Findingdeeproots

03/29/2026

03/29/2026

Andrea, The Woman Who Gave Me My Roots

As we closeout Women’s History Month, I honor the woman who gave me my first understanding of family — my mother, Andrea.

Through her, I learned the importance of connection, tradition, and remembering where we come from. Whether through stories, family gatherings, or quiet moments of reflection, she showed me that our history lives within us.

She may not have called it genealogy, but she was teaching it every day — passing down names, memories, and the values that shaped our family. Those lessons became the foundation of my passion for researching and preserving our family history.

Because of her, I don’t just carry my name, Lisa — I carry a legacy.

At Finding Deep Roots, that same love for family and history continues, helping others uncover the stories that connect generations.

03/22/2026

Rooted in Love: Karen & Shawna

This Women’s History Month, we celebrate the women who shaped us — starting at home.

For Shawna, her relationship with her mother is the foundation of her passion for family, history, and connection. Through love, guidance, and shared memories, her mother instilled in her the importance of knowing where you come from and honoring those who came before you.

Those early moments — conversations, stories, and time spent together — became the spark that led to a deeper appreciation for family history and ultimately the work we do today at Finding Deep Roots.

It’s a beautiful reminder that sometimes our greatest inspiration isn’t found in history books, but in the women who raised us.

03/15/2026

Where Genealogy Begins: With Grandma

As we celebrate Women’s History Month, we honor the women who quietly preserved our family history long before genealogy websites and digital archives existed.

For many of us, our grandmothers were our first genealogists. They remembered the names of relatives, the places families came from, and the stories behind family traditions. Around kitchen tables, on front porches, and during family gatherings, they shared the memories that connected generations.

Grandmothers carried the history of migrations, hardships, celebrations, and everyday life. They preserved family recipes, photographs, and stories that might otherwise have been lost. Through their voices, we learned about the ancestors who came before us and the paths they carved for our families.

At Finding Deep Roots, so many genealogy journeys begin with a grandmother’s story. A simple memory shared by an elder can become the key that unlocks historical records, census documents, and deeper discoveries about our lineage.

This Women’s History Month, take time to listen to the grandmothers and elder women in your family. Ask questions. Write down their stories. Their memories are the roots of your family tree.

https://youtu.be/tdNWvIQWz0M

https://youtu.be/Gu_gHD6fmbc

Before the documents, before the archives, and before the research… there was Grandma!

03/08/2026

The Women Who Carried Our Stories

As we celebrate Women’s History Month, we take time to honor the women who shaped our families, our communities, and our history.

For generations, women have been the keepers of family stories. They preserved the names of grandparents, the places families migrated from, the traditions that defined holidays, and the memories that connected generations. Long before many records were easily accessible, it was often mothers and grandmothers who held the threads of our family history.

Their resilience carried families through some of the most difficult chapters in American history. Yet through strength, faith, and determination, they built homes, nurtured communities, and created opportunities for the generations that followed.

At Finding Deep Roots, many genealogy journeys begin with the stories of a grandmother, great-grandmother, or aunt. Those memories often become the first clues that lead to historical records, census documents, and family discoveries.

This Women’s History Month, take a moment to sit with the women in your family. Ask questions. Listen closely. Write down their stories. You may find that the key to unlocking your family history has been with them all along.

Because when we honor the women in our families, we honor the roots that made us who we are.
https://youtu.be/zhXgKH6x2b0

03/01/2026

The Month Ends. The Mission Continues.

Black History Month may be coming to a close — but the study of Black history should never end.

This month has been nothing short of powerful. We’ve had the honor of visiting local libraries throughout our community, working alongside patrons eager to uncover lost names, forgotten records, and long-hidden family connections. Each workshop reminded us that Black history lives within our families — in our lineage, our migration stories, our land ownership, our resilience, and our legacy.

It brings us tremendous joy to help reveal these hidden treasures. Watching someone see their ancestor’s name in a census, military record, or property document for the first time is a moment that never gets old.

As we close out February, we encourage you to continue digging, asking questions, interviewing elders, and building your pedigree charts. We look forward to seeing the breakthroughs that come from your ongoing research — and we hope to continue supporting you in future workshops.

Black history is not confined to a month. It is living, breathing, and rooted in our families.

Wishing you clarity, persistence, and joy in your continued research journey.

02/22/2026

Our Ancestors’ Land, Our Future

Researching your family history is about more than names and dates — it is about power, legacy, and protecting what belongs to your family.

Across the country, families are using genealogical research and community action to protect ancestral land and preserve their heritage. Recently, residents of Sapelo Island’s historic Gullah Geechee community successfully voted to stop zoning changes that threatened their land, culture, and future — showing how knowledge of community history and participation in civic processes can safeguard generational legacy. The following article by Aallyah Wright, Sapelo Island’s Gullah Geechee Community Fights Back and Wins, provides additional insight.
https://capitalbnews.org/sapelo-island-voters-stop-development/

This powerful example reminds us that documenting family history is not just personal — it can influence property rights, community preservation, and generational wealth. When we understand our ancestors’ land ownership, migration patterns, and historical connections, we strengthen our ability to advocate for our families and communities today.

At Finding Deep Roots, we help families uncover these vital records — tracing ancestry, property connections, and historical documentation that build a clearer path to the past and empower the future.

Your family history matters. Your legacy matters. Your voice matters.

Let us help you discover your story.

02/15/2026

Your Past Is Your Power

In today’s world, with so much change happening around us, understanding who we are and where we come from has never been more important. Knowing your family history provides a powerful link to the past — a foundation that helps guide how we move forward.

Genealogy connects us to the lives, struggles, and triumphs of those who came before us. It reveals how our ancestors lived, worked, migrated, and persevered. Their experiences shaped the opportunities we have today, and their stories help us better understand our identity, purpose, and place in the world.

Researching your family history is more than curiosity — it is preservation, empowerment, and legacy-building. It allows us to reclaim stories that may have been forgotten, correct narratives that were misunderstood, and pass knowledge to future generations.

At Finding Deep Roots, we believe that when you know your roots, you stand stronger in the present and walk more confidently into the future. Your past is not behind you — it lives within you.

02/14/2026

Yay!!!

Join us for a Black History Month Ancestry Workshop presented by Finding Deep Roots on Saturday, February 21st at 1:00pm! Explore your family history and learn how to create a 5-generation genealogical pedigree chart.

Please register at the link below or by calling the library at 412-775-4700.
https://pennhills.librarycalendar.com/event/black-history-month-ancestry-workshop-15489