American Ancestors

American Ancestors American Ancestors is a National Center for Family History, Heritage & Culture.

American Ancestors provides expert family history services through our staff, original scholarship, data-rich website, educational opportunities, and research center to help family historians of all levels explore their past and understand their families’ unique place in history. We are a member-based nonprofit corporation dedicated to advancing the study of family history in America and beyond, by educating, inspiring, and connecting people through our scholarship, collections, and expertise. We offer the most comprehensive resources in the country for researching family history:

An Expert Staff: Our professional genealogists are among the most respected and advanced in the profession. With research specialties including early American, New England, New York, Irish, English, Italian, Scottish, Atlantic and French Canadian, African American, Native American, Chinese, and Jewish genealogy, our expert staff can assist family historians by providing research advice in-person, over the phone, or in writing. Our expert staff can also conduct research on behalf of family historians, providing authoritative, documented research reports and family tree charts. Original Scholarship: To support the research of family historians around the world, we produce the most significant original research and important publications in genealogy, including, since 1847, the longest continually published academic journal in the field, The Register. In addition to the quarterly journal, we publish a quarterly magazine, ten to twenty books per year, and a weekly electronic newsletter. As the leader in genealogical scholarship, we also produce important study projects such as The Great Migration Study Project, covering those who arrived in New England between 1620 and 1640; The Early New England Study Project, 1641–1700; Families of Western Massachusetts in 1790, capturing families heading west at the time of the 1790 census, and the newEarly Vermont Settlers to 1784 which covers families that settled Vermont, the last frontier of New England. Website: AmericanAncestors.org is the most-used genealogical society website in the world. It provides family historians access to more than 1 billion records spanning the U.S. and beyond, including one of the most extensive online collections of early American records, and the largest searchable collection of published genealogical research journals and magazines. Special strengths in our content include English, New England (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont), New York, Pennsylvania, and Virginia materials. Education: Designed to benefit family history researchers of all levels, we provide exclusive, in-depth learning opportunities through lectures, seminars, intensive research programs, tours to libraries and archives, online courses and webinars, and special events . Research Center: Named by USA Today as a top 10 world destination for family history, the public, members and visitors are invited to visit our eight-story library and archive where we offer the largest collection of original family history research materials in the country. Our collection, which continues to grow through acquisition and preservation activities, dates from the fourteenth century to the present and spans North America, Europe, and beyond. It includes more than 28 million diaries, letters, photographs, and other manuscripts, and more than 200,000 books and microforms.

Learning about your female ancestors and their families is dependent on knowing their maiden names. Unfortunately, all t...
04/03/2026

Learning about your female ancestors and their families is dependent on knowing their maiden names. Unfortunately, all too often we find women listed by their married names only, or that their maiden name is simply not recorded. In this online lecture, learn what records are most likely to provide this information and gain important strategies for finding that elusive maiden name. https://hubs.ly/Q0475d1q0

We're proud to see our research on Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson featured in this article in the New York Times, and to ...
04/02/2026

We're proud to see our research on Justice Ketanji Brown Jackson featured in this article in the New York Times, and to have contributed to fact-checking for the family histories of all the justices featured. This piece traces the family trees of each Supreme Court justice and highlights how immigration law has shaped generations of American families. Read more below!

As the justices prepare to hear a landmark case about birthright citizenship, their family stories are a reminder that the law has shaped who can be an American.

Join us to learn more about the remarkable trend—for some, the family tradition—of preserving recipes on gravestones, ce...
04/01/2026

Join us to learn more about the remarkable trend—for some, the family tradition—of preserving recipes on gravestones, celebrating the beloved food legacies of the dearly departed. To Die For includes fascinating interviews with surviving family members and, of course, an inspiring collection of recipes. https://hubs.ly/Q0485v3D0

Anyone can do family history research! In this one-hour lecture, you will learn about key resources, strategies, and fir...
03/31/2026

Anyone can do family history research! In this one-hour lecture, you will learn about key resources, strategies, and first steps to discovering and recording your family history. https://hubs.ly/Q0485t2g0

Is your closet bursting with boxes of old family photographs, letters, scrapbooks, and other documents from your family ...
03/31/2026

Is your closet bursting with boxes of old family photographs, letters, scrapbooks, and other documents from your family history research? In this hands-on workshop, you’ll learn the best practices for digitizing your family treasures. https://hubs.ly/Q0485jGq0

Join us for an unforgettable evening at the 2026 American Stories, American Lives Gala and mark this special moment in o...
03/30/2026

Join us for an unforgettable evening at the 2026 American Stories, American Lives Gala and mark this special moment in our country's history as we honor our shared past and look toward the next chapter of the American story.

On April 23, 2026, we'll gather at the Boston Harbor Hotel to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution and the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

This special evening will honor two extraordinary individuals with Lifetime Achievement Awards: Glenn Close and Dr. Jane Kamensky.

Proceeds from the Gala support American Ancestors and its vital work in education, research, and preserving the stories that shape our shared past—and future.

Be part of this once-in-a-lifetime celebration of American history and human connection.

Purchase tickets today: https://hubs.ly/Q048VFfT0

Enter Our Young Family Historians Essay Contest!https://hubs.ly/Q046f6WS0Our 2026 essay contest for students enrolled in...
03/30/2026

Enter Our Young Family Historians Essay Contest!
https://hubs.ly/Q046f6WS0

Our 2026 essay contest for students enrolled in grades 4–12 in public, private, and home schools across the nation and US territories is now open to submissions. This year, to mark the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, participants are being asked to share the story of an ancestor who was “revolutionary” and explain how their actions were new or impactful for their time. Deadline is April 1, 2026.

Come join us for a tour of our Brim-DeForest Library on Newbury Street! Learn more about the collections, services, and ...
03/27/2026

Come join us for a tour of our Brim-DeForest Library on Newbury Street! Learn more about the collections, services, and other library offerings during this brief tour. https://hubs.ly/Q048HbLQ0

Join experts from American Ancestors for a series of lectures, one-on-one consultations, and assisted research at the Mi...
03/26/2026

Join experts from American Ancestors for a series of lectures, one-on-one consultations, and assisted research at the Midwest Genealogy Center—one of America’s preeminent family history research centers! Access published resources that span all fifty states, including published genealogies, local histories, compiled county records, and more. https://hubs.ly/Q0484-NK0

Whether your family connection to Massachusetts is 400 years old or 40, there is a treasure trove of genealogical resour...
03/26/2026

Whether your family connection to Massachusetts is 400 years old or 40, there is a treasure trove of genealogical resources waiting for you: vital records have been kept by towns since the early seventeenth century; newspapers have existed since colonial times; and there are thousands of published genealogies, local histories, study projects, and other references that exist for Massachusetts research. This online course will provide a century-by-century look at the records, resources, repositories, and research strategies that are essential to exploring your Massachusetts roots. https://hubs.ly/Q045mV4_0

From the acclaimed author of "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time" comes a brilliantly written, darkly fun...
03/25/2026

From the acclaimed author of "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time" comes a brilliantly written, darkly funny, lavishly illustrated memoir exploring the complexities of family life and art. The award-winning author Claire Messud joins Mark Haddon for a discussion of "Leaving Home" and memoir writing. https://hubs.ly/Q0485pdh0

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Our Story

American Ancestors and New England Historic Genealogical Society is America’s founding genealogical organization and the most respected name in family history. Established in 1845, NEHGS is the nation’s leading comprehensive resource for family history research and the largest Society of its kind in the world. We provide expert family history services through our staff, original scholarship, data-rich website, educational opportunities, and research center to help family historians of all levels explore their past and understand their families’ unique place in history. We are a member-based nonprofit corporation dedicated to advancing the study of family history in America and beyond, by educating, inspiring, and connecting people through our scholarship, collections, and expertise. We offer the most comprehensive resources in the country for researching family history: An Expert Staff: Our professional genealogists are among the most respected and advanced in the profession. With research specialties including early American, New England, New York, Irish, English, Italian, Scottish, Atlantic and French Canadian, African American, Native American, Chinese, and Jewish genealogy, our expert staff can assist family historians by providing research advice in-person, over the phone, or in writing. Our expert staff can also conduct research on behalf of family historians, providing authoritative, documented research reports and family tree charts. Original Scholarship: To support the research of family historians around the world, we produce the most significant original research and important publications in genealogy, including, since 1847, the longest continually published academic journal in the field, The Register. In addition to the quarterly journal, we publish a quarterly magazine, ten to twenty books per year, and a weekly electronic newsletter. As the leader in genealogical scholarship, we also produce important study projects such as The Great Migration Study Project, covering those who arrived in New England between 1620 and 1640; The Early New England Study Project, 1641–1700; Families of Western Massachusetts in 1790, capturing families heading west at the time of the 1790 census, and the new Early Vermont Settlers to 1784 which covers families that settled Vermont, the last frontier of New England. Website: AmericanAncestors.org is the most-used genealogical society website in the world. It provides family historians access to more than 1 billion records spanning the U.S. and beyond, including one of the most extensive online collections of early American records, and the largest searchable collection of published genealogical research journals and magazines. Special strengths in our content include English, New England (Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont), New York, Pennsylvania, and Virginia materials. Education: Designed to benefit family history researchers of all levels, we provide exclusive, in-depth learning opportunities through lectures, seminars, intensive research programs, tours to libraries and archives, online courses and webinars, and special events . Research Center: Named by USA Today as a top 10 world destination for family history, the public, members and visitors are invited to visit our eight-story library and archive where we offer the largest collection of original family history research materials in the country. Our collection, which continues to grow through acquisition and preservation activities, dates from the fourteenth century to the present and spans North America, Europe, and beyond. It includes more than 28 million diaries, letters, photographs, and other manuscripts, and more than 200,000 books and microforms.