Generations Cafe

The 1950 census release will be unlike any other US census that has come before. Learn what you need to do to get ready to find your ancestors when the census goes public on April 1.  The show notes also have a link to a video with a step-by-step tutorial on identifying enumerations districts, as well as how you can help with the volunteer indexing project.  Show notes: AmyJohnsonCrow.com/71  

In January 2022, FindAGrave made two major updates. The first impacts memorials created for the recently deceased -- a change that the genealogy community has been requesting for years. The second is a change to the relationships that require a transfer when a family member asks to manage a memorial. This change can help more family members manage the memorials of their loved ones.  The show notes include links to FindAGrave's updated support pages.  You can find the show notes at AmyJohnsonCrow.com/70

Beginners and experienced genealogists alike make these genealogy mistakes. In this episode, Amy Johnson Crow explains what they are, how they hurt your research, and how to avoid them.  She also shares her top tip for genealogy success with less frustration.  You can find the show notes at AmyJohnsonCrow.com/69

DNA is great for genealogy, and it goes way beyond the ethnicity estimate -- and what is that estimate even telling you anyhow?! (Spoiler alert: don't get a tattoo based on what that estimate says. It will change!) Think you have Native American ancestry and it didn't show up in your ethnicity estimate? There's a reason for that. You might be surprised to learn that you and your sibling likely won't have identical ethnicity estimates or even have the exact same DNA matches. You can find the show notes at https://www.amyjohnsoncrow.com/68

Millions of Americans descend from a Civil War veteran. But how can you identify which one of your ancestors served (if any)? In this episode, Amy will show you easy steps for finding clues about service. You'll also see how you can identify your ancestor's regiment, which is key to getting into more military records.  You can find the show notes, along with links to everything mentioned in this episode at AmyJohnsonCrow.com/67

It's frustrating to search on Ancestry and not get any results, especially when you know the record should exist. No matter how you change your search, you just can't find it.  The issue might not be in how you're searching. It might be a matter of Ancestry doesn't have the record. Unfortunately, it's hard to tell what Ancestry doesn't have.  In this episode, Amy shows two ways to spot gaps in Ancestry's collections, including a creative way of using the "Browse this Collection" feature.  There's also an accompanying video, which you can see on the show notes at AmyJohnsonCrow.com/66. Save yourself a lot of frustration (and wrong conclusions!) by spotting these gaps in Ancestry's collections!

You might have heard in the news recently about commemorating the centennial of the Tulsa Massacre of 1921 (the destruction of "Black Wall Street.") You might — or might not — be surprised that Tulsa isn't the only event of its kind.  In 1898, the elected government of Wilmington, North Carolina, was overthrown by whites who were outraged at the success of Blacks in Wilmington. This uprising resulted in deaths, banishments, and the destruction of numerous businesses in town. It decimated the Black middle class in Wilmington for generations.  In this episode, Tim Pinnick, a noted genealogist and historian, explains the efforts underway to study the people who were there at the time. What happened to the families of those who were killed? What of the banished and their families?  Not only does Tim explain what happened in 1898, but how you can help with the research efforts.  You can find the show notes, including links to numerous resources, at AmyJohnsonCrow.com/65.  

Honoring those who died in service to their country or after their service is one of the most sacred duties of a country. Finding the burial place of a veteran ancestor can be a deeply moving experience.  In this episode of Generations Cafe, we explore the history of military cemeteries in the United States, as well as some resources you can use to find where your military ancestors are buried.  You can find the show notes with links to all of the resources at AmyJohnsonCrow.com/64.

Putting your family tree online has some great benefits, including connecting with cousins, sorting DNA matches, and even preserving your research. But did you know that there are different kinds of online family trees? In this episode, Amy Johnson Crow explores the 3 main kinds of online family trees: individual trees on other sites, individual trees on your own website, and collaborative trees. Each one has its plusses and minuses. Take a listen on how to choose the one that best meets your needs. You can find the show notes for this episode, including links to all of the websites mentioned, at amyjohnsoncrow.com/63.

If you're pulling out the one fact that you were looking for in a genealogy source, jotting it down, and then moving on... you're probably leaving a lot behind.  Taking a closer look at that source might help you discover the answer you were looking for. Even if it doesn't spell out the answer, that deeper dive will likely give you ideas on other places you can look.  In this episode, Amy Johnson Crow explains how knowing more about the type of record you're using can help in your search. She'll also share tips about pulling out more information from specific records, including an overlooked type of word. 

Finding our female ancestors can be difficult, what with name changes and a lack of records written by or about them. But it doesn't have to be impossible.  In this episode, Amy Johnson Crow shares 3 practical strategies for discovering more about the women in our genealogy. Chances are good that you've started using them, but you haven't gone deeply enough -- and that's where the real discoveries happen! The show notes, including links to related episodes, can be found at AmyJohnsonCrow.com/61.

What is modern genealogy? In this conversation with Kenyatta D. Berry, host of PBS' Genealogy Roadshow, we cover technology, motivations for starting (and continuing) family history, accessibility, the challenges of enslaved ancestor research, and diversity in the field of genealogy.  It's an episode full of insight, as well as practical takeaways for everyday genealogists, professional researchers, and societies.  You can find the show notes at AmyJohnsonCrow.com/60.

Episode 59: Church records can be a boon to our genealogical research. In this episode, Amy explains how to determine your ancestor's denomination, identify the church that he or she attended, and how to go about tracking down the records.  Church records can help fill in the gap when civil vital records are missing. Even when you do have those civil records, the church records can yield more information. They really should be a part of everyone's genealogy toolkit! You can find the show notes at AmyJohnsonCrow.com/59.

Marriage records make up an important part of our genealogy research. However, there are more records to find than just the civil marriage record at the county courthouse.  In this episode, Amy shares other records related to your ancestors' marriages... records that often hold more information that we can put to use in our family history.  The show notes contain all of the examples that Amy shared, along with links to the resources she mentioned. You can find the show notes at AmyJohnsonCrow.com/58

Ancestry has billions of records, but its features aren't always intuitive. In this episode, Amy Johnson Crow shares 5 features that are often overlooked on Ancestry that can boost your genealogy discoveries. Did you know that the title of an Ancestry database might lead you to an erroneous conclusion? See how you can avoid that problem!  You'll also hear how to find specific collections, find hidden gems, and even connect with cousins without taking a DNA test.  The show notes, with links and screenshots, can be found at AmyJohnsonCrow.com/56.

Genealogy and family history is a comfort for many of us. But what do you do when you can't focus on your research or you don't have time to devote to it? In this second episode of the "Research Renewal" series, Amy revisits the episode "7 Family History Activities for When You Can't Focus." It turns out that many of these activities are also great for times when you don't have a lot of time.  Bonus: Several of these can be done with family members, even virtually -- get everyone involved! You can find the full Research Renewal playlist at AmyJohnsonCrow.com/55.

We all want our genealogy research to be good. However, insisting on perfection isn't only unrealistic, it can also be detrimental to your genealogy. It can also literally destroy your research.  In this first part of the "Research Renewal" series, Amy revisits her episode which asked, "Is perfectionism harming your genealogy?" She shows how it can be harmful and some ways to overcome it.  You can find the show notes at AmyJohnsonCrow.com/54.

When you're into genealogy, it's natural to want to give family history themed gifts, but sometimes they miss the mark. Here are 5 gifts that are easy and fun to put together that will bring a smile to those who receive them. There's also a tip about a common genealogy gift that you might want to reconsider giving.  The key is to keep it simple and fun. This episode shows you how.  You can find the show notes at AmyJohnsonCrow.com/53

We have all made mistakes in our genealogy research. Over the years, host Amy Johnson Crow has found these 3 mistakes to be the most common and the most detrimental.  Amy will share what they are, how they can affect your research, and how you can fix them.  You can find the show notes at AmyJohnsonCrow.com/52

Recently, host Amy Johnson Crow solved a genealogy problem that had plagued her for more than 20 years. In this episode, you'll not only learn how she solved it, but what lessons every genealogist can learn from the experience.  You can find the full show notes at AmyJohnsonCrow.com/51

"Evaluate your sources" is good advice, but it doesn't go quite far enough. There are actually 4 different, but related, things that you need to consider as you're judging the accuracy of a record. In this episode, you'll learn how sources, information, and evidence are different and what you need to look out for with each one. You'll also learn why looking at a record all by itself can lead to some wrong conclusions.  You can find the show notes for this episode at AmyJohnsonCrow.com/50.

It's easy to fall into a research rut, looking at just the same couple of favorite websites over and over. Here are 7 websites that will help you find more records so you can make more discoveries in your family history.  What's cool about all 7 of these websites is that they are absolutely free, yet they point to millions of resources that we can use.  You can find the show notes for this episode at AmyJohnsonCrow.com/49

Taking notes in our genealogy is an often-overlooked aspect of organizing. But taking good notes -- and taking them efficiently -- pays off in terms of analyzing your research and planning for future research.  In this episode, we'll explore why your genealogy software isn't the ideal way to keep your notes, what needs to be part of an efficient system, and review how Amy keeps her notes.  You can find the show notes at AmyJohnsonCrow.com/48.

When you're doing genealogy research, it's natural to start searching for more records when you want to answer a question. But what if the answer you're looking for has been in your notes all along? In this episode, you'll learn why you need to analyze what you already have (and why this is the second step in the WANDER research method). You'll also learn why analyzing is more than just re-reading your notes and how you can do this more effectively. You can find the show notes for this episode at AmyJohnsonCrow.com/47.

Genealogy research is filled with distractions. There are so many things to explore! So how do we stay focused and avoid those rabbit holes that are oh so tempting? Part of it is having a good research method to follow. In this episode, Amy shares how the first part of the WANDER method — What do you want to find? — is her best tip for focusing your research and staying on track.  You can find the show notes for this episode at AmyJohnsonCrow.com/46

Genealogy research brings many of us enjoyment, even comfort. So it can feel bewildering when we can't focus long enough to do it. This episode shows how you can still do family history activities even in this time of stress. Instead of trying to force ourselves to spend our stay-at-home hours breaking down brick wall research problems, let's look at other things we can do -- things that are still meaningful and enjoyable, but don't require a ton of concentration.  You can find the show notes at AmyJohnsonCrow.com/45

You've probably seen references to how the Corona virus and COVID-19 compare to the Spanish Flu. But what was life like for our ancestors during that scary time of 1918 and 1919? In this episode, Lori Lyn Price, a social historian who has studied life during the Spanish Flu, explains what our ancestors went through back then.  Note: if you typically listen to this podcast with children, you might want to listen to it without them first to make sure that it's appropriate for their age level.  Show notes with links to Lori Lyn's website as well as several other Spanish Flu resources are available at AmyJohnsonCrow.com/44.

Sales of genealogy DNA kits, such as AncestryDNA and 23andMe, has slowed dramatically. This is what's listed as the cause of layoffs at two major companies.  Why is this slowdown happening and what does it mean for the field? Can anything be done to correct the impact? You can find the show notes for this episode at AmyJohnsonCrow.com/43

Newspapers are a gold mine of genealogical information. But if you stop looking for them after using the daily or weekly newspaper from your ancestor's home town, you might be stopping too soon.  In this episode, Amy shares 3 other kinds of newspapers that you need to be familiar with, and where you can find them. These "other" newspapers are often more detailed than the mainstream newspaper and are well worth the effort to find them.  You can find the show notes, complete with links to resources, at AmyJohnsonCrow.com/42.

Ancestry's hints - those shaky green leaves that you see on your family tree - can be useful if you know their limitations.  Fun fact: You're missing the vast majority of records on Ancestry if you rely only on the hints.  You can find the show notes at AmyJohnsonCrow.com/41

Genealogy research is more than just gathering more and more records. It's even more than evaluating them. And the research rarely goes in a straight line.  In this episode, Amy describes her WANDER Method for the genealogy research process and how it serves as a path to follow so that you don't get lost.  You can find the show notes for this episode along with a free printable at AmyJohnsonCrow.com/40 .

There are so many benefits to writing about your genealogy, but getting started can feel tough. Who should you write about? What should you say? Writing can preserve our research, help us spot gaps in what we think we know, and connect us with others who are researching the same people. So how can we do that without feeling completely overwhelmed? 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks is a free writing challenge with weekly prompts to help give you ideas of what (and who) to write about. It's flexible for your needs. Take the prompts and interpret them how you want to.  Writing can take many forms, whether it's blogging, journaling, scrapbooking, video-making, emailing, or posting on social media.  The idea is to do something with your genealogy research.  You can find the show notes for this episode (and sign up for the free 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks challenge) at AmyJohnsonCrow.com/52ancestors.

Family stories are as important to genealogy as census records. They are what make our ancestors (and us) human. Here are 5 tips for getting more (and better) family stories when talking to a relative, along with the a surprising tip about preserving them.  You can find the show notes at AmyJohnsonCrow.com/38

Land records show more than just the transfer of land from one owner to another. They contain tremendous amounts of information that we can use in our genealogy research.  In this episode, you'll learn 11 things that are typical to find in a deed and what they could mean in your research.  You can find the show notes at AmyJohnsonCrow.com/37

In this follow-up to Episode 35, where we discussed strategies for downsizing, I share my real-life experience in downsizing my parents' home of 35 years -- the good, the bad, and the ugly.  You can find the show notes at AmyJohnsonCrow.com/36

In genealogy, we tend to always want more. But there comes a time when it will be necessary to downsize. How do we get rid of stuff and yet still preserve our family history? Professional organizer and genealogist Janine Adams shares her tips on how to approach this balancing act.  You can find the show notes at AmyJohnsonCrow.com/35

Academic libraries can hold treasures for genealogy research -- and it's more than just yearbooks and class photos. Drew Smith, co-host of the Genealogy Guys podcast, is a librarian at the University of South Florida. In this episode, he shares what you might find at a college or university library and how you can tell what those libraries have.  You can find the show notes at AmyJohnsonCrow.com/34

The intended merger between the National Genealogical Society and the Federation of Genealogical Societies is about a lot more than just combining conferences. It could have a huge impact on genealogy societies.  In this episode, Amy discusses what is known about the intended merger and what it could mean for societies -- and by extension, what it could mean for genealogy research.  You can find the show notes at AmyJohnsonCrow.com/33

DNA is a powerful tool, bringing about remarkable discoveries to adoptees and long lost families. But there's another type of discovery -- the unexpected relationships. Hear the story of how an experienced genealogist took a DNA test and the results changed her life and the lives of everyone in her family. Not only does she share the story of how this discovery came to light, but how she dealt -- and continues to deal -- with the aftermath. As she puts it, "You're not going to get over it. You're going to get through it." It's a topic that all genealogists need to be aware of and be sensitive to. You can find the show notes at AmyJohnsonCrow.com/32

What do you do when you go down to the basement and discover a box filled with family papers that has been down there for years? That's the situation Amy found herself in a few weeks ago.  Hear how Amy and her daughter, Rachel, sorted through this treasure and worked to sort and preserve it. In this episode, you'll learn: What to watch out for (the icky stuff that can destroy papers and photos) Why working with white cotton gloves isn't always the best thing to do How to sort the material as you go You can find the show notes, including a link to a video showing Amy and Rachel unboxing this treasure, at AmyJohnsonCrow.com/31.

Finding your ancestor's marriage record from the courthouse is a great feeling, but it isn't the only marriage record that you should look for.  In this episode, Amy shows how one clue in a civil marriage record can lead to another record that can have even more information, as well as alternative sources for marriage information.  Amy also talks about the reality of our ancestors getting divorced.  You can find the show notes with examples of all of the records she talked about at AmyJohnsonCrow.com/30

"No man left behind" is more than a motto to Megan Smolenyak and others who work on repatriating the remains of US servicemen and women whose remains are finally discovered.  Megan shares insight into what it takes to identify the person and his or her relatives, including what it's like to call a family member to tell them the news.  Megan also shares three of her favorite cases (out of the more than 1400 she's worked on!), including a Tuskegee Airman, a guitar hero, and a Red Cross worker.  The show notes have links to articles about the three people Megan highlighted and a collection of digitized letters written by one of them. You can find the show notes at AmyJohnsonCrow.com/29.

One of the most overlooked sources in genealogy is actually part of one of the most used sources. Mortality schedules are part of some federal censuses and detail deaths in that area.  In this episode, you'll learn what mortality schedules can tell us, what they cover, and where to find them.  The show notes include screenshots and links to relevant collections on Ancestry and FamilySearch.  You can find the show notes at AmyJohnsonCrow.com/28

Pinterest isn't just for recipes -- it's for our genealogy, too! Genealogy blogger and Pinterest power user Lisa Lisson shares how we can use Pinterest to stay organized and how to avoid going down rabbit holes chasing bright shiny objects.  In this episode, you'll learn how to: search effectively on Pinterest organize what you find (and keep it organized) get more genealogy into your Pinterest feed You'll want to check the show notes, which have screenshots and links to everything mentioned.  Find the show notes at: amyjohnsoncrow.com/27

A little planning goes a long way toward having a successful research trip to the library. In this episode, Amy covers: Why you need to have a research plan Why having more than one research plan is a good idea Tips for using the catalog How to tap into local knowledge for the inside scoop on using a particular library What you need to take with you The question you should always ask the librarian Why you shouldn't re-shelve the books you use, even if you know where they should go back You can find the show notes at AmyJohnsonCrow.com/26

If you've been ignoring the Genealogical Proof Standard because you think it's only for professional researchers, then take a listen. It's for everyone who wants to do good research.  In this episode, you'll learn what it is and how it can help you. You'll also learn the five parts to the GPS and what each one means - and doesn't mean - for your research.  You can find the show notes at AmyJohnsonCrow.com/25.

To find our female ancestors, we have to look at records with a close eye. Jane Wilcox shares how to use records as mundane as store ledgers to identify the females in the family tree... and why we have to research the men in her life.  You can find the show notes at AmyJohnsonCrow.com/24.

Disaster can strike at any time. If you want to keep your genealogy research safe, you need to take steps to protect and preserve it.  In this episode, you'll learn why just having a backup isn't enough and why the cloud can be your friend.  You'll also learn: why "paper is permanent" is a fallacy how LOCKSS can keep your research safe how organizing plays a role in preserving your research why publishing needs to be part of your preservation efforts You can find the show notes at AmyJohnsonCrow.com/23  

A look at major DNA announcements at RootsTech 2019, plus an announcement about a new way to learn genealogy.  Including: AncestryDNA's ThruLines Ancestry's MyTreeTags MyHeritage's "The Theory of Family Relativity" MyHeritage's AutoClusters Also an announcement about my new Generations Cafe Circle membership, a new way to learn how to do genealogy. It isn't just video classes -- it's also access to me, other experts, and your fellow students. Get your questions answered.  You can find the show notes with screenshots and links at AmyJohnsonCrow.com/22.

A research framework is a way of approaching your genealogy research so that you cover the basics and you don't miss something obvious. A good framework also sparks ideas for further research and more discoveries.  In this episode, Amy shares 3 ways of creating a framework (by different aspects of the ancestor's life; by record type; and by repository). The cool thing is that these frameworks can work together! Amy goes more in-depth into the types of places you should explore, no matter where your research takes you... and why you should look at websites for certain organizations even if you don't plan on visiting there in person.  You can find the show notes with all of the sites mentioned in this episode at AmyJohnsonCrow.com/21