About American Ancestors
An award-winning publication
American Ancestors is a unique, full-color magazine that comes out four times a year, and offers compelling information for family historians of all levels. Features cover useful genealogical sources, helpful research strategies, compelling historical accounts, and interesting case studies. American Ancestors is a benefit of membership starting at the Individual level, as both a print publication and an online PDF.
Summer 2025 issue now available
This issue focuses on home sources for family history. The main feature, “Hunting for Genealogical Treasure at Home” by Ann G. Lawthers, describes the various categories of home sources and provides numerous examples of how these records can enhance and deepen knowledge about ancestors and relatives. As always, the issue contains information about our membership benefits, news, events, and educational opportunities.
Volume 26, Number 2, Summer 2025
Hunting for Genealogical Treasure at Home
| A Message from the President and CEO | In This Issue |
Your Member Benefits | Your Photo Submissions |
Programs & Tours | News |
10 Million Names Update | American Ancestors Reopens |
American Ancestors Welcomes New Trustees and Councilors | Obituaries |
| American Ancestors Staff | Member Notices |
Features
Hunting for Genealogical Treasure at Home Ann G. Lawthers, ScD` | Bible Records, Family Registers & Much More: A New American Ancestors Database June Henry and Judy Lucey |
Finding Family History in Home Sources Weekly Genealogist Readers | Cleverness, Candor & Sheer Fun: Mary Ingersoll's 1842 Letters from Washington, DC Sarah Dixwell Brown |
Researching the Life of Tom Little, from Enslavement to Self-Determination David and Alice Eagan Howe | A New Chapter for the Leiden American Pilgrim Museum Stephen Des Georges |
Columns
Wyner Family Jewish Heritage Center Spotlight The Ethel Task Portrait: A Window into the Life of a Jewish Family in Boston Henry Treadwell |
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You can access and download all past issues of American Ancestors magazine from 2010 to present with your American Ancestors membership.
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Search the magazine database by name, date, keyword, and more. You can also access a database of past issues of New England Ancestors (2000-2009), predecessor to American Ancestors magazine.
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Email letters to magazine@americanancestors.org or American Ancestors magazine, 10 Newbury Street, Boston, MA 02116. We regret that we cannot reply to every letter. Published letters will be edited for clarity and length.
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We seek stories of members’ most challenging “brick walls” for publication in American Ancestors. Send your story to magazine@nehgs.org. Please limit your submissions to 200 words or less; include your name and American Ancestors member number. We regret that we cannot publish or respond to every submission. Published submissions will be edited for clarity and length.
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Recently published genealogies and other books
American Ancestors is pleased to list members’ recently published family history and source records publications. Books must be published within twelve months of the date of submission. Visit AmericanAncestors.org/Book-Notices
Other notices: Genealogies in Progress, Family Associations, DNS Studies, and Websites
Genealogies in progress, family association events, and DNA studies in progress are announced free for members on a space-available basis. (The same notice will be published only once per year.) Event notices should be submitted at least six to nine months prior to the event date. Visit AmericanAncestors.org/Notices
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For information on writing and submitting an article to American Ancestors, please click here to review our writer’s guidelines.