Atlanta Genealogy

Atlanta Genealogy Larry W.

Thomas of AtlantaGenealogy.com is a professional genealogist and nationally recognized speaker, providing research and educational programs for genealogical societies and private clients nationwide.

Georgia on the Brink of IndependenceIn February 1776, Georgia was transitioning from royal colony to revolutionary state...
02/27/2026

Georgia on the Brink of Independence

In February 1776, Georgia was transitioning from royal colony to revolutionary state.

The Georgia Provincial Congress was meeting in Savannah, forming militia structures and aligning with the Continental Congress — just months before independence would be declared.

That transition created records:

• Georgia militia rolls
• Provincial Congress minutes
• Early state governance documents
• Post-war Georgia land grants

As America approaches its 250th anniversary, those early Georgia records continue to prove service, allegiance, and lineage.

History is remembered because it was recorded.


15th Amendment Sent to the StatesOn 26 February 1869, Congress sent the 15th Amendment to the states for ratification.Fo...
02/26/2026

15th Amendment Sent to the States

On 26 February 1869, Congress sent the 15th Amendment to the states for ratification.

For Georgia, this marked a critical Reconstruction moment.

The amendment led to the creation of records that remain essential for research today:

• Georgia voter registration lists (1867–1870)
• Reconstruction constitutional convention records
• Freedmen’s Bureau Georgia field office files
• Political officeholder documentation

When rights expand, records follow.

Those records now help reconstruct African American family history.

History moves forward. Records preserve it.


On this day, Hiram Rhodes Revels became the first African American U.S. Senator, representing Mississippi during Reconst...
02/25/2026

On this day, Hiram Rhodes Revels became the first African American U.S. Senator, representing Mississippi during Reconstruction.

Reconstruction created records —
• voter rolls
• Freedmen’s Bureau oversight
• military service documentation
• political proceedings

Those documents remain essential for African American family research today.

History moves forward. Records preserve it.

On 24 February 1739, William Prescott was born in Massachusetts.He later commanded American forces at the Battle of Bunk...
02/24/2026

On 24 February 1739, William Prescott was born in Massachusetts.

He later commanded American forces at the Battle of Bunker Hill in 1775.

The Revolutionary War created records — muster rolls, pay lists, pension applications, and land bounty warrants. As America approaches its 250th anniversary, those documents continue to prove service, sacrifice, and lineage.

History is remembered because it was recorded.

On 24 February 1867, Howard University was chartered during Reconstruction.The Reconstruction era did more than reshape ...
02/24/2026

On 24 February 1867, Howard University was chartered during Reconstruction.

The Reconstruction era did more than reshape the nation — it created records. Freedmen’s Bureau files, validated marriages, labor contracts, and military pensions became foundational sources for African American family research.

History moves forward. Records preserve it.

On 23 February 1868, W. E. B. Du Bois was born.He believed in data, documentation, and written proof — principles that r...
02/23/2026

On 23 February 1868, W. E. B. Du Bois was born.

He believed in data, documentation, and written proof — principles that remain foundational in genealogy today.

History is strongest when it is recorded.
DuBois

Did you know there were two colonies in FL at the time of the Revolution that did not join us? Their punishment was for...
02/22/2026

Did you know there were two colonies in FL at the time of the Revolution that did not join us? Their punishment was for the territories be given to Spain.


When researching ancestors from Washington’s era, remember that vital records are often scarce. Tax lists, militia rolls...
02/22/2026

When researching ancestors from Washington’s era, remember that vital records are often scarce. Tax lists, militia rolls, land grants, church registers, and early court minutes may be the key to proving your lineage.

History lives in the records — if you know where to look.

On 21 February 1878, the first telephone directory was issued in New Haven, Connecticut. It contained just 50 names.What...
02/21/2026

On 21 February 1878, the first telephone directory was issued in New Haven, Connecticut. It contained just 50 names.

What began as a simple list quickly became a research cornerstone. City directories place individuals in a specific location, at a specific address, in a specific year — often filling gaps between census records.

Sometimes the proof you need is found in nothing more than a list of names.

“If there is no struggle, there is no progress.”— Frederick DouglassHistory is not comfortable.But it is necessary.As ge...
02/21/2026

“If there is no struggle, there is no progress.”
— Frederick Douglass

History is not comfortable.
But it is necessary.

As genealogists, we don’t erase the hard parts.
We research them. We document them. We tell them honestly.

If you are looking for help in your research, feel free to contact me.
02/20/2026

If you are looking for help in your research, feel free to contact me.

I have the honor of speaking to the Central Texas Genealogical Society on Monday, if you care to join us.
02/20/2026

I have the honor of speaking to the Central Texas Genealogical Society on Monday, if you care to join us.

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