Settlement houses first appeared in the United States in the late 1880s, modeled after London’s Toynbee Hall. Located in neighborhoods largely comprised of poor and immigrant populations, the purpose of these houses was to help improve the condition of area residents, both young and old, by offering educational programs and assisting with social services. Settlement houses quickly became a vital resource for members of these communities in the late 19th and early 20th century.

By the end of the War of 1812, nearly 35,000 American Regulars and 458,000 militia had served on land and sea. In this syllabus, Chief Genealogist David Allen Lambert provides a quick guide to essential records for researching War of 1812 veterans, links to resources (both in print and online), and more.

By the conclusion of the American Civil War, an estimated 179,000 Black men had served in the U.S. Army and another 19,000 in the Navy.

Many family historians’ genealogical journey takes them to Pennsylvania. Since its founding, Pennsylvania has seen countless waves immigrants settle within its borders. Luckily, there are many published resources that can assist in our research. In this online lecture, Genealogist Ann Lawthers shares her go-to Pennsylvania-based resources within five categories: History, Immigration, Record Compilations, Genealogies, and Land. Learn about essential published sources that help trace Pennsylvanian ancestors through time and place.

Whether Ohio was a final destination for your ancestor or a stop along their journey west, published genealogical resources for the state and the Western Reserve are important for many family historians. In this webinar, Genealogist Hallie Kirchner shares her go-to Ohio-based resources within five categories: histories, genealogies, land, tax, and military. Learn about essential published sources that discuss family groups and help us to trace Ohio ancestors through time and place.

Despite its long history, New Jersey is known for several gaps in the records due to destruction, loss, and inconsistent recordkeeping. And to make research in the Garden State even more difficult, New Jersey repositories don't tend to digitize or share their collections with large genealogy websites such as Ancestry.com or FamilySearch.org. For these reasons, family historians must turn to published records to locate their ancestors.

Town records from New England can contain a wealth of genealogical information. These records can contain records of births, marriages, burials, mortgages, name changes, and more that can help you fill in the details of your ancestor's life. Genealogist Ann Lawthers delves into this important resource for New England and demonstrates how you may get the most out of these records for your own family history.

Created by Kyle Hurst, Senior Genealogist of the Newbury Street Press

Published: November 2022

PDF Download, 10 pages

The Huguenots were French Protestants persecuted by a staunchly Catholic government. Thousands fled France in the 16th and 17th centuries seeking refuge across Europe, Africa, and North America including areas of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and South Carolina. Join Senior Genealogist Rhonda R. McClure to learn more about these religious refugees, where they came from and where they settled in America, and how to research them using several published resources.

Scots have been migrating to and settling in America and Canada for centuries. Today, there are an estimated 25 million Americans of Scottish descent. Tracing your Scottish heritage is rewarding, but not without its challenges. Join Chief Genealogist David Allen Lambert to learn the first steps in tracing your Scottish roots.