Family history research is often seen as the work of archives, libraries, and professional scholars. A recent feature by The Guardian shows a different reality. Across the world, hobbyist genealogists and amateur historians are quietly building the foundations that make modern genealogy possible. The article describes these volunteers as the hidden engine behind family history […]
History
An Ancestry.com DNA Match Reunites Father and Son Before the Holidays
Family history research often focuses on ancestors long gone. But sometimes, it connects people who are very much alive. In December 2025, a DNA match through Ancestry.com reunited a father and son who had never met. The story centers on a 71-year-old man from Ohio and his 33-year-old biological son, who had spent years searching […]
A Preview of RootsTech 2026 for Family History Researchers
RootsTech, the world’s largest family history conference, returns March 5–7, 2026, offering both in-person and online sessions for researchers everywhere. Hosted by FamilySearch, the event is known for bringing together genealogists, DNA specialists, archivists, and everyday family historians in one global gathering. This year’s lineup promises the same rich blend of education, community, and discovery […]
Ancestry.com Challenges Scotland Over Access to 400 Years of Records
A major legal dispute between Ancestry.com and National Records of Scotland (NRS) could reshape how genealogists access historical archives worldwide. The case centers on whether the U.S.-based company can license more than 400 years of Scottish records, including census data, parish registers, and civil registrations, for its subscription platform. In a recent tribunal ruling, Ancestry […]
Leonardo da Vinci DNA Project May Confirm Burial Site
Could science finally confirm where Leonardo da Vinci is buried? An ambitious international project is using modern genetics to answer a centuries-old mystery. Researchers with the Leonardo da Vinci DNA Project have traced 15 living male-line descendants from Leonardo’s extended family. Six of them provided DNA samples, and early results show their Y-chromosomes align, proving […]