The United States is a country built by immigrants. The beginning of European settlement in what is now the U.S. also marked the beginning of immigration here. The origins of these immigrants have changed over time, from English to Irish to German to Chinese to Eastern European to Italian to Asian to Hispanic. Many came…
Before Bunker Hill
We’ve all heard of the Battle of Bunker Hill, but what about the battles that happened before it? Below, you’ll learn about the three lesser-known battles that took place before Bunker Hill. Skirmish at Grape Island When: May 21, 1775 Where: Grape Island, located in Hingham Bay off the coast of Weymouth Casualties: None…
Researching Your African American Ancestors
The names of enslaved people in the United States were rarely recorded. This can make researching your African American ancestors hard. It is not impossible though because there are many resources available to help you in your search at the BPL and beyond. Books at the BPL General Guides Specific Locations Misc. Topics Census Records…
A Witch in the Family: Salem Witch Trial Descendants
People involved with the Salem Witch Trials have many descendants. Some have more than once accused witch in their family tree. Below is an overview of some of the resources available to research accused Salem witches, and a look at just a few of the people involved and their more well-known descendants. Online Resources Associated…
Genealogy Databases You Can Use From Home
The Boston Public Library (BPL) offers access to several databases you can use to research your family history. Below is an overview of the ones you can use from home, including some tips on how to get the most out of them. How to Access the Databases You can access these databases from home using…
Using Newspapers to Research Your Ancestors: Beyond Obituaries
Many family history researchers know how useful obituaries published in newspapers can be. But did you know there are a lot of other things in newspapers that can help with your research? Below we will cover a few of the newspaper items that can also have information about your relatives. Business If your ancestor owned…
Using Vital Records to Research Your Ancestors
Vital Records are government produced records documenting births, marriages, and deaths. They are important sources of information in genealogy research. They can contain information about a person's job, where they lived, and other family members. Below is an overview of how to access vital records. Good Things to Know In Massachusetts, vital records…
Genealogy: Finding Immigration & Naturalization Records
The U.S. is a country built by immigrants. Most residents of the U.S. today are either immigrants or descended from immigrants. Many of them also became naturalized citizens. Below is an overview of what kinds of immigration and naturalization records are available and where to find them. Immigration Immigration is the act of moving from…
Researching Native American Heritage
Researching Native American ancestry can be difficult for several reasons: Multiple legal and other definitions of what constitutes a Native American or American Indian Differing levels of legal recognition of tribes; some may be recognized on the state level but not the federal level, some may not be recognized at all Necessary record collections scattered…
Using School Records for Genealogy Research
School records, including information about students and school employees, can offer a fuller picture of a relative or ancestor’s life. Below is an overview of how to access school records in Massachusetts, with an emphasis on public education in Boston. Good Things to Know For records from schools that are still open, contacting the school…
1 - 10 of 26
- Go to page 1
- Go to page 2
- Go to page 3
- Next page