Journey Through the Generations
Uncover Your Roots: Exploring Ancestry & Family History
Over the past several months, much of my genealogy time has been spent writing instead of researching. Now that my writing projects are wrapping up, I'm excited to get back to what started this journey fifteen years ago - researching my family history. Earlier this year, I introduced my 2026 research challenge, "Do You Know... Continue Reading →
Mr. and Mrs. Phillip D. Cummings - Newport, AR 2000
When I think of summer, I think of vacations, long weekends, road trips, and day trips. It's during the summer months that many people are planning trips to beaches, national parks, and family reunions. Family historians have a unique opportunity to add a little genealogy to their travel plans. Whether you're taking a cross-country vacation,... Continue Reading →
Each year, Juneteenth offers an opportunity to reflect on freedom, resilience, and the sacrifices made by those who came before us. While many people celebrate by attending community events, festivals, and family gatherings, I believe it can also be a meaningful time to connect with our family history. As genealogists, we spend countless hours researching... Continue Reading →
Wayman Mays with his son, Russell; William Cummings with his son Phillip; and Russell Mays with his son Allen
Gladys Denson Mays: June 11, 1913 - August 22, 1999
My In-Laws, William and Phyllis Govan Cummings wedding reception - Little Rock, Arkansas 1973
As I continue sorting through more than 80 years of memories collected inside our family home, I kept discovering treasures that tell not only my family’s story, but the story of our community as well. One of those treasures is a large 1963 class photograph from W.F. Branch High School, the historic Black school that... Continue Reading →
Recently, I spent time at the Butler Center for Arkansas Studies Memory Lab digitizing family scrapbooks, baby books, and fragile photographs using their overhead scanner. Many of these items are decades old and too delicate for a traditional scanner, so this process allowed me to carefully preserve these family treasures while creating digital copies for... Continue Reading →
Last weekend, I visited the Butler Center for Arkansas Studies in their DIY Memory Lab working on the next phase of my family digital archive project. I had a two-hour appointment for their scanner station. I used their overhead Snap Scanner to digitize a collection of family scrapbooks and baby books from the 1960s and... Continue Reading →
My nephew, Patrick E. Mays, Catholic High School Class of 2026
For the past few years, every genealogy conference I have attended has had multiple sessions on AI in genealogy. I must admit I was a little intimidated by the tern Artificial Intelligence when it came to my family history research. Then I thought maybe I should know exactly what AI is before I decide if... Continue Reading →