October 31, 2025 Too many genealogists restrict their genealogical research to online records. The idea seems to be “if it’s not online, it doesn’t exist.” Nothing could be further from the truth. The number of records offline far exceeds those online. This is especially true of divorce records. Although divorces were rare in earlier …
History of Passenger Lists
October 24, 2025 Finding an ancestor’s passenger list is a research goal for many genealogists. Before beginning work on that goal, it’s important to understand what kind of passenger lists have been kept over the years. Before 1820, there were few requirements to enter America. No official lists were kept at entry ports during …
Adding Context to Passenger Lists
October 10, 2025 Passenger lists are some of my favorite genealogy resources. Seeing my ancestor’s name on a list that was made when he/she left their old life for a new life in America is a meaningful experience for me. However, sometimes it’s frustrating how little information the lists provide. Arrivals after about 1892 …