In a previous blog post I mentioned how veterans could acquire homesteads via bounty land warrants they received as a benefit for military service. Since then, I've been thinking it would be worthwhile to offer some general advice about land records at the National Archives, and more importantly to explain the distinction between public and private … Continue reading Family Tree Friday: Land records – knowing Public from Private
Category: Family Tree Fridays
Family Tree Friday: Were you at work? The 1940 Census employment status (Part 1)
This week's post comes from guest blogger Diane Petro, who is an Archives Technician in the Archives I Research Support Branch (RD-DC), Research Services, Archival Operations - Washington, DC. Diane helps staff the research rooms at the National Archives Building and has also been working on reference activities relating to the upcoming 1940 Census release. … Continue reading Family Tree Friday: Were you at work? The 1940 Census employment status (Part 1)
Family Tree Friday: Where is “Fred Tiffany” in an Enumeration District in the 1940 Census?
This week's post comes from guest blogger Constance Potter, who is a reference archivist at the National Archives in Research Services, Archival Operations-Washington, DC. Connie is the lead expert on reference relating to the upcoming 1940 Census release on April 2, 2012. Today we focus on the places where you can find a person in an … Continue reading Family Tree Friday: Where is “Fred Tiffany” in an Enumeration District in the 1940 Census?
Family Tree Friday: Online RIPs for Military and Civilian records
The more we interact with the public, whether at national conferences or NARA-sponsored events such at the annual Genealogy Fair, the more we hear how much researchers would like to see our finding aids available online. Well, this seems like a good opportunity to point out that two of our most popular genealogy Reference Information … Continue reading Family Tree Friday: Online RIPs for Military and Civilian records
Family Tree Friday: Bounty land vs. pensions–what's the difference, anyway?
Since the beginning of the Family Tree Friday blog, we've talked a lot about pension records and indexes, but I'm not too sure we've ever mentioned or even defined that other essential and related benefit of military service, the bounty land warrant! Pensions, of course, have been granted to veterans since the end of the … Continue reading Family Tree Friday: Bounty land vs. pensions–what's the difference, anyway?
Family Tree Friday: Using the Official Register to find Federal employees
Most people who research information about relatives or ancestors who were Federal employees probably don't make enough use of government publications. So, it might interest you to know that the Federal Government actually produced its own employee directory, the Official Register of the United States, which spans the early 19th to the mid-20th centuries (1817-1959). … Continue reading Family Tree Friday: Using the Official Register to find Federal employees
Tell us your stories!
We're just over halfway through this summer's "I Found it in the National Archives" contest and have enjoyed reading the stories that have come in so far! From Rebecca Lawrence-Weden's tale of a lighthouse, a walnut and the Great War to Wendy Griswold's experience shedding some light on a 106-year-old family tragedy, the determination and … Continue reading Tell us your stories!
Family Tree Friday: Finding religion in Federal records…from 1926!
When you consider the vast holdings of federal records at the National Archives, what usually jumps to mind are such mainstay documents as Civil War pensions and service records, immigration passenger manifests, Congressional petitions and memorials, or homestead applications. Certainly, the Charters of Freedom—the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights—figure prominently … Continue reading Family Tree Friday: Finding religion in Federal records…from 1926!
Family Tree Friday: The National Youth Administration (1935-1943)
This week's post comes to you from guest blogger Jennifer Dryer, who works in the National Declassification Center at the National Archives. Jennifer is completing a cross-training assignment with the Archives I Research Support Branch, where she has been working on reference relating to the upcoming 1940 Census release. Some questions on the 1940 census … Continue reading Family Tree Friday: The National Youth Administration (1935-1943)
Family Tree Friday: War of 1812 Passenger List
Today's post is brought to you by Claire Prechtel-Kluskens, Archivist in the Archives I Research Support Branch. June 18, 2011 marks the 199th anniversary of the beginning of the War of 1812. On June 18, 1812, in Washington, DC, the U.S. Congress declared war against Great Britain. On about the same date, nearly 3,400 miles … Continue reading Family Tree Friday: War of 1812 Passenger List