MyHeritage Photo Tools: The Unofficial TARDIS
So one way or another, you've probably heard about the MyHeritage photo tools. This started a whole episode of excitement to try these tools out. To this day, they are some of the most exciting things you can try out on old photos. I'm always (along with many others)...
Where Your German Ancestor’s Resume is Hiding
My family was quick to dismiss our German ancestors as “all just farmers.” It was not until after researching German church records that I found various roles that my ancestors played in their villages. You might be able to find the same for your ancestors and reveal...
Mapping Your Surname through Time
Now, if you're someone who's not based in Ireland but does roots in the Emerald Isle but you're hitting the time where it's getting harder to trace your ancestors in Ireland (pre Civil Registration in 1864) you might be wondering how to pin your surname in question to...
Evolution of Race Labels in the U.S. Census
In honor of the 1950 census records release, let’s talk about the history of the census. The first United States Census was taken in the year 1790. Every 10 years since the U.S. Bureau of Commerce has conducted a census, collecting the population data of the...
Pinpointing Tenant Farmer Ancestors in the USA
Sometimes, finding where a farmer ancestor lived is not as easy as discovering a land deed. Many farmers were landless, raising crops and livestock on rented land, subject to certain financial arrangements. These tenant farmers frequently moved from place to place,...
Review of History For Genealogists (revised ed. 2016)
When Judy Jacobson's team reached out to The Hidden Branch in search of a book review for History For Genealogists (revised ed. 2016), I was delighted. Not only do I love the combination of reading and genealogy, but as a history major who loves providing context for...
Welcome Back Message
Hello All, The Hidden Branch is back! After a 3 month hiatus, we are back. We have been working hard to organize and make some improvements to the blog and website. In order to better coordinate all members' schedules and take some stress off of the blog committee, we...
My 2021 in Review
Out of the blue, on 15th February 2021, I received a message from our very own Daniel, who asked if I would like to become a member of The Hidden Branch team. To be completely candid, I had no clue what The Hidden Branch was, nor was I really actively engaged in the...
Voices of Genealogy – Carly Bagley
Hello there, welcome to the 12th Voices of Genealogy Interview! This series will be a collection of interviews from people who were young (early teens to early 20s) genealogists from different decades! These interviews will highlight the stories of professional...