American Ancestors

American Ancestors American Ancestors is a National Center for Family History, Heritage & Culture.

American Ancestors provides expert family history services through our staff, original scholarship, data-rich website, educational opportunities, and research center to help family historians of all levels explore their past and understand their families’ unique place in history. We are a member-based nonprofit corporation dedicated to advancing the study of family history in America and beyond, by educating, inspiring, and connecting people through our scholarship, collections, and expertise. We offer the most comprehensive resources in the country for researching family history:

An Expert Staff: Our professional genealogists are among the most respected and advanced in the profession. With research specialties including early American, New England, New York, Irish, English, Italian, Scottish, Atlantic and French Canadian, African American, Native American, Chinese, and Jewish genealogy, our expert staff can assist family historians by providing research advice in-person, over the phone, or in writing. Our expert staff can also conduct research on behalf of family historians, providing authoritative, documented research reports and family tree charts. Original Scholarship: To support the research of family historians around the world, we produce the most significant original research and important publications in genealogy, including, since 1847, the longest continually published academic journal in the field, The Register. In addition to the quarterly journal, we publish a quarterly magazine, ten to twenty books per year, and a weekly electronic newsletter. As the leader in genealogical scholarship, we also produce important study projects such as The Great Migration Study Project, covering those who arrived in New England between 1620 and 1640; The Early New England Study Project, 1641–1700; Families of Western Massachusetts in 1790, capturing families heading west at the time of the 1790 census, and the newEarly Vermont Settlers to 1784 which covers families that settled Vermont, the last frontier of New England. Website: AmericanAncestors.org is the most-used genealogical society website in the world. It provides family historians access to more than 1 billion records spanning the U.S. and beyond, including one of the most extensive online collections of early American records, and the largest searchable collection of published genealogical research journals and magazines. Special strengths in our content include English, New England (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont), New York, Pennsylvania, and Virginia materials. Education: Designed to benefit family history researchers of all levels, we provide exclusive, in-depth learning opportunities through lectures, seminars, intensive research programs, tours to libraries and archives, online courses and webinars, and special events . Research Center: Named by USA Today as a top 10 world destination for family history, the public, members and visitors are invited to visit our eight-story library and archive where we offer the largest collection of original family history research materials in the country. Our collection, which continues to grow through acquisition and preservation activities, dates from the fourteenth century to the present and spans North America, Europe, and beyond. It includes more than 28 million diaries, letters, photographs, and other manuscripts, and more than 200,000 books and microforms.

New England is often considered a cradle of liberty in American history, but it was also a cradle of slavery. In "Belong...
02/10/2026

New England is often considered a cradle of liberty in American history, but it was also a cradle of slavery. In "Belonging", Gloria McCahon Whiting tells the region’s early history from the perspective of the people who belonged to others and who struggled to maintain a sense of belonging among their kin. Join us for a presentation with Whiting and a discussion with historian Kyera Singleton. https://hubs.ly/Q042v0JQ0

Family history research has never been more accessible… and never more overwhelming. Our new online course, Leveraging T...
02/10/2026

Family history research has never been more accessible… and never more overwhelming. Our new online course, Leveraging Tech Tools in Family History Research, shows you exactly how to organize, analyze, and use today’s online tools with guided demos and live instructor support every week. Learn more about the course below.

Register here: https://www.americanancestors.org/events/leveraging-tech-tools-family-history-research

During Women’s History Month, join us to learn the hidden history of the designer Claire McCardell, who forever changed ...
02/08/2026

During Women’s History Month, join us to learn the hidden history of the designer Claire McCardell, who forever changed fashion—and the lives of women. https://hubs.ly/Q040TNVJ0

Whether your ancestors were Catholic or Protestant, church records are an essential resource for Irish family history re...
02/07/2026

Whether your ancestors were Catholic or Protestant, church records are an essential resource for Irish family history research. Many records useful to family historians were destroyed during the Four Courts fire during the Irish Civil War, and available church records may help to fill in the gaps—providing details of your ancestors' births, marriages, deaths, and more. In this online lecture, Senior Genealogist Rhonda R. McClure will provide an overview of the church records available for Irish family history research, covering both Catholic and Protestant records. She will also discuss the historical context of these records and the role that the church played in your ancestors’ lives. https://hubs.ly/Q041ZfX60

In this online RootsTech presentation, David will discuss the numerous American Revolutionary War lineage societies that...
02/06/2026

In this online RootsTech presentation, David will discuss the numerous American Revolutionary War lineage societies that you can join during the 250th anniversary celebration. https://hubs.ly/Q041j5tf0

Do you have ancestors who were accused of witchcraft? In this RootsTech lecture, David looks beyond Salem to examine oth...
02/05/2026

Do you have ancestors who were accused of witchcraft? In this RootsTech lecture, David looks beyond Salem to examine other American witchcraft trials and shares essential archival and online resources to help guide your research. Register for RootsTech: https://hubs.ly/Q041Zf190

English royal weddings seem to fascinate even the most jaded Americans. These spectacles provide a chance to see a bit o...
02/04/2026

English royal weddings seem to fascinate even the most jaded Americans. These spectacles provide a chance to see a bit of a fairy tale come to life, with pomp and ceremony, historic jewels, magnificent wedding gifts, and cathedrals and great palaces. Curt will look at English royal weddings, the events and places associated with them, and the couples themselves during the last 800 years. Going back as early as the wedding of King Henry II and Eleanor of Aquitaine in 1152 and up to the rebirth of pageantry with the 2011 ceremony of Prince William and Kate Middleton, this lecture will feature a slice of English history with lots of glamour and great stories! https://hubs.ly/Q03_HFS20

Desi Arnaz is a name that resonates with fans of classic television, but few understand the depth of his contributions t...
02/04/2026

Desi Arnaz is a name that resonates with fans of classic television, but few understand the depth of his contributions to entertainment—how he revolutionized the industry. Don’t miss these experts’ insights on the history of television and this must-read biography about innovation, resilience, and the relentless drive of a man who changed TV forever. https://hubs.ly/Q03_HKsR0

Come see senior genealogist Melanie McComb at RootsTech! In this lecture, Melanie will provide you with the historical c...
02/03/2026

Come see senior genealogist Melanie McComb at RootsTech! In this lecture, Melanie will provide you with the historical context, records, and research strategies for identifying and learning more about your loyalist ancestors! Register for RootsTech: https://hubs.ly/Q041j5Gd0

Join us this Valentine's Day for a special workshop on the timeless art of calligraphy. Esther N, founder of Maker’s Fav...
02/03/2026

Join us this Valentine's Day for a special workshop on the timeless art of calligraphy. Esther N, founder of Maker’s Favourite Designs, will teach you the history of calligraphy, basic strokes and techniques, letter formation, and how to bring letters together into beautiful words using a brush pen. Examples of calligraphy from our collections, including love letters, marriage certificates, and more, will also be on display. https://hubs.ly/Q03_HHCh0

Come see Chief Genealogist David Allen Lambert at RootsTech! In this lecture, David will cover the various migrations an...
02/02/2026

Come see Chief Genealogist David Allen Lambert at RootsTech! In this lecture, David will cover the various migrations and settlements by New Englanders in Acadia, now Nova Scotia, in the 19th century through the 19th century. https://hubs.ly/Q041j5Ns0

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Our Story

American Ancestors and New England Historic Genealogical Society is America’s founding genealogical organization and the most respected name in family history. Established in 1845, NEHGS is the nation’s leading comprehensive resource for family history research and the largest Society of its kind in the world. We provide expert family history services through our staff, original scholarship, data-rich website, educational opportunities, and research center to help family historians of all levels explore their past and understand their families’ unique place in history. We are a member-based nonprofit corporation dedicated to advancing the study of family history in America and beyond, by educating, inspiring, and connecting people through our scholarship, collections, and expertise. We offer the most comprehensive resources in the country for researching family history: An Expert Staff: Our professional genealogists are among the most respected and advanced in the profession. With research specialties including early American, New England, New York, Irish, English, Italian, Scottish, Atlantic and French Canadian, African American, Native American, Chinese, and Jewish genealogy, our expert staff can assist family historians by providing research advice in-person, over the phone, or in writing. Our expert staff can also conduct research on behalf of family historians, providing authoritative, documented research reports and family tree charts. Original Scholarship: To support the research of family historians around the world, we produce the most significant original research and important publications in genealogy, including, since 1847, the longest continually published academic journal in the field, The Register. In addition to the quarterly journal, we publish a quarterly magazine, ten to twenty books per year, and a weekly electronic newsletter. As the leader in genealogical scholarship, we also produce important study projects such as The Great Migration Study Project, covering those who arrived in New England between 1620 and 1640; The Early New England Study Project, 1641–1700; Families of Western Massachusetts in 1790, capturing families heading west at the time of the 1790 census, and the new Early Vermont Settlers to 1784 which covers families that settled Vermont, the last frontier of New England. Website: AmericanAncestors.org is the most-used genealogical society website in the world. It provides family historians access to more than 1 billion records spanning the U.S. and beyond, including one of the most extensive online collections of early American records, and the largest searchable collection of published genealogical research journals and magazines. Special strengths in our content include English, New England (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont), New York, Pennsylvania, and Virginia materials. Education: Designed to benefit family history researchers of all levels, we provide exclusive, in-depth learning opportunities through lectures, seminars, intensive research programs, tours to libraries and archives, online courses and webinars, and special events . Research Center: Named by USA Today as a top 10 world destination for family history, the public, members and visitors are invited to visit our eight-story library and archive where we offer the largest collection of original family history research materials in the country. Our collection, which continues to grow through acquisition and preservation activities, dates from the fourteenth century to the present and spans North America, Europe, and beyond. It includes more than 28 million diaries, letters, photographs, and other manuscripts, and more than 200,000 books and microforms.