Hi Friends,
I want to begin with a quick reminder about the book giveaway because the deadline is closing—The Politzer Saga by Linda A. Broenniman is still accepting entries, but entries close on February 15. If you have been thinking about entering, take a moment and do it now so you do not miss out. It is a powerful, multi-generational family story that reminds us why we dig into the past in the first place.
If you know someone who enjoys family history, please share the giveaway with them and invite them to sign up for the Ancestral Findings newsletter as well. Many people want to get started but just
need a simple invitation. You can be the one who gives it to them.
This week’s Free Genealogy Lookups are also ready. Every week, I am reminded how one record can change the direction of
someone’s research. A single entry in a register, a forgotten database, or a small detail in an index can open the next door. If you have an ancestor you have been working on, submit a request and see what turns up.
I also published Part 2 of Birth Records Through Time. In this article, I walk through the long transition from parish books and local record keeping to formal civil registration systems. Birth certificates did not appear overnight. For years, church records and government systems operated side by
side, and understanding that overlap can help you know where to search when a modern certificate is not available. If you missed Part 1, it lays the groundwork and shows how birth information was preserved long before official forms became common.
Thank you for reading, researching, and continuing to carefully and thoughtfully build your family history. Keep going. Every document you find adds another solid piece to the story.
Happy Searching!
Will
