Family history research, genealogy, ancestry, it’s all just the study of past relatives. It takes on a different form depending on who does the research and what the purpose is. For many Americans, genealogical research is about finding where our families came from. For others the request can be more specific. Maybe a relative died at war, ran a successful business, or was rumored to be a criminal and you just want to know more about them. All of those are good reasons to dive into historical documents.
How Your Ancestors Died 