Uncover Your Roots: Exploring Ancestry & Family History
Most people think of family history as a way to preserve the past. We spend years researching our ancestors, scanning old photographs, organizing documents, and recording family stories so future generations will know where they came from. But over the years, I've discovered that family history can also become an unexpected gift during one of... Continue Reading →
Mays Cummings 2026 Family Vacation
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 →
As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, many families will gather to celebrate Independence Day with reflection, gratitude, and tradition. It is a milestone that invites us to look back at the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776 and consider how far the nation has come since that moment. For family historians,... Continue Reading →
June is NPE (Non-Paternal Event) Awareness Month, a time dedicated to increasing awareness and understanding of unexpected parentage discoveries. In genealogy, an NPE generally refers to a situation where a person's expected biological parent is not their biological parent. Today, the term is often used more broadly to include unexpected discoveries involving parentage, adoption, donor... Continue Reading →
My grandparents moved into our family home in 1939. For more than 80 years, that house held generations of memories, photographs, family papers, church programs, newspaper clippings, and pieces of community history. Over the past couple of years, I have been slowly sorting through those collections, one box at a time. Now the question has... 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