Ancestral Findings - Genealogy Podcast
Whether you are new to genealogy or a practiced veteran of the craft, these short clips of information about genealogy and our ancestors should inspire and assist you in moving further on your family tree. Keep them handy when you hit a brick wall or want new inspiration for unique angles to take in your work. With each clip, you will quickly learn what you need to know and be ready to jump back into the ancestor pool with a renewed sense of purpose.
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AF-1186: The Indian Diaspora: Tracing Indentured Labor and Migration | Ancestral Findings Podcast
11/21/2025
AF-1186: The Indian Diaspora: Tracing Indentured Labor and Migration | Ancestral Findings Podcast
The story of the Indian diaspora is one of both hardship and resilience. During British colonial rule, millions of Indians were sent abroad as indentured laborers, forming a global network that stretched from the Caribbean to Africa and the South Pacific. The movement of people wasn’t just a simple relocation; it was driven by economic needs, social changes, and political agendas that shaped Indian families for generations... Podcast notes: Ancestral Findings Podcast: This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: Genealogy Giveaway: Genealogy eBooks: Follow Along: Support Ancestral Findings: #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips
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AF-1185: Tracing Ancestry During British Rule in India | Ancestral Findings Podcast
11/20/2025
AF-1185: Tracing Ancestry During British Rule in India | Ancestral Findings Podcast
India’s colonial past under British rule is a significant chapter in its history and a treasure trove for those seeking to trace their ancestry. The British were meticulous record-keepers, and much of their documentation has survived, providing invaluable insights into Indian families during the 18th to mid-20th centuries. Whether your ancestors served in the militia, were part of the landowning class, or engaged in trade, there’s a strong chance that colonial records hold the key to unlocking your family’s history. These records offer more than just names and dates—they provide context about the social, economic, and political backdrop in which your ancestors lived. But where do you begin? Podcast notes: Ancestral Findings Podcast: This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: Genealogy Giveaway: Genealogy eBooks: Follow Along: Support Ancestral Findings: #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips
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AF-1184: Understanding Caste and Community Records in Indian Genealogy | Ancestral Findings Podcast
11/19/2025
AF-1184: Understanding Caste and Community Records in Indian Genealogy | Ancestral Findings Podcast
India’s social structure, particularly the caste system, has long shaped family histories and relationships. For genealogists, understanding how caste and community records were kept and where to find them can open up new paths for discovering ancestors. Let’s explore the role of the caste system, the different types of records available, and practical steps you can take to access these genealogical treasures... Podcast notes: Ancestral Findings Podcast: This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: Genealogy Giveaway: Genealogy eBooks: Follow Along: Support Ancestral Findings: #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips
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AF-1183: Introduction to Indian Genealogy | Ancestral Findings Podcast
11/18/2025
AF-1183: Introduction to Indian Genealogy | Ancestral Findings Podcast
India, with its diverse cultures, ancient traditions, and rich historical background, offers an intriguing yet complex landscape for genealogical research. For anyone with roots in this vast nation, tracing family history can be an incredibly rewarding endeavor, but it comes with unique challenges. From the intricate caste system to various religious customs and languages, Indian genealogy requires a bit of extra detective work, patience, and a willingness to navigate many different sources. Understanding how to research your ancestry in India involves delving into both formal records and oral traditions. Let’s start with an introduction to Indian genealogy, helping you get started on your journey into the past... Podcast notes: Ancestral Findings Podcast: This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: Genealogy Giveaway: Genealogy eBooks: Follow Along: Support Ancestral Findings: #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips
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AF-1182: The Journey from France | Ancestral Findings Podcast
11/17/2025
AF-1182: The Journey from France | Ancestral Findings Podcast
Today, we travel back to seventeenth-century France — a land of craft, faith, and quiet ambition. This is the story of Luc and Élise Moreau, two ordinary people who crossed an ocean not to escape their lives, but to build something greater. Through their courage and learning, they helped shape a world that still bears their mark. This is The Journey from France... Podcast notes: Ancestral Findings Podcast: This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: Genealogy Giveaway: Genealogy eBooks: Follow Along: Support Ancestral Findings: #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips
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AF-1181: Do You Have French Ancestry? | Ancestral Findings Podcast
11/14/2025
AF-1181: Do You Have French Ancestry? | Ancestral Findings Podcast
From the rolling countryside of France to the forests of Canada and the bayous of Louisiana, the story of French ancestry spans continents and centuries. Families carried their language, faith, and traditions across oceans, leaving a legacy that still shapes the modern world. If your family has roots in North America, especially in Canada, New England, or Louisiana, there’s a good chance some of those roots trace back to France. The French presence in the New World is older and broader than many realize — beginning in the early 1500s and continuing in waves right into the 19th century. French ancestry can connect you to explorers and fur traders, farmers and fishermen, soldiers and settlers, artisans and clergy. Each wave of migration tells a different story, but all share one theme: the courage to seek opportunity in a distant land while carrying the soul of France with them... Podcast notes: Ancestral Findings Podcast: This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: Genealogy Giveaway: Genealogy eBooks: Follow Along: Support Ancestral Findings: #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips
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AF-1180: The Journey from Scotland | Ancestral Findings Podcast
11/12/2025
AF-1180: The Journey from Scotland | Ancestral Findings Podcast
Morning began with mist that curled along the hill like breath. Ewan rose before the light had gathered in the glen, pulled on his woolen jacket, and crossed the yard to the byre. The cow turned its mild face at his step, warm air puffing from its nostrils in the cold. He set the pail, pressed his forehead to the flank, and listened to milk ring the tin. The sound was small and steady. On mornings like this, it steadied him. Inside the cottage, peat smoke climbed through the hole in the roof and drifted out into the white air. His mother, Mairi, crept around the hearth. She broke an oatcake in half and set one piece by his bowl. The fire finally caught and sent a clean orange through the room. Ewan’s younger brother, Fergus, slept in a heap near the warm wall, face hidden in his blanket. Isla, thirteen and quick with her hands, sat near the light and mended a tear in her apron with tiny, neat stitches. Alasdair, their father, coughed from the bed corner. The cough had a deep rattle to it, making Mairi look up from the fire. She went to him, laid her palm on his brow, and smoothed back his hair. He shut his eyes and breathed until the fit passed. Ewan poured himself a bowl of brose and sat by the door. He watched the mist move over the ridge. It felt alive, as if it walked. He had always thought of the hills as older than any story, and the mist as the way they spoke. A knock came at the door. Not the tap of a neighbor. A firm set of three that Ewan felt in the floorboards. Mairi’s hand paused above the pot. Ewan set his bowl aside and opened the door to two men in wool coats, their shoulders wet. Behind them stood a third, younger, who held a leather bag under his cloak. Their faces had the tight look of men who carry news and prefer not to... Podcast notes: Ancestral Findings Podcast: This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: Genealogy Giveaway: Genealogy eBooks: Follow Along: Support Ancestral Findings: #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips
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AF-1179: Tracing the Veterans in Your Family | Ancestral Findings Podcast
11/11/2025
AF-1179: Tracing the Veterans in Your Family | Ancestral Findings Podcast
Veterans Day calls us to remember, but for genealogists, it also opens a door to discovery. Behind every name in a family tree, there may be a record of service—one that shaped not only a life but an entire line of descendants. When we trace the veterans in our families, we do more than learn about wars and uniforms; we uncover courage, hardship, and the choices that built the generations that followed. Researching military ancestors is one of the most rewarding forms of family history. It connects individual lives to significant historical events and often reveals personal details found nowhere else. With patience and the right approach, you can build a clear record of your family’s service across the centuries... Podcast notes: Ancestral Findings Podcast: This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: Genealogy Giveaway: Genealogy eBooks: Follow Along: Support Ancestral Findings: #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips
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AF-1178: Do You Have Scottish Ancestry? | Ancestral Findings Podcast
11/10/2025
AF-1178: Do You Have Scottish Ancestry? | Ancestral Findings Podcast
If you have ancestors who came to North America before the 20th century, there’s a strong possibility that part of your family story began in Scotland. From the rugged Highlands to the fertile Lowlands, from fishing villages on the coast to industrial Glasgow, Scotland has been sending its sons and daughters abroad for centuries. Scottish emigrants left behind misty glens, clan lands, and centuries of tradition — but they carried with them an education system admired throughout Europe, a fierce sense of independence, and a reputation for honesty, perseverance, and wit. Their descendants helped shape North America’s politics, religion, art, and even its landscapes. Finding Scottish roots isn’t just about identifying surnames. It’s about tracing the movement of a people who valued both family and freedom — a balance that defined their identity wherever they went... Podcast notes: Ancestral Findings Podcast: This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: Genealogy Giveaway: Genealogy eBooks: Follow Along: Support Ancestral Findings: #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips
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AF-1177: The Journey from England | Ancestral Findings Podcast
11/07/2025
AF-1177: The Journey from England | Ancestral Findings Podcast
Before there were colonies, before there was even a country called America, there were people who made a choice that would echo for centuries. They left behind stone cottages and hedgerows, trading the familiar bells of England for the uncertain silence of the sea. This is one family’s story told through the letters they left behind. The Clarkes were ordinary people—craftsmen, parents, believers—who joined thousands of others sailing westward in search of a life free from fear and full of promise. Their words, preserved across generations, reveal not just the hardships of their voyage but the hope that carried them... Podcast notes: Ancestral Findings Podcast: This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: Genealogy Giveaway: Genealogy eBooks: Follow Along: Support Ancestral Findings: #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips
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AF-1176: Do You Have English Ancestry? | Ancestral Findings Podcast
11/05/2025
AF-1176: Do You Have English Ancestry? | Ancestral Findings Podcast
If your family has lived in North America for more than a few generations, chances are that part of your story began in England. For centuries, English men and women boarded ships that sailed toward an uncertain horizon, leaving behind familiar fields and cathedrals for a world they knew only through rumor and prayer. To trace English ancestry is to follow the roots of early America itself. The language we speak, the laws we live under, and even the shape of our small towns carry the fingerprints of those who crossed the Atlantic centuries ago. But their story is not abstract history—it’s the story of people like us, who dreamed of something better and faced the fear of never going home... Podcast notes: Ancestral Findings Podcast: This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: Genealogy Giveaway: Genealogy eBooks: Follow Along: Support Ancestral Findings: #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips
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AF-1175: 10 “Must Do” Genealogy Projects for November | Ancestral Findings Podcast
11/03/2025
AF-1175: 10 “Must Do” Genealogy Projects for November | Ancestral Findings Podcast
November is the perfect month to dig deeper into your family’s past and turn history into something you can see, taste, and share. As the days grow shorter and the holidays draw near, it’s a natural time to reflect on where we came from and how our traditions began. These ten genealogy projects will help you connect with your ancestors in creative ways—from recreating their Thanksgiving tables to recording the voices of loved ones whose memories keep your family story alive... Podcast notes: Ancestral Findings Podcast: This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: Genealogy Giveaway: Genealogy eBooks: Follow Along: Support Ancestral Findings: #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips
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AF-1174: The Journey from Germany | Ancestral Findings Podcast
11/01/2025
AF-1174: The Journey from Germany | Ancestral Findings Podcast
The fields around Kassel shimmered in the summer light, the scent of rye and damp earth thick in the air. Johann Müller paused his plow horse and wiped his brow. His father’s land had been small when he inherited it. Now, after decades of division among brothers and cousins, it was barely large enough to feed his family. “Land doesn’t grow, Johann,” his wife, Greta, said one night as they sat beside the hearth. “But our children do.” She was right. Their eldest, Matthias, was almost eighteen, with no land and no trade to inherit. The soil was tired. Taxes were heavy. And across Germany, revolution and unrest were spreading like a fever. Johann’s grandfather had once told stories of cousins who had gone to America, where the soil was rich and a man could own what he worked. Those stories had sounded like fairy tales when Johann was a boy. Now, they sounded like survival... Podcast notes: Ancestral Findings Podcast: This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: Genealogy Giveaway: Genealogy eBooks: Follow Along: Support Ancestral Findings: #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips
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AF-1173: Do You Have German Ancestry? | Ancestral Findings Podcast
10/31/2025
AF-1173: Do You Have German Ancestry? | Ancestral Findings Podcast
The story of German immigration to America is one of the great migrations in modern history. Over five million people left the German-speaking lands between the early 1700s and the early 1900s, crossing oceans in search of freedom, work, and land. Many of their descendants live across the United States today, sometimes aware of those roots, sometimes not. If you have ever wondered whether your own family might trace back to Germany, the clues are often closer than you think... Podcast notes: Ancestral Findings Podcast: This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: Genealogy Giveaway: Genealogy eBooks: Follow Along: Support Ancestral Findings: #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips
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AF-1172: The Journey from Ireland | Ancestral Findings Podcast
10/29/2025
AF-1172: The Journey from Ireland | Ancestral Findings Podcast
The wind had turned sharp over the fields of County Clare. It carried the sour smell of rot—the smell of potatoes dying in the ground. Every family in Kilfenora knew that scent by now. It had haunted them for two years, and it had come back again, crueler than before. Sean O’Callaghan knelt in the furrows, turning one blackened plant after another. The stalks came apart like wet paper. There was no good food left, just the gray mush that told him the blight had found them again. His wife Brigid stood at the edge of the field, her shawl pulled tight, the wind lifting the edges. She didn’t need to ask what he’d found. Behind her, the cottage leaned in the rain. Their children watched from the doorway—Maeve, seventeen, sharp-eyed and restless, and her little brother Declan, who hadn’t known a full belly in a year. “We’ll not live through another winter here,” Sean said, his voice low. Brigid looked toward the sea. “Then we must go where there is bread.” Podcast notes: Ancestral Findings Podcast: This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: Genealogy Giveaway: Genealogy eBooks: Follow Along: Support Ancestral Findings: #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips
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AF-1171: Do You Have Irish Ancestry? | Ancestral Findings Podcast
10/28/2025
AF-1171: Do You Have Irish Ancestry? | Ancestral Findings Podcast
Do you have Irish ancestry in your family? You might be surprised how often the answer is yes. Roughly one in ten Americans can trace at least part of their lineage to Ireland, making Irish ancestry one of the most common ethnic roots in the United States. The Irish story in America is one of resilience, hope, and faith, shaped by both hardship and triumph. To understand it fully, you must travel backward through history—across famine, emigration, and the unbreakable pull of home—and learn how to find proof of your own family’s connection... Podcast notes: Ancestral Findings Podcast: This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: Genealogy Giveaway: Genealogy eBooks: Follow Along: Support Ancestral Findings: #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips
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AF-1170: When Did Trick or Treat Start in America? | Ancestral Findings Podcast
10/24/2025
AF-1170: When Did Trick or Treat Start in America? | Ancestral Findings Podcast
Every year on October 31, children walk door to door collecting candy while wearing costumes. The custom feels old and familiar, but it has a real history. Trick or treat did not appear overnight. It grew slowly, shaped by the lives and traditions of many families who came to America from other countries. For genealogists, this story adds helpful background to family history. It helps date family photos, record memories, and understand how communities changed over time. This article traces trick-or-treating from its earliest roots to how families still enjoy it today... Podcast notes: Ancestral Findings Podcast: This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: Genealogy Giveaway: Genealogy eBooks: Follow Along: Support Ancestral Findings: #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips
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AF-1169: The Power in a Name | Genealogy Unfiltered
10/22/2025
AF-1169: The Power in a Name | Genealogy Unfiltered
Names are among the most personal pieces of information we can record, yet in genealogy they often become our most puzzling clues. They carry history, culture, and family identity. They also shift, disappear, and change shape across generations, sometimes leaving researchers wondering whether they’re tracing one person—or several with similar names. In every century and culture, names have done more than identify. They have marked belonging, revealed heritage, reflected belief, and sometimes offered protection. Understanding how and why names change is one of the most valuable skills a genealogist can learn. Podcast notes: Ancestral Findings Podcast: This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: Genealogy Giveaway: Genealogy eBooks: Follow Along: Support Ancestral Findings: #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips
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AF-1168: Postcards from the Past | When the World Came Together: How World’s Fairs Sparked Invention and Inspired Generations
10/20/2025
AF-1168: Postcards from the Past | When the World Came Together: How World’s Fairs Sparked Invention and Inspired Generations
There’s something about the World’s Fairs that has always captured my imagination. Whenever I read about them or stumble across old photos or souvenir postcards, I feel like I’m looking into a time when humanity wasn’t just dreaming about the future—we were building it in real time. As someone who spends a lot of time researching history and genealogy, I find myself wondering what my ancestors must have thought when they walked through those incredible pavilions or gazed up at structures the world had never seen before. The World’s Fairs weren’t just exhibitions—they were moments where the world agreed to press pause and marvel together. They combined science, culture, and art with an optimism that feels rare today. Many of the things we rely on or enjoy daily had their public debut at a World’s Fair. And while we still have high-tech expos and industry conventions, nothing quite compares to the scale, the spirit, and the wonder of a true World’s Fair... Podcast notes: Ancestral Findings Podcast: This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: Genealogy Giveaway: Genealogy eBooks: Follow Along: Support Ancestral Findings: #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips
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AF-1167: The Price of Secrets | Ancestral Findings Podcast
10/17/2025
AF-1167: The Price of Secrets | Ancestral Findings Podcast
Some of the most powerful moments in genealogy happen when we uncover something someone tried to hide. It might be a missing record, a false birth date, or a name that suddenly disappears and reappears under a new spelling. Secrets are part of every family story, and when they surface, they can change how we see everything that came before. I’ve spent many years researching family lines, and I’ve learned that every family, no matter how ordinary, carries something it once chose not to share. Some secrets are harmless. Others reach so deep that they still shape the generations that followed. In genealogy, truth and silence often meet in the same place—and that’s where some of the most meaningful work begins... Podcast notes: Ancestral Findings Podcast: This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: Genealogy Giveaway: Genealogy eBooks: Follow Along: Support Ancestral Findings: #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips
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AF-1166: When Family Isn’t Family | Ancestral Findings Podcast
10/15/2025
AF-1166: When Family Isn’t Family | Ancestral Findings Podcast
Genealogy provides us with more than just names and dates. It reveals how people lived, what they valued, and how they formed the ties that made them family. Those ties are not always simple. As research deepens, we begin to see that the concept of family has never had a single, unified meaning. It shifts with time, culture, and circumstance. This article looks at what happens when “family” does not follow the expected line of descent. It explores how people have shaped, recorded, and redefined their families throughout history and what that means for genealogical research today... Podcast notes: Ancestral Findings Podcast: This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: Genealogy Giveaway: Genealogy eBooks: Follow Along: Support Ancestral Findings: #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips
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AF-1165: How Columbus Day Became Two Different Holidays in America | Ancestral Findings Podcast
10/13/2025
AF-1165: How Columbus Day Became Two Different Holidays in America | Ancestral Findings Podcast
Columbus Day began as a celebration of exploration and immigrant pride. Over time, it became one of the most debated observances in the United States. This is the story of how a single holiday came to represent two distinctly different perspectives on American history. The idea of honoring Christopher Columbus in the United States dates back to the late 1700s. The earliest known celebration took place in New York City in 1792. The Columbian Order, also called Tammany Hall, organized a ceremony to mark the 300th anniversary of Columbus’s first voyage. The young republic saw in Columbus a symbol of courage, exploration, and the spread of Western civilization. During the early 1800s, public references to Columbus appeared in schoolbooks, political speeches, and patriotic art. Cities named after him multiplied, including Columbus, Ohio, which was founded in 1812. The explorer’s image fit well with America’s self-image as a bold new world. By the mid-nineteenth century, the celebration of Columbus took on new meaning for Italian immigrants. Many arrived in the United States during a period of widespread prejudice and social exclusion. They looked to Columbus, an Italian navigator sailing under the Spanish crown, as a national hero who had changed the course of world history. Honoring him became a way to assert cultural pride and to show that Italians belonged in American society... Podcast notes: Ancestral Findings Podcast: This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: Genealogy Giveaway: Genealogy eBooks: Follow Along: Support Ancestral Findings: #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips
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AF-1164: Researching Ancestral Crisis in Ireland by Chris Paton (Free Book Giveaway)
10/11/2025
AF-1164: Researching Ancestral Crisis in Ireland by Chris Paton (Free Book Giveaway)
Every so often, a genealogy book comes along that makes me look at research in a completely new way. Researching Ancestral Crisis in Ireland by Chris Paton did that for me. If you have ever chased Irish ancestors, you already know it is not for the faint of heart. Records vanish. Churches burn. Counties split and rename. Sometimes the trail just goes cold. What this book does so well is explain why those records went missing and how the crises of Ireland’s past shaped what was written down, what was lost, and what can still be found today... Podcast notes: Ancestral Findings Podcast: This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: Genealogy Giveaway: Genealogy eBooks: Follow Along: Support Ancestral Findings: #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips
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AF-1163: Postcards from the Past | Jesse James and the Missouri State Capitol Mural
10/10/2025
AF-1163: Postcards from the Past | Jesse James and the Missouri State Capitol Mural
Every postcard has its surprises, and this one from my collection is a little unusual. Instead of showing a scenic view or a tourist attraction, it shows a mural of a man who was both feared and admired: Jesse James, the famous Missouri outlaw. The mural is located inside the Missouri State Capitol in Jefferson City, and the fact that it ended up on a postcard tells you a lot about how Americans have remembered Jesse James—not just as a criminal, but as a larger-than-life figure of folklore. The postcard was published by Blair Cedar & Novelty Works of Camdenton, Missouri, with printing by Colorpicture of Boston, Massachusetts. Like many linen-era cards, it’s vivid and bold, with stylized colors that almost make the mural look alive. On the front, the mural shows Jesse James and his gang in the middle of a train robbery—a scene that has become part of American legend. Farmers and workers stand in the background, symbolizing the state’s broader history, while the train steams through the center as the action unfolds. It’s a striking image: outlaw life turned into high art, displayed in the very heart of Missouri government... Podcast notes: Ancestral Findings Podcast: This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: Genealogy Giveaway: Genealogy eBooks: Follow Along: Support Ancestral Findings: #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips
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AF-1162: Postcards from the Past | The Municipal Opera in Forest Park, St. Louis
10/08/2025
AF-1162: Postcards from the Past | The Municipal Opera in Forest Park, St. Louis
Every postcard in my collection has a story to tell, and this one takes us to Forest Park in St. Louis, Missouri. On the front, you see a lively crowd gathered at the Municipal Opera, better known today as The Muny. The seats are packed, the stage is bright, and the performance is in full swing. Just looking at the card, you can almost hear the music floating through the summer night air. On the back, the caption reads: “The fame of St. Louis’s Municipal Opera has spread throughout the world, and visitors come thousands of miles to witness this glamorous spectacle. Night after night throughout the summer, distinguished stars present popular musical attractions in a beautiful al fresco theatre in the heart of Forest Park.” Printed with space for a one-cent stamp, this postcard captures an era when people took great pride in local landmarks and mailed them across the country as souvenirs. The card itself was published by E.C. Kropp of Milwaukee and distributed by the Session Merchandise Company in St. Louis. It’s a classic linen card, likely dating from the 1930s or 1940s, when bold colors and textured printing were the style of choice. For me, as a collector, this card stands out because it’s more than just a building—it’s an experience. It shows people gathered together outdoors, enjoying music, theater, and community. That’s exactly what The Muny was built for, and that’s why it has lasted more than a century... Podcast notes: Ancestral Findings Podcast: This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: Genealogy Giveaway: Genealogy eBooks: Follow Along: Support Ancestral Findings: #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips
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AF-1161: Postcards from the Past | Mining, Utah’s Greatest Industry
10/06/2025
AF-1161: Postcards from the Past | Mining, Utah’s Greatest Industry
Every postcard has a story to tell, and this one from my collection takes us into the world of Utah mining. The front of the card is filled with colorful illustrations of mines, towns, and the people who worked them. At the center is a portrait of an older prospector, George P. Watson, who spent nearly five decades searching for ore in Utah. Around him are views of famous mines: the Alta United Mine, Park City Consolidated Mine, Horn Silver Mine at Milford, the Utah Copper Mine at Bingham, and the Chief Consolidated Mine at Eureka. Together, these images form a kind of collage, showing how important mining was to Utah’s identity in the early 20th century... Podcast notes: Ancestral Findings Podcast: This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: Genealogy Giveaway: Genealogy eBooks: Follow Along: Support Ancestral Findings: #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips
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AF-1160: “Must-Do” Genealogy Projects for October | Ancestral Findings Podcast
10/04/2025
AF-1160: “Must-Do” Genealogy Projects for October | Ancestral Findings Podcast
As October approaches, many of us eagerly anticipate engaging in seasonal activities, from pumpkin carving to family baking. But have you ever considered that this could be the perfect time to dig deeper into your family history as well? This month offers you a golden opportunity to enrich your understanding of your roots through various genealogy projects. Whether you’re keen on outdoor exploration, cozying up in a library, or getting creative with family recipes and photos, we’ve got six must-do genealogy projects that are enriching and seasonally appropriate. So, let’s start making this October a month of memorable family discoveries! Podcast notes: Ancestral Findings Podcast: This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: Genealogy Giveaway: Genealogy eBooks: Follow Along: Support Ancestral Findings: #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips
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AF-1159: Genealogy MythBusters: Does Genealogy End at the Ocean | Ancestral Findings Podcast
10/03/2025
AF-1159: Genealogy MythBusters: Does Genealogy End at the Ocean | Ancestral Findings Podcast
If you’ve been researching family history for any length of time, you’ve probably heard someone say, “Well, the trail stops with the immigrant ancestor. Once you hit the ocean, you can’t go any further.” This idea is one of the most persistent myths in genealogy. Many people stop at the ancestor who stepped off the ship, resigned to the belief that records from “the old country” are too hard to find, inaccessible, or simply don’t exist. At first glance, the myth makes sense. Immigration records can be patchy. Language barriers are intimidating. Foreign archives may seem distant and mysterious. For years, genealogists accepted the idea that you could trace your family back to the arrival in America, Canada, or Australia, and no further. But here’s the truth: genealogy doesn’t end at the ocean. The ocean is not a wall — it’s a bridge. With patience, persistence, and the right tools, you can cross it. Today, countless records from Europe, Africa, Asia, and South America are available in digital form. Archives are more accessible than ever. And local experts around the world are helping researchers trace their families across borders... Podcast Notes: Ancestral Findings Podcast: This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: Genealogy Giveaway: Genealogy eBooks: Follow Along: Support Ancestral Findings: #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips
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AF-1158: Genealogy MythBusters: DNA Testing Will Solve Every Brick Wall | Ancestral Findings Podcast
10/01/2025
AF-1158: Genealogy MythBusters: DNA Testing Will Solve Every Brick Wall | Ancestral Findings Podcast
In recent years, DNA testing has become one of the hottest tools in genealogy. It promises quick answers to old questions, colorful charts that tell you your ethnic breakdown, and even lists of genetic cousins you never knew you had. For many researchers, DNA has been a game-changer. It has reunited families, broken through long-standing mysteries, and added a powerful new dimension to traditional research. But with all that excitement comes a myth: the belief that DNA testing will solve every brick wall. Many people assume that if you just spit in a tube, all of your genealogical puzzles will untangle themselves. That simply isn’t true. DNA is powerful, but it is not magic. It has limits, and those limits matter. In this essay, we’ll look at why this myth exists, where DNA really shines, where it struggles, and how you can use it wisely as one tool in a larger toolkit... Podcast Notes: Ancestral Findings Podcast: This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: Genealogy Giveaway: Genealogy eBooks: Follow Along: Support Ancestral Findings: #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips
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AF-1157: Genealogy MythBusters: Was Your Ancestor Truly 100% One Ethnicity?
09/30/2025
AF-1157: Genealogy MythBusters: Was Your Ancestor Truly 100% One Ethnicity?
Many of us grow up hearing stories about our family’s background. Maybe your grandmother insisted her side of the family was “pure Irish.” Or perhaps your grandfather proudly declared that his ancestors were “completely German, no mixture at all.” In some households, there is even the belief that one particular ancestor was “full-blooded Cherokee,” “100 percent Scottish,” or “pure Italian.” These stories are often told with pride. They give families a sense of identity and belonging. But when we hold them up to the light of history and genealogy, a different picture emerges. The idea that an ancestor was “100 percent” one ethnicity is rarely true, and it is almost never as simple as the stories make it sound. The myth of pure ethnicity is powerful because it speaks to human longing. People like neat boxes and clear categories. We want to know where we come from. We want to say, with confidence, “My ancestors were entirely Irish,” or “We have nothing but German blood.” The problem is, history is messy, borders change, and people have always moved, married, and mixed. This time, we are going to explore why the myth of pure ethnicity exists, where it came from, how DNA testing complicates it, and what the records really show. By the end, you’ll see that your ancestors, like everyone else’s, were part of a long story of blending, migration, and mixing. And that makes your family history far more interesting than the myth of “100 percent” purity. Podcast Notes: Ancestral Findings Podcast: This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: Genealogy Giveaway: Genealogy eBooks: Follow Along: Support Ancestral Findings: #Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips
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