GenealogyBank.com

Ask the Genealogist!

Whether you're a seasoned pro or just starting—get your family history research questions answered here.

Have a question about GenealogyBank or hit a brick wall with your family history research? Tom Kemp, speaker and published author with over 44 years of genealogy experience, is available to help with all your family history research questions.

If this is your first visit to GenealogyBank's Ask the Genealogist, anonymous visitors are welcome to browse the forums but you must be a member before you can post a question. To start viewing messages, click on the title of each question below. GenealogyBank members must Log In to post a question.

• Are death certificates filed in multiple states?
  Q: I am looking for several death records from the second half of the nineteenth century. If one died while out of state, would it be normal for a death certificate to be filed in the home county or...  Read More ‣
• Most times I'm looking for just an obituary notice. How do I limit my search to just those articles?
  A: Yes, you can do that on GenealogyBank. Here's how.Step 1. Start your search. For example let's say that you are researching the surname: ClapperEnter that surname & press enterStep 2. Limit your...  Read More ‣
• My grandfather had a WWI pension - he wasn't wounded - why did he have a pension?
  Q: I have my grandfather's World War I payroll records and his discharge. However, I know that he collected a veterans' pension until his death in1973, and then my grandmother received a widow's...  Read More ‣
• I am looking for my family tree. I thought when I signed up I would find it already prepared. What do I do now?
  A: GenealogyBank - is an online library of resources - millions of them. Like a library it has an index - in our case an index on every word making it easy to find references in each of the issues of...  Read More ‣
• How do I limit my search to only the "List of Private Claims" volumes?
  A: We are working on making it possible to bookmark each one of our historical documents. When we have that enhancement in place you will be able to search only one book at a time.For now - you need...  Read More ‣
• I am looking for the parents of Michael and Catherine (Lyons) Rafferty. Where should I look next?
  Here's what I know: I found my grandfather Michael Rafferty in the 1910 Census in Boston - living with his wife Catherine and family. It indicates that he was born in about 1872, was a Motor-man on a...  Read More ‣
• A, E, I, O, U and sometimes Y
  I am often asked: Do you have Canadian newspapers in GenealogyBank? Well, no we don't - but that's not the question you want to ask. Tip: I have been researching my family tree for 45 years and I can...  Read More ‣
• Q: Is there any chance that the Philadelphia Inquirer will extend from 1922 into the 1940s? Is there an index to obituaries from that era?
  A: GenealogyBank actively partners with the publishers of thousands of newspapers from across the country - including the Philadelphia Inquirer. Many of our newspaper runs stop at 1922. Because of...  Read More ‣
• In Sweden his name was Lars Fredrik Pettersson - but he changed the spelling of his name in the US. What do I do now?
  A: It is common for immigrants coming from other heritages to standardize the spelling of their names. In this case: Lars Fredrik Pettersson .... you will want to search indexes for all of the...  Read More ‣
• How can I find more information on my grandfather?
  A: First I need more background information on the family. Hi Tom,Thanks for getting back with me. I know this is a tough one because we are talking civil war days and OK Indian Territory. My...  Read More ‣
• How do I find articles on Blacks in GenealogyBank?
  A: Interesting question. You will need to use specific names and keyword search terms associated with Blacks over the past 300 years.Search for specific individuals by name like "Martin Luther King"....  Read More ‣
• I'm wondering how you choose which newspapers to add to the collection? I would like to see more coverage for Idaho. How do I request them?
  A: John, yes we welcome your suggestions for more newspapers that you would like to see added to GenealogyBank.com - please send all of your newspaper suggestions to us at...  Read More ‣
• Why aren’t the date ranges listed for each newspaper?
  A: Jennie - we do list the date ranges for all of the 3,800+ newspapers in GenealogyBank. Here's how you can see the date range for all of our newspapers: 1. Click on the "Title List" for the...  Read More ‣
• What was added for the Philadelphia Public Ledger? I don’t seem to see anything new.
  A: We added 270 more back issues of the Public Ledger in May. (One of the 270 issues - Public Ledger 30 Jun 1865)It is easy to search ONLY the 270 issues that were added in May 2009. To search only...  Read More ‣
• Is this newspaper listed in the right city?
  I am doing research in the 1850s and noticed that you have the Daily Globe newspaper listed in the wrong city. The Daily Globe was published in San Francisco, not Washington DC as your hit results...  Read More ‣
• Can I search with the dates in order? In other words, oldest first, etc. - Nancy
  A: Yes. Look at the illustration below. Use the drop down menu to select the order that you want your search results to be displayed. You can display them starting with the oldest or the newest...  Read More ‣
• How can I find out about this Federal Court case and Greene's stay at the Detroit House of Correction?
  (Photo of Gene Greene from: http://www.gracyk.com/genegreene.shtml) Let's review what you know.From your letter:I'm writing a biography of an old vaudeville singer named Gene Greene {Eugene Delbert...  Read More ‣
• You don't have any newspapers for Gilmanton, NH. Why do I need GenealogyBank?
  A: That's a terrific question. Newspaper editors understood that their papers would be read beyond their immediate town. Editors want to get the news out beyond their town to inform and extend their...  Read More ‣
• Can I get a list of the newspapers in GenealogyBank before I sign-up?
  A: Yes, you can see the list of newspapers in GenealogyBank anytime. Click here to see the complete list of newspapers.  GenealogyBank.com has more than 3,800 newspapers from all 50 States, dating...  Read More ‣