Newsletter Archives

Descendant of Old MA Family Line Treasures Portraits

Melissa Davenport Berry writes: The Hart family is one of Massachusetts’ oldest blood lines. Carolyn Hart Wood, a descendant, has two original works signed and painted by American Impressionist artist Lee Lufkin Kaula. The subjects are two of her ancestors: one is Grace Manning Hart; and the other is Dorothy Endicott Hart.

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Genealogy Tip: Interview Your Grandparents Now!

Gena Philibert-Ortega writes: Any family historian who has been researching for some time will have regrets. These regrets typically include not citing sources, and not asking questions when family members were alive. If you’re lucky enough to still have living grandparents, here are some questions to ask them.

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Genealogy Surprise: Finding More Than Recipes in ‘Good Cooking’

Gena Philibert-Ortega writes: Recently a friend gifted me a recipe booklet titled Good Cooking because he knew I collected cookbooks – but it turned out it was really a marketing piece for a patent medicine: “Dr. Pierce’s Favorite Prescription.” Much to my surprise, it turned out to be a genealogical treasure!

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5 Sources for Learning about Your Ancestor’s Occupation

Gena Philibert-Ortega writes: An ancestor’s occupation provides us insight into his or her everyday life, and is just one way to better understand them. Occupation research can be challenging because it may not be found in the usual places we look to for genealogical information, so being creative with your research plan is a must.

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