Genealogy news

• His Unmarked Grave Lay Forgotten for 200 Years. They Had to Fix That.

  09-10-2026 15:26 via NYT > Genealogy
  The identity of a Scottish sailor killed in Connecticut after a skirmish during the War of 1812 long remained a mystery until two local history buffs got involved.
  
  Read more

• Can You Trust that Record or Story? Premium Podcast Episode #228

  29-09-2026 23:15 via Genealogy Gems
  
  
  (AUDIO PODCAST) In this episode, we examine how easily a compelling historical story can spread online and why genealogists must resist sharing before verifying. You’ll learn the Genealogist’s Trust Test, a memorable six-step SOURCE method for breaking a story into testable claims, tracing information back to its origin, locating original records, comparing independent sources and considering […]
  Source
  
  Read more

• 5 Things to check before you add another ancestor to your family tree

  29-09-2026 20:22 via Genealogy Gems
  
  (VIDEO) Is your family tree accurate, or have genealogy mistakes been hiding in plain sight? Here are 5 practical ways to check your genealogy research and build a more reliable family tree. Whether you use Ancestry, FamilySearch, MyHeritage, and/or genealogy software, these beginner and advanced friendly family history research tips will help you: review your […]
  Source
  
  Read more

• Taking the True Measure of America’s Heritage

  29-09-2026 18:42 via NYT > Genealogy
  Readers respond to a column by David French about Heritage Americans. Also: President Trump’s mental fitness; Amazon’s drone invasion; A.I. and the job market.
  
  Read more

• Advertisement

• My Uncle May Have a Son He Won’t Acknowledge. What Do I Owe My (Maybe) Cousin?

  23-09-2026 18:00 via NYT > Genealogy
  I feel very sad for this man trying to find his father.
  
  Read more

• Give that Boring Ancestor a Makeover! Episode 311

  17-09-2026 00:17 via Genealogy Gems
  
  (AUDIO PODCAST) Your ancestor is not boring. You just haven’t uncovered their full story yet! If you’ve got a family tree profile that feels like a “plain Jane,” this episode shows you how to turn it into a richer, more compelling portrait. Start with 5 simple ways to check your existing research. Then discover 5 […]
  Source
  
  Read more

• 10 More Great Genealogy Websites – Premium Episode 227

  02-09-2026 00:20 via Genealogy Gems
  
  
  (AUDIO PODCAST) If you loved discovering new genealogy research websites in the last free episode (#310) , get ready to dive even deeper. This premium episode of the Genealogy Gems Podcast is your guide to ten more powerful websites for genealogy research and family history research, covering federal land records, archival finding aids, small town […]
  Source
  
  Read more

• Forensic Scientists Use ‘Breakthrough’ Method to Identify 9/11 Victim

  25-08-2026 00:31 via NYT > Genealogy
  DNA analysts at the New York City medical examiner’s office partnered with a squad of local detectives skilled at genealogical research.
  
  Read more

• Advertisement

• Surfin’ the Internet for Great Genealogy Websites – Episode 310

  20-08-2026 21:04 via Genealogy Gems
  
  (AUDIO PODCAST) It’s August, and before summer slips away, we’re going surfing—genealogy style! In this episode, we’re taking a fast-moving tour of favorite genealogy websites, along with some lesser-known gems that may be completely new to you. At each stop, you’ll discover a reason to visit and a practical tip for getting more from the […]
  Source
  
  Read more

• Surfin’ the Internet for Great Genealogy Websites

  20-08-2026 21:04 via Genealogy Gems
  
  (AUDIO PODCAST) It’s August, and before summer slips away, we’re going surfing—genealogy style! In this episode, we’re taking a fast-moving tour of favorite genealogy websites, along with some lesser-known gems that may be completely new to you. At each stop, you’ll discover a reason to visit and a practical tip for getting more from the […]
  Source
  
  Read more

• Is this an Hallucination? Evaluating New AI Genealogy Tools – Premium Episode 226

  24-07-2026 17:24 via Genealogy Gems
  
  
  Overwhelmed by the onslaught of new AI tools for genealogy? In this episode, we’ll explore this growing category of tools and how to evaluate whether they’re worth your time and money. I’ll also share how to determine whether a FamilySearch AI Assistant suggestion is fact or fiction. Listen to Premium Podcast Episode 226   Show […]
  Source
  
  Read more

• Evaluating New AI Genealogy Tools – Premium Episode 226

  24-07-2026 17:24 via Genealogy Gems
  
  
  Overwhelmed by the onslaught of new AI tools for genealogy? In this episode, we’ll explore this growing category of tools and how to evaluate whether they’re worth your time and money. I’ll also share how to determine whether a FamilySearch AI Assistant suggestion is fact or fiction. Listen to Premium Podcast Episode 226   Show […]
  Source
  
  Read more

• 50th Anniversary of Roots with Chris Haley – Podcast Episode 309

  08-07-2026 17:13 via Genealogy Gems
  
  (AUDIO PODCAST) Alex Haley’s book Roots: The Saga of an American Family was published on August 17, 1976. In this episode of the Genealogy Gems Podcast, host Lisa Louise Cooke welcomes historian (and nephew of Alex Haley) Chris Haley to discuss the remarkable impact of Haley’s seminal work, “Roots,” nearly 50 years after its release. […]
  Source
  
  Read more

• Researching Your Father’s Story – Episode 308

  16-06-2026 22:20 via Genealogy Gems
  
  (AUDIO PODCAST) When building your family tree it’s easy to skip over your own parents in the excitement to go back generations. Just in time for Father’s Day we are exploring practical strategies for uncovering and preserving your dad’s life story. Learn how to get around privacy restrictions barriers on records, build a timeline, conduct […]
  Source
  
  Read more

• 26-Year Mystery of a Skeleton in a Tent Ends With DNA Identification

  12-06-2026 22:02 via NYT > Genealogy
  Remains of the man, Joseph Louis Serrao, Jr., discovered in a remote area in Olympic National Park in 2000, were identified using forensic genealogy.
  
  Read more

• A Sister Hidden in the DNA, New Records & AI Tools – Premium Episode 225

  07-06-2026 20:08 via Genealogy Gems
  
  
  In this episode, we begin with an extraordinary DNA discovery story that proves family history can still deliver life-changing surprises. Then to help you make more discoveries, we explore newly released record collections from MyHeritage and Ancestry, highlight a free upcoming genealogy webinar from the Library of Congress, and share news about two major genealogy […]
  Source
  
  Read more

• The Genealogist’s Guide to Military Research

  23-05-2026 19:29 via Genealogy Gems
  (AUDIO PODCAST) Here is your guided tour through some of the richest U.S. military records for genealogists, family historians and military researchers. Professional forensic genealogist and Military Minutes contributor Michael Strauss joins me once again to unpack draft registration records, compiled military service records, enlistment types, and the different branches of the military (Army, Navy, […]
  Source
  
  Read more

• Inside the Secret History of the DeGrange Family

  15-05-2026 22:06 via NYT > Genealogy
  One fateful decision 100 years ago created parallel lives. How does a family broken by the bizarre rules of racism heal itself after three generations apart?
  
  Read more

• A Shocking Family Secret and 3 Powerful Newspaper Search Tips – Premium Episode 224

  29-04-2026 11:26 via Genealogy Gems
  
  
  I used the British Newspaper Archive to make a shocking discovery in my husband’s family history was made with the help of these three powerful strategies. Read on to learn how to find more information on your ancestors in online historical newspapers.  Listen to Premium Podcast Episode 224   Show Notes Download the show notes […]
  Source
  
  Read more

• Trump and King Charles Could Be Very Distant Cousins

  28-04-2026 20:36 via NYT > Genealogy
  Mr. Trump expressed delight on social media on Tuesday after a British newspaper report said he was a 15th cousin of the British monarch.
  
  Read more

• A Lost Tribe in India Makes Its Exodus to Israel

  23-04-2026 06:00 via NYT > Genealogy
  The B’nei Menashe believe they are the children of Manasseh, a king of Judah exiled about 2,800 years ago. Evidence is thin, but Israel is welcoming them ‘home.’
  
  Read more

• Avoid Genealogy Regrets with These 10 Smart Strategies (Video & Podcast)

  22-04-2026 20:28 via Genealogy Gems
  Do you want to avoid the biggest genealogy mistakes before they turn into major regrets? In this video, I’m sharing 10 smart habits that will save you time, protect your research, and help you build a stronger family tree for the long haul. If you’re a genealogy beginner, these tips will save you headache and […]
  Source
  
  Read more

• The Latest Genealogy News – Premium Episode 223

  06-04-2026 21:46 via Genealogy Gems
  
  
  (PREMIUM AUDIO PODCAST)  Show Notes: This is a fast-moving genealogy news roundup that covers major updates from Tree Crossing, MyHeritage, FamilySearch, Ancestry, GenealogyBank, and newspaper archives, along with a new Irish history podcast and a practical mailbox question about translating and annotating records. It highlights new AI and search tools, fresh record collections, and research-friendly newspaper […]
  Source
  
  Read more

• How Immigration Policies Like Birthright Citizenship Shaped the Supreme Court Justices’ Histories

  31-03-2026 11:01 via NYT > Genealogy
  
  As the justices prepare to hear a landmark case about birthright citizenship, their family stories are a reminder that the law has shaped who can be an American.
  
  Read more

• The Supreme Court’s Personal Connections to Immigration

  31-03-2026 11:00 via NYT > Genealogy
  
  As the court prepares to hear oral arguments in a landmark case on birthright citizenship, our Supreme Court correspondent, Abbie VanSickle, traced the justices’ ancestries. She found family histories that spanned the American experience, including one case of birthright citizenship.
  
  Read more

• 2 Top Factors in Genealogy Research (Video & Podcast)

  24-03-2026 03:14 via Genealogy Gems
  
  In this episode you’ll discover two of the most important factors in identifying a unique individual in your research and discuss the tools and strategies to use them to your best advantage. Listen to the Podcast Watch the Video Coming soon! SHOW NOTES Download the show notes (Premium Membership required) The challenge of differentiating ancestors […]
  Source
  
  Read more

• Try it with me! MyHeritage Scribe AI tool analyzes your genealogy documents

  13-03-2026 15:08 via Genealogy Gems
  Come explore the capabilities of MyHeritage’s Scribe AI with me. We’ll use it to analyze and transcribe genealogical notes, generate research suggestions and strategies to add to our genealogy research plan and more. Wait until you see what it can do with cursive handwritten notes! Watch the Video MyHeritage has just launched Scribe AI, a […]
  Source
  
  Read more

• Try it with me! MyHeritage AI Scribe tool analyzes your genealogy documents

  13-03-2026 15:08 via Genealogy Gems
  Come explore the capabilities of MyHeritage’s Scribe AI with me. We’ll use it to analyze and transcribe genealogical notes, generate research suggestions and strategies to add to our genealogy research plan and more. Wait until you see what it can do with cursive handwritten notes! Watch the Video MyHeritage has just launched Scribe AI, a […]
  Source
  
  Read more

• Should I Tell My Estranged Brother About His Biological Father?

  11-03-2026 17:00 via NYT > Genealogy
  I’m less troubled by my mother’s affair than by her decision to join a genealogy website where this could so easily surface.
  
  Read more

• Reverse Genealogy Finding Recent Living People – Premium Episode 222

  02-03-2026 21:32 via Genealogy Gems
  
  
  (PREMIUM AUDIO PODCAST)  Show Notes: In this episode Lisa explores the challenges of researching people from the 20th century who have little to no digital footprint. She shares a case study that highlights the importance of reverse genealogy and the power of newspapers in uncovering family histories. By focusing on the descendants of individuals with limited […]
  Source
  
  Read more

• Genetic Genealogy – the Nancy Guthrie case (episode 304)

  19-02-2026 18:08 via Genealogy Gems
  (Video and Audio Podcast) Could Forensic Investigative Genetic Genealogy (IGG), Parabon Snapshot phenotyping, and FamilyTreeDNA family trees finally identify Nancy Guthrie’s kidnapper? In this video (and Genealogy Gems Podcast audio episode 304) Lisa Louise Cooke shares the shocking backstory of the abduction of Savannah Guthrie’s 84-year-old mother who vanished from her Tucson AZ home on […]
  Source
  
  Read more

• Genetic Genealogy – the Nancy Guthrie case

  19-02-2026 18:08 via Genealogy Gems
  Could Forensic Investigative Genetic Genealogy (IGG), Parabon Snapshot phenotyping, and FamilyTreeDNA family trees finally identify Nancy Guthrie’s kidnapper? Lisa Louise Cooke shares the shocking backstory of the abduction of Savannah Guthrie’s 84-year-old mother who vanished from her Tucson AZ home on Jan 31, 2026. Chilling doorbell footage showing a masked suspect surfaced. Ransom notes demanding […]
  Source
  
  Read more

• Create a Genealogy Research Plan – Premium Podcast Episode 221

  29-01-2026 23:08 via Genealogy Gems
  
  
  (PREMIUM AUDIO PODCAST)  This is the audio version of the entire course Create a Genealogy Research Plan.  Listen to the Podcast The Premium Podcast can also be streamed on your phone. Show Notes There are no show notes for this episode. You can download the course lessons.
  Source
  
  Read more

• Top 7 Genealogy Mistakes That Keep You Stuck (and how to finally solve them!)

  26-01-2026 22:06 via Genealogy Gems
  (Podcast & Video) Does this sound familiar? You sit down for a genealogy research session, full of excitement, ready to make some big discoveries. Then hours later, you’re still staring at the same screen, frustrated, with that nagging brick wall still standing tall. You’re definitely not alone. Let’s explore the seven of the most common […]
  Source
  
  Read more

• NEW COURSE: Genealogy Research Plan

  19-01-2026 19:37 via Genealogy Gems
  Does this sound familiar? You sit down to research, bounce between genealogy websites, and get lost in hints only to end up no closer to an answer than when you started? It’s time to stop aimlessly searching for your ancestors and start busting brick walls. This 5‑day course shows you exactly how to turn that […]
  Source
  
  Read more

• Genealogy Research Plan Q&A Forum

  13-01-2026 03:25 via Genealogy Gems
  This is your space to connect, collaborate, and grow as a researcher! Use this forum to ask questions, share your research plan progress, and exchange ideas about creating effective genealogy research strategies. Here are a few ways to participate: Post questions about developing or refining your research plan. Share examples from your own research (be […]
  Source
  
  Read more

• Create a Genealogy Research Plan Discussion

  13-01-2026 03:25 via Genealogy Gems
  Welcome to the Discussion Forum This is your space to connect, collaborate, and grow as a researcher! Use this forum to ask questions, share your research plan progress, and exchange ideas about creating effective genealogy research strategies. Here are a few ways to participate: Post questions about developing or refining your research plan. Share examples […]
  Source
  
  Read more

• Should I Scrub the Evidence That Our Dad Had a Family Before Ours?

  10-01-2026 12:00 via NYT > Genealogy
  I’m sure it would kill my younger sister if I told her what I found.
  
  Read more

• Treecrossing, FamilySearch app, OldNews.com by MyHeritage, Google Lens

  16-12-2025 18:53 via Genealogy Gems
  (Audio Podcast) In episode #302 of the Genealogy Gems podcast, host Lisa Louise Cooke discusses innovative tools and resources for genealogists, including Tree Crossing, a new platform designed to help users share their family trees in a more engaging way for non-genealogists. The episode features an interview with the creators of Tree Crossing, who explain […]
  Source
  
  Read more

• Beginners guide: How to use Tree Crossing

  15-12-2025 19:01 via Genealogy Gems
  In this video, the creators of Tree Crossing demonstrate the main features including the contextual features, data visualization, privacy controls, and collaborative sharing of family trees. You’ll learn how how these elements make genealogy more accessible and engaging for your family members who don’t do genealogy research. If you’re new to Tree Crossing, watch Tree Crossing […]
  Source
  
  Read more

• Tree Crossing – a New Way to Share Trees that Solves Problems

  08-12-2025 16:45 via Genealogy Gems
  Why would you or I use yet another family tree website like Tree Crossing? Because it’s solving problems! Solving Family Tree Problems with Tree Crossing In this video we explore the problems that still exist for genealogists when it comes to sharing family tree information with our family members. Creators Bob Meyers and David Pugmire […]
  Source
  
  Read more

• Cold Case Inquiries Stall After Ancestry.com Revisits Policy for Users

  07-12-2025 21:32 via NYT > Genealogy
  The genealogy site’s clarification of its terms and conditions has barred those working on unsolved crimes from access to the company’s vast trove of records.
  
  Read more

• Cold Case Inquiries Hampered After Genealogy Site Revisits Terms of Use

  07-12-2025 09:00 via NYT > Genealogy
  Ancestry’s clarification of a policy has barred those working on unsolved crimes from access to the company’s vast trove of records.
  
  Read more

• Thomas King, Award-Winning Canadian Author, Says He Is Not Indigenous

  25-11-2025 08:57 via NYT > Genealogy
  Thomas King said he felt “ripped in half” on learning he had no Indigenous ancestry. The Canadian author has dedicated his career to writing about Indigenous people.
  
  Read more

• Google Search Methodology Update – Premium Podcast Episode 220

  24-11-2025 22:32 via Genealogy Gems
  
  
  (PREMIUM AUDIO PODCAST)  Show Notes: We last covered my Google Search Methodology for Genealogists in Genealogy Gems Premium podcast episode #181 in 2020. A lot has happened since then, and it’s time for an update.  If you think you know how to Google, think again! ln this episode you will hear the latest search innovations, […]
  Source
  
  Read more

• Newspaper Research – Episode 301

  07-11-2025 18:17 via Genealogy Gems
  (Audio Podcast & Show Notes): In this episode of the Genealogy Gems Podcast, Lisa Louise Cooke interviews Elephind.com creator Stefan Boddie and Damien Bennett of Veridian Software (the engine behind Elephind). They discuss the relaunch of the free newspaper search site and its new AI enhancements. Then Lisa compares the most popular AI chatbots and […]
  Source
  
  Read more

• Find Thousands of Newspaper Records with Elephind

  03-11-2025 21:01 via Genealogy Gems
  Join us as we explore the exciting relaunch of Elephind, a powerful search engine for historical newspapers. Discover how Elephind is revolutionizing access to genealogical treasures with its AI-driven smart search features. Featuring insights from Stefan Boddie, the Creator of Elephind, and Damian Bennett, manager at Veridian, this video delves into the challenges and solutions […]
  Source
  
  Read more

• Robo en el Louvre: base de datos de ADN conduce a detenciones

  03-11-2025 17:02 via NYT > Genealogy
  El acervo de perfiles de ADN de Francia ha ayudado a resolver delitos de gran repercusión, como el atraco del Louvre, y sigue creciendo.
  
  Read more

• Arrests in Louvre Heist Show Power of DNA Databases in Solving Crimes

  03-11-2025 06:01 via NYT > Genealogy
  France’s trove of DNA profiles has helped solve high-profile crimes and was used to find some of the Louvre suspects, and it is growing. The police can also access other countries’ databases.
  
  Read more

• Down Memory Lane – Episode 300

  21-10-2025 21:39 via Genealogy Gems
  (Audio Podcast & Show Notes): In this episode of the Genealogy Gems Podcast, Lisa Louise Cooke explores takes a trip down memory lane sharing highlights from the last 300 episodes, and some of her personal favorites. Listen to the Podcast Click below to listen now. Download the Show Notes Cheat Sheet Premium Members can download these […]
  Source
  
  Read more

Follow @newsl_genealogy on Twitter!