Sweden. A country that conjures up images of ABBA, safe cars and furniture that you buy flat and have to put together. If you have ever done any research into Swedish ancestors, however, Sweden will also conjure up names like ‘Johan’, ‘Olaf’, ‘Anders Andersson’, ‘Olaf Olafsson’ and of course their children ‘Anders Johansson’ and ‘Johan Olafsson’. But Swedish genealogy doesn’t have to be all headaches and mazes of Johans. With careful preparation and an understanding of how Swedish archives work, research in to Swedish genealogy can be very rewarding very quickly.
Grandma C. was a special lady. She always knew the right thing to say – always. She was Irish by descent, but cooked a mean Italian Sunday dinner. Perhaps most importantly, she knew how to have a good time. When we visited, it was a tradition to…
When I first began collecting postcards, I was primarily interested in cards with local images. I gradually expanded my collection to include holiday and birthday postcards. One day, while browsing through a large rack of postcards at an antique store, I noticed several cards that were all sent to the same address. At that point, my interest in old postcards converged with my lifelong interest in family history…
A family history book seems an impossible feat at times.
How does one convert years of research into some semblance of stories and organize those stories along with pictures and documents into a book?
Family Friday is something that I like to promote to help strengthen family bonds and get families involved in genealogy & family history. From one family historian to another, I’m sure you can relate to sometimes feeling like you’re on a genealogy island alone when relatives don’t always seem to share the same enthusiasm as you do. Sometimes they don’t know they’re enthused until you get them enthused (smile)! That’s where these Family Friday activities come in!
Genealogy has been a passion of mind since childhood. It is hard to believe it has been four decades since I first asked my grandmother about a tintype photo of her father. From her stories I was hooked into the exciting world of family history. I became the nosey nephew at family gatherings, always asking questions and seeking old photographs or documents. Many relatives would get bored with my questions, however a handful of my older cousins encouraged my research. By the time I was twelve years old I had already typed my first thirteen page genealogy book (on file at NEHGS).
“Not another cemetery…!” is a familiar chorus in our family whenever we head out on a road trip, whether it is a family holiday, an overseas trip, or even just a Sunday drive in the country. A genealogist in the mix is always going to result in a travel adventure…
It has happened again. That overwhelming feeling of comfort and joy in remembering. The air temperature, the wind blowing gently, and…
Facebook is for more than keeping in touch with friends from grammar or high school and watching cute videos of animals. Facebook is a very important tool that should be part of every genealogist’s toolbox. If you are looking to find distant cousins, assistance or a bit of genealogy inspiration, Facebook is a great place to start.
Are you fortunate enough to have photographs of your ancestors?
How closely have you examined your ancestors’ photographs?