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
Tracing Ancestors on the Move in America
The four-session seminar will help you track your ancestors on the move, and give you context for migrations across America from the 17th to the 20th centuries.
The Brue Family Learning Center
Stories from the Archives: Family Registers
See examples of family registers from the R. Stanton Avery Special Collections, find out what you can learn from these heirlooms, and learn about preserving such items in your own collection.
The Brue Family Learning Center
Come Home to New England
"Come home" to Boston and work closely with experts to advance your research at the American Ancestors Research Center.
The Brue Family Learning Center
Around the World in a Handful of Objects
Join Matthias Waschek for a survey of works from the Worcester Art Museum's collection which mine the depths of the human experience.
The Brue Family Learning Center
Camper English with Doctors and Distillers: The Remarkable Medicinal History of Beer, Wine, Spirits, and Cocktails
In this delightful work of cultural and medical history, Camper English, a cocktails and spirits expert, reveals how and why the contents of our medicine and liquor cabinets were, until surprisingly recently, one and the same.
Moderated by Richard Thompson Ford
American Inspiration Author Series
Reading the Gravestones of Early New England
Learn from epitaph expert John Hanson about how to interpret early New England gravestones and what they can tell us about our ancestors' lives.
The Brue Family Learning Center
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."
