Once you've learned what an ancestor did for a living, what can you find out about him from occupational records? The answer varies greatly, depending on his line of work. Some careers of yesteryear simply generated more paperwork than others. Here's a look at some of the genealogical goodies you might uncover, based on your ancestor's occupation:

Railroad ties

If your ancestor worked in railroading — as did some 2.25 million Americans in the early 1900s — you're in luck. The spread of trains across the continent created an even more sprawling system of paperwork, much of which has been preserved.