New K-12 Curriculum Offers Classroom-Ready Lessons for Teaching Family History Research
Calling all educators! Free to access and inclusive of all students regardless of background or family structure, the Family History Curriculum teaches crucial research skills and helps students draw connections between the present and the past. Download all lesson plans now, including customizable handouts and activities, or schedule a free training with our Youth Education Curriculum Coordinator.
Fall Research Getaway
Escape to Boston for three days of research, one-on-one consultations, social events and more at the American Ancestors Research Center, led by our expert genealogists.
The Ancestry of Ketanji Brown Jackson
On April 7th, 2022, Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson was confirmed as the 116th justice of the Supreme Court and became the first Black woman to serve on the court.
In honor of this historic event, our experts researched Ketanji Brown Jackson and Patrick Graves Jackson's family origins.
New! Courses On Demand
Educational experiences by our experts, at your convenience.
Enjoy some of our most recent and popular courses on your schedule. Each course includes recorded lectures, handouts, activities, and more. Brush up on your research skills and explore topics across the field of genealogy with Courses On Demand!
New Book Release! Strangers No More
Don't miss this new memoir from Bill Griffeth, available now from the NEHGS Bookstore. In his 2016 best-seller, The Stranger in My Genes: A Memoir, Bill Griffeth told the story of how he found out that the father who raised him was not, in fact, his biological father. In this sequel, Bill continues his journey with his newly discovered biological family, and shares some of the dramatic stories strangers and friends told him about their own shocking DNA discoveries. In the process, Bill stumbles on some closely guarded family secrets. Warning: It's another page-turner that may keep you up all night!
American Ancestors named one of 101 Best Genealogy Websites of 2022
Thank you to Family Tree Magazine for including American Ancestors in their round-up of the best genealogy websites this year! Visit their website to learn more and see the full list of sites.
Seen on TV: A Visit with Samantha Brown
Our own VP of Research Services Lindsay Fulton is featured on the newest episode of the PBS travel show Samantha Brown's Places to Love. Lindsay talks with the show's host about her family history and demonstrates why New England Historic Genealogical Society is a great place to visit. The show is airing around the country on local PBS stations now, but won't be shown on Boston's local PBS station GBH until Sunday April 3rd at noon. If you live outside Boston and want to watch it now, find your stations here samb.tv/watch, or you can view the episode online at the show's website.
Zoom Demo: The New AmericanAncestors.org
Join Claire Vail, Vice President for Digital Strategy and Communications, for a demonstration on the newly launched AmericanAncestors.org! Learn about key new features, how to navigate the site, and how to get the most out of the website from home. You can also visit our New Website FAQ for more information.
Search 1.4 billion names to find your ancestors' records
Search records from all over the world now
Vita Brevis is 3 Million Views Old!
Vita Brevis, our family history blog, recently marked an important milestone: 3,000,000 page views since it launched in January 2014. Join editor Scott C. Steward for a look back on some of the most popular posts, from research advice to celebrity genealogies to personal stories of family connections made through genealogical research.
What's the best source for Irish records?
Ask a genealogist!
Chat live with a family history expert and get quick research questions answered for free.
Tuesday: 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. ET
Wednesday: 9:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m. ET
Thursday-Saturday: 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. ET
What did "homesteader" mean in the 19th century?
Ask a genealogist!
Chat live with a family history expert and get quick research questions answered for free.
Tuesday: 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. ET
Wednesday: 9:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m. ET
Thursday-Saturday: 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. ET
How can I find my globe-trotting ancestor?
Ask a genealogist!
Chat live with a family history expert and get quick research questions answered for free.
Tuesday: 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. ET
Wednesday: 9:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m. ET
Thursday-Saturday: 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. ET
Upcoming Events
Using Cemetery Transcripts in Your Family History Research
Learn about the value of cemetery transcripts for family historians, and where to find them in online and published collections.
The Brue Family Learning Center
Fall Research Getaway
Escape to Boston for three days of research, one-on-one consultations, social events and more at the American Ancestors Research Center, led by our expert genealogists.
The Brue Family Learning Center
Walking Tour of Boston's Historic Back Bay
Join architectural historian and NEHGS Curator of Fine Art Curt DiCamillo for a lively and informative walking tour of one of America’s most historic neighborhoods—Boston’s famous Back Bay!
Heritage Tours
Navigating Our Nation's Federal Records
From military pension records to federal land grants to immigration and naturalization records and beyond, this five-session online seminar will introduce you to the many records available from the National Archives and Records Administration.
The Brue Family Learning Center
The History of Clothing: Two Authors Discuss Style and Substance
Join us for a lively panel discussion featuring two new works on the history of clothing, from the opulent court of Louis XIV to the modern-day runway.
Moderated by Petra Slinkard
American Inspiration Author Series
Adam Hochschild with American Midnight: The Great War, a Violent Peace, and Democracy’s Forgotten Crisis
The award-winning historian brings to life 1917-1921 in America—the forgotten yet crucial window between World War I and the Roaring Twenties.
American Inspiration Author Series
Browse all upcoming events in our new Event Calendar
Recent Publications
Genealogist’s Handbook for New England Research, 6th Edition
This new full-color edition is an extensive update of an indispensable resource for those researching in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusett
The Stories They Tell . . . from the Herdeg Collection
A visit to a historic home . . . and a walk through history as told by the art and objects inside.
Family Treasures: 175 Years of Collecting Art and Furniture at the New England Historic Genealogical Society
Winner of the 2021 New England Society in the City of New York Book Award in the Art and Photography category.
A New England Native American Reader
A collection of articles on New England Native American genealogy, history, and culture that have appeared in the Register or American An
Early New England Families 1641–1700, Volume 2 (paperback)
Addressing the lack of compiled information on individuals who immigrated to New England after the Great Migration, the Early New England
Download Free Research Guides
The Antiquarto
Join D. Brenton Simons, President and CEO of American Ancestors/NEHGS, for exclusive interviews about family history, fine art and architecture, favorite books, and more.
The latest episode features Kyle Hurst, Senior Genealogist for the Newbury Street Press at American Ancestors/New England Historic Genealogical Society. Hear about her work at the Newbury Street Press, researching and writing family histories; how she got started in genealogy; and her award-winning genealogy "Ancestors and Descendants of Charles Le Caron and Victoire Sprague."
