? Or, maybe you just enjoy seeing how other people leverage all the hard-work that went into researching their ancestors. Either way, you’ll want to subscribe to get full access to the newsletter and website and never miss an update.
Sixteen Names, Endless Possibilities
Make Your Ancestors Findable: SEO Essentials for Genealogy Bloggers
Welcome to the Journeys into Genealogy podcast. Conversations with genealogy experts, historians, museum curators and people with interesting stories. Sharing research tips, how to look after heirlooms, help with writing family stories and much more. Each episode is around 30-50 minutes (some are slightly longer). Generally two (and sometimes three) episodes are published each month.
Journeys into Genealogy Podcast
This is my plan: • a sort of memoir (my family background and how I got to live in Lithuania, when I have no family connections there) • my stumbling experience using the modern tools of genealogy to look for my paternal relatives • an anthropological look at popular genealogy Hopefully you will find something of interest in there.
A site for family genealogy and history with personal, family, ancestral, cultural, generational, societal and otherwise human stories.