It’s all relatives

That was the tagline for a recent TV series aired on PBS called, Genealogy Roadshow. Their description as “Part detective story, part emotional journey” really describes the atmosphere of these stories. They are like Antiques Roadshow, but much more personal.

The historians use every public record source imaginable, starting with directories like Radaris, the US Census, and digital libraries to find connections and construct a timeline. Of course, depending on the time and effort what they discover varies greatly, but it’s a fun series that can only make you more curious about your family’s past.

There are many thousands of genealogy success stories (like this recent one) that start with one simple search and with each step move a little deeper into the past.

If you haven’t tried it yet, start with a (free) search of your oldest known relative, then look at the relations listed and click on one you don’t recognize. Just like a Google search for a good restaurant, it may take a few tries before you find the right listing, but very often leads you to discover something new.