We're asking students in grades 4-12 across the nation to explore what they’ve learned about themselves, the community, and the nation by reflecting on a story from their personal family history.



Where Were Your Ancestors during the Boston Tea Party?
In partnership with the Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum, we are pleased to introduce the Boston Tea Party Descendants Program. Our mission is to foster interest in genealogical connections to participants in the Boston Tea Party, their families, and those involved in the making of colonial rebellion in Boston.

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.

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.

Upcoming Events

Basics of Early New England Research
This five-week online seminar will discuss the settlement of New England, how to locate and use records, and strategies for breaking down brick walls.
The Brue Family Learning Center

Washington, DC Research Tour
SOLD OUT | Discover the wealth of family history resources in our nation's capital on this week-long research tour guided by American Ancestors/NEHGS experts.
The Brue Family Learning Center

The Art & Architecture of Bermuda
SOLD OUT | Discover the art, architecture, and history of Bermuda on this behind-the-scenes tour of the island's finest private homes, museums, and cultural institutions, led by Curt DiCamillo and noted Bermuda experts.
Heritage Tours

David Waldstreicher with The Odyssey of Phillis Wheatley: A Poet's Journeys Through American Slavery and Independence
Hear about historian David Waldstreicher's new biography of the celebrated poet Phillis Wheatley, whose extraordinary work set African American literature at the heart of the American Revolution.
Moderated by L'Merchie Frazier
American Inspiration Author Series

Altruism and Adaptation: American Jewish Life in the Interwar Period
Dr. Miriam Mora will explore how the Great Depression, the rise of American antisemitism, and the immigration restrictions of the 1920s contributed to the redefinition of American Jewish identity.
The Wyner Family Jewish Heritage Center

Ken Burns with Our America: A Photographic History
Join us for a special event featuring Ken Burns, one of today’s most treasured filmmakers, and the Academy Award-winning director Ron Howard, in a discussion of Our America—a stunning collection of some of Burns’s favorite American photographs.
Moderated by Ron Howard
American Inspiration Author Series
Browse all upcoming events in our new Event Calendar
Recent Publications
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."
