Our
Projects
Our ancestors were more than the histories written about them.
They were people with names, families, traditions, dreams, and stories that deserve to be remembered.
For many of us, generations of displacement, colonization, enslavement, and cultural erasure have left gaps in those stories. Genealogy offers a path toward rediscovery.
Through historical records, family stories, and ancestral research, we can begin tracing the lives of those who came before us, reclaiming connections that time and circumstance may have obscured.
Every name uncovered is another thread restored to the tapestry of who we are.
Genealogy:
Reclaiming Our Roots
Every ancestral journey begins somewhere. You don't need a complete family tree, expensive DNA testing, or even the names of your grandparents to begin. Start with what you know, follow the clues, and allow your family's story to unfold one discovery at a time.
Step 1:
Begin With What You Know
Start with yourself and work backward through the generations.
Write down any information you have about your parents, grandparents, and other relatives, including:
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Full names, maiden names, and nicknames
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Birth and death dates, even if approximate
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Cities, states, countries, or communities where they lived
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Marriage information
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Family stories, occupations, and traditions
Don't know much? That's okay. Even one name, location, or approximate date can become your starting point.
Step 2:
Gather Your Family's Stories
If you're able, speak with relatives, elders, and people who knew your family.
Ask questions such as:
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Where did our family come from?
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What were our grandparents' or great-grandparents' names?
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Did anyone migrate or change their surname?
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Are there family stories that have been passed down?
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Do we have old photographs, letters, or documents?
Record these conversations with permission. Oral histories are valuable, especially when written records are missing or incomplete.
Step 3:
Search for Family Documents Family's Stories
Look for clues in documents and keepsakes, including:
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Birth, marriage, and death certificates
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Obituaries and funeral programs
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Family Bibles, letters, and journals
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Military and immigration records
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Old photographs and handwritten notes
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Land deeds and property records
Pay attention to names, dates, and locations. Small details can help connect generations.
Step 4:
Create Your Family Tree
Organize your discoveries into a family tree.
You can use a notebook, a digital document, or a genealogy website.
Free starting points:
FamilySearch — Search historical records and begin building your family tree.
National Archives — Explore U.S. census, military, immigration, and other federal records.
Find a Grave — Search cemetery records and memorials for possible family connections.
Start with one person at a time. Verify each relationship before adding another generation.
Step 5:
Follow the Historical Records
Once you have a name and an approximate location, begin searching public records.
Census records can reveal household members, ages, occupations, and places of birth. Marriage certificates may identify parents or previous surnames. Immigration documents can provide clues about ancestral places of origin.
Remember that historical records are not always accurate. Names may be misspelled, ages may vary, and some ancestors may appear under different surnames.
Look for multiple records that support the same connection.
Step 6:
Explore Records Specific to Your Ancestry
Not every community's history was documented in the same way. Colonization, enslavement, forced migration, displacement, and discriminatory recordkeeping have created different challenges for ancestral research.
Depending on your family's history, specialized resources may help.
African American ancestry
Freedmen's Bureau Records — Smithsonian
African American Family History — Smithsonian
Indigenous ancestry
Native American Records — National Archives
Indigenous family histories may also be preserved through tribal archives, community knowledge, and oral traditions. Each Native nation determines its own citizenship and membership requirements; genealogical research or DNA results alone do not establish tribal citizenship.
Mexican and Latin American ancestry
FamilySearch — Mexico Research
FamilySearch Research Wiki — Explore resources for countries throughout Latin America and the world.
Asian, Pacific Islander, African, Caribbean, and other diasporas
FamilySearch Research Wiki — Search by country or region to find archives, civil registrations, immigration records, and research guides.
Step 7:
Document What You Discover
Keep track of where each piece of information came from.
Save copies of documents, record website links, and note when you found each source.
Separate confirmed information from family stories, possibilities, and unanswered questions.
Your family tree is a living record. It can grow and change as new information emerges.
Step 8:
Honor the Journey
Genealogy is about more than collecting names and dates. It is an opportunity to understand the lives, choices, journeys, and communities that shaped those who came before us.
Some discoveries may bring joy. Others may reveal painful histories or unexpected family connections.
You are free to explore at your own pace and decide which stories you wish to pursue.
Remember that family connections are not defined by blood alone.
Adoptive families, chosen families, and the people who raised and nurtured us are also part of our stories.
You do not need to uncover every ancestor to honor those who came before you.
Every story remembered, every name rediscovered, and every connection restored is another thread woven into the tapestry.