Journey Through the Generations
Uncover Your Roots: Exploring Ancestry & Family History
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
This week, my husband and I had the wonderful opportunity to be featured guests on Carolina Girl Genealogy podcast. It was such an enjoyable with conversation with Cheri Hudson Passey and her panel of GenFriends. During the interview, we talked about the passion behind our podcast, the importance of preserving family stories, and how genealogy... Continue Reading →
There was always something special about my Granny's house. Her door was always open to anyone who needed a place to stay, a hot cooked meal, advice, or a listening ear. For me Granny's house was where I went after school, where my family gathered for Sunday dinners, and where holidays and summer days were... Continue Reading →
As I celebrate Black History Month and the Black excellence found throughout my family, it feels important to pause and include someone I often overlook in these stories: Trisha Mays-Cummings. That's right this blog post is all about the researcher. For more than a decade, I have been researching my family’s history and their communities,... Continue Reading →
Black excellence lives in my family in education, faith, service, music, and the commitment to preserve our history. Honoring them is how I celebrate Black History Month. Family photographs are more than images, they are visual records of our Black excellence. So this Black History Month, take a moment to look through your family photos,... Continue Reading →
One of my favorite parts of attending RootsTech is time spent in the Expo Hall. If classes are where you learn, the Expo Hall is where you discover. The Expo Hall brings together genealogy companies, archives, societies, publishers, DNA testing companies, and innovators all in one place. It’s a space filled with conversation, curiosity, and... Continue Reading →
As part of my Black History Month series, Black Excellence in My Family, I’m honoring the everyday excellence found in my own family history. My grandfather, Gus Hatchett, was Black excellence in more ways than one. He was a member of the singing group The United Harmonizers, who made history as the first African American... Continue Reading →
February is the shortest month of the year and often the coldest, but it has always been my favorite. It’s the month we celebrate Black History Month and recognize Black excellence. Through my family history research, I’ve learned that Black excellence doesn’t require wealth, fame, or celebrity. It shows up in everyday choices—especially the courage... Continue Reading →
RootsTech 2026 will be here before you know it. The RootsTech 2026 class schedule is now available online at rootstech.org. You can also download the official RootsTech app on your smart phone for easy access. Whether you’re just starting your genealogy journey or you’re a seasoned professional, there’s something for everyone at this year’s conference.... Continue Reading →
Each year, the keynote speakers help ground the conference in something deeper than records and research techniques. They remind us that family history is about people, lived experiences, and the stories that connect us across generations. Reminding us why we do this genealogy work. This year is no different with a lineup of keynote speakers... Continue Reading →
As we begin 2026, a year marking the 250th anniversary of the United States, I have found myself with a simple, yet not so simple question - Do you know where your ancestors were in 1776? For some families 1776 represents independence, military service, or the beginning of opportunity. But for others, it represents slavery,... Continue Reading →
Journey Through the Generations 