Category: Female Ancestors

Beyond Rosie: Women in Wartime

Women can do it...because they always have! From the Revolutionary War to WWII, learn the various, surprising ways women in wartime served our country.

5 Genealogy Activities to Do in March

This March, observe Women’s History Month by paying extra attention to your female forbears! Try these 5 tasks to get to know the females on your family tree.

Best Records for Finding Female Ancestors

Looking for the women in your family tree? Start your search for female ancestors in these genealogy records.

DNA Q&A: The Case of Mom’s Missing Surname

A reader has many DNA matches on her maternal side, but not one of them shares her mother's maiden name. What? Our DNA expert weighs in on the case of the missing surname.

How to Learn About Working Women in Old Family Photos

Did your female ancestors work outside the home? In this article, the photo detective, Maureen Taylor, demonstrates how you can find clues to your great-grandma's occupation in old photographs.

Remembering the Ladies

Discovering women's' identities can be tricky as they were often listed under their married name, or not at all. Here are clues to help identifying them.

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Strategies for Finding Female Ancestors

Finding your female ancestors can be a challenge, but these six tips will help you find those elusive women in your family history.

Your Searchable Guide to Female Ancestor Nicknames

Can't find your female ancestor in a database? This nicknames list will provide you the clues you need to identify them.

Women’s Intuition

Having trouble researching your female ancestors? We've got tips to help you track down their maiden names, and advice on what records to start with.

Five Tips for Learning Women’s Maiden Names

Finding the maiden names of your female ancestors can be a real challenge. We've assembled 5 tips to help you track them down.

Using Women’s Collars to Date Old Family Photos

The last two images blog reader Kimble DaCosta sent me are from the same period, but show off two different collar styles: one from the mid- to late 1870s and the other from the late 1870s to early 1880s. Both photos are tintypes. You can read the first two installments...

Big Hats in Family Photos

Ronnie O'Rourke's great aunt Mary (Mamie) Smith (b. 1892) wears an enormous hat in this family portrait. Her grandson identified her in the image, but now the family wants to know who's standing with her. Her hat and dress are quite stylish for this outdoor event. The presence of the...

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