Gladys Denson Mays: June 11, 1913 - August 22, 1999
Wordless Wednesday – Wedding Bells
My In-Laws, William and Phyllis Govan Cummings wedding reception - Little Rock, Arkansas 1973
Continuing My Family Digital Archive
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 →
Wordless Wednesday – Our Family’s Latest High School Graduate
My nephew, Patrick E. Mays, Catholic High School Class of 2026
Our Interview with GenFriends Genealogy Chat
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 →
Our Family Home: Over 80 Years of Memories
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 →
Celebrating Black History Month – Black Excellence in My Family – Trisha Mays-Cummings
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 →
Celebrating Black History Month – Black Excellence in My Family: Photos
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 →
RootsTech 2026 Expo Hall
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 →
Celebrating Black History Month – Black Excellence in My Family: Gus Hatchett
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 →
Celebrating Black History Month – Black Excellence in My Family: Gladys Denson Mays
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 →
Start Planning Your RootsTech 2026 Experience Now – Class Schedule and Speakers Now Available
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 →