American Ancestors

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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.

12/24/2025

Happy holidays from American Ancestors! Wishing you all a joyful and peaceful holiday season! ❄️✨

12/23/2025

Interested in research but don't know where to start? Come join our free tour of the Brim-DeForest Library, our center for genealogical research, learning, and discovery! Learn more: https://hubs.ly/Q03YDNGM0

12/19/2025

Holiday traditions connect us to those who came before us. What's one that you still carry on today? Share with us in the comments below 👇
Get started at https://hubs.ly/Q03YDV2b0

12/18/2025

During the unveiling of the Boston Tea Party participants and eyewitnesses this week, we met Ashley, a descendant of John Crane. We discovered that we hold John Crane's probate record in our manuscript collection and retrieved it for Ashley to review. She later got to see her ancestors' handwriting in person for the very first time!

Learn more about our Boston Tea Party Descendants Program: https://www.bostonteapartyship.com/boston-tea-party-descendants

12/18/2025

When you first began your family history research, you may have thought that it would be simple to keep track of all the information. Staying organized is an important part of the genealogical process. Taking the time to organize your research, results, and files as you go will give you more time for productive research. This online seminar will provide you with several tips, tools, and best practices for organizing your research and results at every step of your family history journey. https://hubs.ly/Q03WW77V0

12/17/2025

When researching, it can be easy to get swept up in your discoveries and to begin adding people to your tree without documentation—before you know it, your tree has grown, but you find yourself questioning how much of it is accurate! In this online lecture, Senior Genealogist Rhonda R. McClure will discuss how to leverage family trees to further your research while avoiding common pitfalls. https://hubs.ly/Q03YnlM70

12/17/2025

Yesterday, in partnership with the Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum, we helped unveil the first definitive, fully vetted list of Boston Tea Party participants and eyewitnesses. Based on original research, this list brings new clarity to a pivotal moment in American history and will soon be on display at the museum.

Do you have ancestors who participated in or witnessed the Boston Tea Party? Apply to join the Boston Tea Party Descendants Program: https://www.bostonteapartyship.com/boston-tea-party-descendants

12/17/2025

We're grateful to NBC10 Boston for covering yesterday's unveiling of the definitive list of Boston Tea Party participants! Watch the full segment below!
https://www.nbcboston.com/video/multimedia/list-of-boston-tea-party-participants-and-witnesses-revealed/3863078/

12/16/2025

On the 252nd anniversary of the Boston Tea Party, we're proud to share a historic milestone. In partnership with the Boston Tea Party Ships & Museum, we helped unveil the first-ever officially vetted list of Boston Tea Party participants, now honored with a permanent plaque at the museum. Read the full press release: https://hubs.ly/Q03YhJy30

12/15/2025

Reminder that we're offering free admission to our Brim-DeForest library through the end of the year! Our library features extensive genealogical records, access to our online databases, and expert help from our librarians and genealogists to guide your research. Learn more at https://hubs.ly/Q03Y8yfy0

12/15/2025

This holiday season, give the gift of family history! Gift memberships provide full access to the American Ancestors website, subscriptions to our quarterly publications, unlimited use of our research center, and special member discounts. Members also receive access to American AncesTREES, an online family tree program. https://www.americanancestors.org/membership/gift-membership

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97 Newbury Street
Boston, MA
02116

Website

http://www.AmericanAncestors.org/

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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.