Photo: “The Lexington Minuteman,” by Henry Hudson Kitson, erected in Lexington, Massachusetts, in 1900. Credit: Daderot; Wikimedia Commons.

Past Celebrations of Patriots’ Day (part 1)

By Melissa Berry on April 17, 2026

In this article, Melissa Davenport Berry describes Vice President Dawes for Patriots’ Day in 1925 recreating his famous ancestor’s warning ride in 1775... (Read More)

the Kennedy family at 14 Prince’s Gate, the United States Embassy residence, in London, England, during Joseph P. Kennedy Sr.’s tenure as U.S ambassador to Great Britain. Standing (left to right): Kathleen Kennedy; Joseph P. Kennedy Jr.; Jean Kennedy; Eunice Kennedy; Ambassador Kennedy; Rosemary Kennedy; and John F. Kennedy. Seated (left to right): Patricia Kennedy (in armchair); Edward M. Kennedy (on floor); Robert F. Kennedy (on arm of chair); and Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy (in armchair). An unidentified painting hangs on the wall behind the family. Credit: Dorothy Wilding; Wikimedia Commons.

The Kennedy Family Tree: Genealogy of an American Dynasty

By GenealogyBank on April 16, 2026

A detailed look at the Kennedy family tree, key generations, historical records, and how newspapers reveal stories behind America’s famous dynasty... (Read More)

Photo: the Tennessee State Capitol in Nashville, Tennessee. Credit: Kaldari; Wikimedia Commons.

Tennessee Archives: 295 Newspapers for Genealogy Research

By Tony Pettinato on April 16, 2026

An article (with a complete title list) about the 295 Tennessee newspapers available in GenealogyBank’s online Historical Newspaper Archives... (Read More)

Illustration: Mayday at Merrymount. Credit: Wikimedia Commons.

Heated Drama over Maypole Merriment: Pilgrims vs. Thomas Morton (part 1)

By Melissa Berry on April 15, 2026

Melissa Berry says it wasn’t just religion in early America – the pious Pilgrims objected to the “licentious” festivities at Thomas Morton’s Merrymount... (Read More)

Photo: Abraham Lincoln, by Alexander Gardner, 8 November 1863. Credit: Mead Art Museum; Wikimedia Commons.

Assassination of President Lincoln Shocks the Nation

By Katie Rebecca Merkley on April 14, 2026

For the anniversary of President Abraham Lincoln’s assassination, Katie Rebecca Merkley searches old newspapers to read the bad news our ancestors read... (Read More)

Photo: old photos and correspondence. Credit: https://depositphotos.com/home.html

The Billingsleys, Part II: ‘Beyond the Law’

By James Pylant on April 13, 2026

In this second of a six-part series, James Pylant tells the saga of the Billingsley family in America, a tale involving genealogy, crime and Hollywood... (Read More)

Photo: reconstructed houses at Jamestown, Virginia. Credit: Tasma3197; Wikimedia Commons.

Jamestown Day: A Celebration

By Melissa Berry on April 10, 2026

In this article, Melissa Davenport Berry describes two visits Queen Elizabeth II made to Jamestown to mark its 350th and 400th anniversaries... (Read More)

Photo: Common Burying Ground and Island Cemetery in Newport, Rhode Island. Credit: Matt H. Wade; Wikimedia Commons.

Using Obituary Examples as Writing Guides

By GenealogyBank on April 9, 2026

Find obituary examples with guidance on tone, structure, and research tips to help you write a meaningful tribute that preserves family stories... (Read More)

Photo: the South Dakota State Capitol, Pierre, South Dakota. Credit: w_lemay; Wikimedia Commons.

South Dakota Archives: 143 Newspapers for Genealogy Research

By Tony Pettinato on April 9, 2026

An article (with a complete title list) about the 143 South Dakota newspapers available in GenealogyBank’s online Historical Newspaper Archives... (Read More)