Genealogy news

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

  25-08-2026 00:31 via nytimes.com
  DNA analysts at the New York City medical examiner’s office partnered with a squad of local detectives skilled at genealogical research.
  
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• His Unmarked Grave Lay Forgotten for 200 Years. They Had to Fix That.

  09-10-2026 15:26 via nytimes.com
  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.
  
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• Can You Trust that Record or Story? Premium Podcast Episode #228

  29-09-2026 23:15 via lisalouisecooke.com
  
  
  (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 […]
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• 5 Things to check before you add another ancestor to your family tree

  29-09-2026 20:22 via lisalouisecooke.com
  
  (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 […]
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• Taking the True Measure of America’s Heritage

  29-09-2026 18:42 via nytimes.com
  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.
  
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• My Uncle May Have a Son He Won’t Acknowledge. What Do I Owe My (Maybe) Cousin?

  23-09-2026 18:00 via nytimes.com
  I feel very sad for this man trying to find his father.
  
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• Give that Boring Ancestor a Makeover! Episode 311

  17-09-2026 00:17 via lisalouisecooke.com
  
  (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 […]
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• 10 More Great Genealogy Websites – Premium Episode 227

  02-09-2026 00:20 via lisalouisecooke.com
  
  
  (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 […]
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• Surfin’ the Internet for Great Genealogy Websites

  20-08-2026 21:04 via lisalouisecooke.com
  
  (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 […]
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• Is this an Hallucination? Evaluating New AI Genealogy Tools – Premium Episode 226

  24-07-2026 17:24 via lisalouisecooke.com
  
  
  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 […]
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• Evaluating New AI Genealogy Tools – Premium Episode 226

  24-07-2026 17:24 via lisalouisecooke.com
  
  
  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 […]
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• 50th Anniversary of Roots with Chris Haley – Podcast Episode 309

  08-07-2026 17:13 via lisalouisecooke.com
  
  (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. […]
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• Researching Your Father’s Story – Episode 308

  16-06-2026 22:20 via lisalouisecooke.com
  
  (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 […]
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• 26-Year Mystery of a Skeleton in a Tent Ends With DNA Identification

  12-06-2026 22:02 via nytimes.com
  Remains of the man, Joseph Louis Serrao, Jr., discovered in a remote area in Olympic National Park in 2000, were identified using forensic genealogy.
  
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• A Sister Hidden in the DNA, New Records & AI Tools – Premium Episode 225

  07-06-2026 20:08 via lisalouisecooke.com
  
  
  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 […]
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• The Genealogist’s Guide to Military Research

  23-05-2026 19:29 via lisalouisecooke.com
  (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, […]
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• Inside the Secret History of the DeGrange Family

  15-05-2026 22:06 via nytimes.com
  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?
  
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• A Shocking Family Secret and 3 Powerful Newspaper Search Tips – Premium Episode 224

  29-04-2026 11:26 via lisalouisecooke.com
  
  
  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 […]
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• Trump and King Charles Could Be Very Distant Cousins

  28-04-2026 20:36 via nytimes.com
  Mr. Trump expressed delight on social media on Tuesday after a British newspaper report said he was a 15th cousin of the British monarch.
  
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• A Lost Tribe in India Makes Its Exodus to Israel

  23-04-2026 06:00 via nytimes.com
  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.’
  
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• Avoid Genealogy Regrets with These 10 Smart Strategies (Video & Podcast)

  22-04-2026 20:28 via lisalouisecooke.com
  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 […]
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• The Latest Genealogy News – Premium Episode 223

  06-04-2026 21:46 via lisalouisecooke.com
  
  
  (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 […]
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• How Immigration Policies Like Birthright Citizenship Shaped the Supreme Court Justices’ Histories

  31-03-2026 11:01 via nytimes.com
  
  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.
  
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• The Supreme Court’s Personal Connections to Immigration

  31-03-2026 11:00 via nytimes.com
  
  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.
  
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• 2 Top Factors in Genealogy Research (Video & Podcast)

  24-03-2026 03:14 via lisalouisecooke.com
  
  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 […]
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• Try it with me! MyHeritage Scribe AI tool analyzes your genealogy documents

  13-03-2026 15:08 via lisalouisecooke.com
  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 […]
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• Try it with me! MyHeritage AI Scribe tool analyzes your genealogy documents

  13-03-2026 15:08 via lisalouisecooke.com
  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 […]
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• Should I Tell My Estranged Brother About His Biological Father?

  11-03-2026 17:00 via nytimes.com
  I’m less troubled by my mother’s affair than by her decision to join a genealogy website where this could so easily surface.
  
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• Reverse Genealogy Finding Recent Living People – Premium Episode 222

  02-03-2026 21:32 via lisalouisecooke.com
  
  
  (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 […]
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• Genetic Genealogy – the Nancy Guthrie case (episode 304)

  19-02-2026 18:08 via lisalouisecooke.com
  (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 […]
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