There’s a certain thrill that comes with discovery—the moment your ancestor’s name appears in a record, confirming that they were here. Real. Counted. Known. But discovery is only the beginning. The real magic happens when we breathe life back into what we’ve found—when we turn the details in an archival record into a story worth remembering.

We often study history as a series of dates, wars, and inventions—but what if we also studied the emotions that survived those events? Helen Parker-Drabble’s article “How Key Psychologist Theories Can Enrich Our Understanding of Our Ancestors and Help Improve Mental Health for Present and Future Generations” begins with a striking idea:

Building strong connections in the genealogy world can feel like piecing together a giant family puzzle. But guess what? You don’t have to do it alone! Whether you’re diving into your own family history or helping others uncover theirs, creating a network of fellow enthusiasts and professionals can make your journey more exciting and fruitful. Ready to explore some genealogy connection tips that will boost your efforts? Let’s jump right in!

October is Family History Month, and there’s no better time to breathe life into your ancestors’ stories. We often think of genealogy as a solitary search through records and archives, but social media has changed that. It’s not just where we share discoveries; it’s where we invite others to join the conversation.

Sometimes, the best stories don’t come from archives—they come from the kitchen table, a phone call, or a quick text that begins with, “Do you remember when…?”

If you’ve ever found yourself opening social media to “just post one thing” and, an hour later, you’re still scrolling… you’re not alone. Managing multiple platforms, creating posts, and trying to stay consistent can quickly become overwhelming—especially when you’re juggling genealogy research, writing, or running a society page.

For years, Facebook has been a gathering place for genealogists and historians, whether you’re connecting with cousins, joining a society group, or simply swapping ancestor stories. Now Facebook has introduced Fan Challenges, a feature designed to deepen those connections and inspire more creative interaction between creators and their followers.

When the genealogy community began embracing social media, it opened up new opportunities. Suddenly, societies, libraries, and family historians could share stories and reach people well beyond their own town or membership list. Likes, follows, and algorithms shaped who saw what, and for a long time, success meant chasing numbers. That world is shifting, and fast.

October marks Family History Month, which is a time when stories, traditions, and connections can take center stage. For professional...

Image created with Midjourney Change is never easy. It stirs up fear, uncertainty, and sometimes even resistance. I’m feeling that deeply...

For generations, genealogical societies were the beating heart of family history research. If you wanted to hear expert presentations, learn research methods, or meet fellow enthusiasts, you joined your local society. They were the gateways to community, education, and discovery. But the world has shifted. Many people no longer see societies as their first stop when beginning their family history journey. Online tools, webinars, podcasts, and social media groups provide in

Social media can feel like a never-ending family reunion. Everyone’s talking, stories are flying, and you’re trying to keep up with every conversation. Eventually, the noise gets so loud that you stop hearing the voices that matter. That’s when social media burnout sets in.

When people think about family history, they often imagine thick binders, long family trees, and hours of research. But in today’s digital world, storytelling can be quick, visual, and incredibly powerful. That’s where short-form storytelling comes in — the art of sharing your ancestor’s life in under a minute.

Every memorable story — whether it’s in a book, a movie, or passed down through family — follows a structure. In genealogy, that structure helps transform facts into a narrative people want to hear. One of the simplest and most powerful storytelling tools is The Story Arc. It has three main parts: Setting, Conflict or Change, and Resolution.

If you’ve been researching your family history for a while, you probably have folders full of records — census pages, ship manifests, military files, letters, photographs. But here’s the thing: a record alone isn’t a story.

Family history isn’t just about names and dates on a tree — it’s about bringing those people back to life through the stories we tell....

Some places are more than just locations on a map—they're anchors in our family's timeline. For my family, that place is Butterworth Hospital in Grand Rapids, Michigan. It’s where I was born. It’s also where my mom was born. And my grandparents. And my great-grandparents. And even my great-great-grandparents.

Our ancestors are more than just names in a tree—they’re the roots that hold us up. Their choices shaped the lives we live today, including something as simple and as profound as where we were born. It’s a little wild to think about: the reason I was born in America is because someone—several someones—made the life-changing decision to leave everything behind and start over here. Just as my decisions shaped where my children were born, their decisions shaped me.

In the history of my maternal line, one remarkable woman rises to the surface again and again—Emma Jane Apps, my 2nd great-grandmother. Born into a time when women’s choices were often limited, Emma didn’t just survive—she thrived. She became a postmaster, a landowner, and a woman who knew her worth, even when the world tried to tell her otherwise.

As I sift through old records and fragile pages, I often feel like I’m chasing echoes—traces of lives that still ripple through mine. This time, the trail led me to my paternal 2nd great-grandparents, Hugh and Anna (McFarland) Kerr—two brave souls who left Ireland behind for a new life in America.