Napa Valley Genealogical Society

05/05/2026

If you’ve ever stared at a page of Kurrent script or a faded colonial Spanish church record and wished for a little help, you’re not alone. As you know, handwritten text recognition is …

05/05/2026

Fascinating look at 1492 population density

Long before European arrival, the land that is now the United States was far from empty.

This map shows estimated population density in 1492, revealing a landscape shaped by Indigenous societies with diverse ways of life. While large areas appear sparsely populated, clusters of higher density emerge along rivers, fertile lands and trade routes, particularly in the Mississippi Valley, parts of the Southeast, the Southwest and the Pacific Northwest.

These patterns reflect advanced knowledge of the environment, agriculture and settlement, rather than absence of population.

05/05/2026

Genealogy humor for today!

05/04/2026

As we get ready to celebrate Mother's Day next weekend, we’re thinking about the mothers, grandmothers, and 5x great-grandmothers whose quiet resilience paved the way for us to be here today.

To celebrate 250 years of the USA, we’re collecting the legacies that define us. Submit your ancestor’s story to the Stories of US page today: https://bit.ly/3NfVJKy

05/04/2026

How to find maiden names

Still hunting for that elusive maiden name? 🕵️‍♀️ The Social Security Applications and Claims Index is the "secret weapon" every researcher needs in their toolkit.

Explore the collection day on Ancestry: https://bit.ly/4tofyhX

04/29/2026

04/29/2026

Our hours are below!

We are open:

Every Wednesday and Thursday from 10 AM to 1 PM
First Tuesdays and Saturdays from 12 PM to 3 PM
By appointment - Give us a call to schedule a visit

04/29/2026

04/29/2026

Public Marriage Records: Free Online Search Guide by State

Read the article on the GenealogyBank blog: https://tinyurl.com/2pswhxut

Learn how to find public marriage records free online by state, understand access limitations, and use historical sources to support U.S. family history research.

Photo: bride holding a wedding bouquet, c. 1925. Credit: Library of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division.

04/29/2026

As family historians, we don’t know what we don’t know! For example, the idea to research Catholic Nuns in the United States had never occurred to me because I’ve never run into t…

04/29/2026

Finding Your Immigrant Ancestors:

Discovering your immigrant ancestors' stories can open up research possibilities and provide unique insights into your ancestors' lives.

In this LegacyTree article (https://www.legacytree.com/blog/15-steps-to-finding-your-immigrant-ancestors) you'll get a look inside the immigration experience and find tips for tracing ancestors from specific countries and ethnicities. You'll also discover 15 practical tips for researching your immigrant ancestors.

Learn more about immigration strategies in Goal D2 (https://www.thefhguide.com/project-9-united-statesd1.html ) of the United States page.

04/29/2026

Do you use wild cards?