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…
Genealogy: Searching for U.S. Military Records
Military records can offer a fuller picture of an ancestor’s life. As largely government-produced records, they are also easily accessible if you know where to look.
Using Directories for Genealogy Research
There are several different kinds of directories that can be useful for family history research. They can contain information about where an ancestor lived, what they did for a living, who they lived with, and more. Here is an overview of some directories that you can use for family history research.
Researching Your Adopted Ancestors
Adoption has existed in one form or another for much of human history. Whether formal or informal, it can play a significant role in shaping your family tree. This post provides an overview of the history of adoption in the United States and some resources you can use to research adopted ancestors.
Researching Your Female Ancestors
Researching your female ancestors can be difficult. Women can be hard to track because of the standard practice of changing their surnames after marriage. Many historical records also focus on men, with women listed only under their husbands’ names. Here is some guidance for researching female ancestors, including information about sources at the BPL and beyond that you may not have thought to check.
1 - 10 of 23
- Go to page 1
- Go to page 2
- Go to page 3
- Next page
