National Archives – Good Genes Genealogy

May 19, 2023

Freebie Friday for Genealogy Hunters

Back by popular requests, we’re offering genealogy and ancestry seekers will find the following freebies to delve into:

Visit the National Archives for countless images, text, blogs, other helpful resources about Black ancestors.

Buffalo Soldiers ride at an unidentified ceremony at the U.S. Military Academy. [404-WS-6-5465-7; download hi-res image]

Inquire about home movies captured by members of your family. Ask about those reels that may still be around someone’s home in attics, basements, desk drawers. You may have to transfer the media to another source, yet it is worth it. Why? Many of the videos end up in thrift stores and discarded. Guess what? Those same videos are picked up by government and private agencies and become rich content. Take a look at a short http://ww.pbs.org/video/john-lewis-get-way-official-trailer/compilation of videos from personal and public videographers.
Check the 26 free genealogy websites. You may wish to sign up after giving the sites the test drives.
Check out the “Story of Black Folk” … tracing family histories in the Hudson, NY area.
The above referenced Black family history site is part of the larger, free calendar community of genealogy conferences, events and more. Check out Conference Keeper Calendar.
Join your hometown or regional Black genealogy groups such as this large one in Pennsylvania.
Geneanet has 44,000 free postcards without subscription. You can just put in your location of your ancestor and they will show you what they have for that town. — Submitted by Karen Harrison

January 23, 2023

Helping children plant and build their photo and other modern family trees

Ann of the Good Genes Genealogy Services team began her interest in family genealogy at the age of 10. After asking her mother and paternal grandfather separate questions about their childhoods, siblings, families and more, Ann did not receive the replies she expected. In both cases, I could hear crickets (old schoolers will get the reference).

Yet, as a child, I could have been building the bits and pieces of information that I was able to glean from family gatherings. I was also nosey and wanted to hear the stories from the elders and cousins about what life was like for them in settings different than mine in Omaha, Nebraska. Child-friendly genealogy chart builders like the free ones featured on the National Archives sites are a great start for the young people.

Check out the other freebie from the National Archives. It’s a fresh look in the genealogy tree building exercises.