Of all the historical occupations that could be found in a family tree, few were more pungent, more physically difficult, or more socially isolating than tanning. While farmers, blacksmiths, and even coal miners occupied central places in their communities, the tanner often worked on the outskirts—literally and figuratively. Tanning was essential to everyday life, producing the leather needed for clothing, shoes, belts, saddles, bookbinding, harnesses, and more. But because of how it was done—us...
Jul 07, 2025•8 min•Season 11Ep. 1119
As the United States marks its 249th year of independence, it’s a fitting time to pause and reflect—not just on fireworks and parades, but on the remarkable clarity of vision held by those who signed their names to the cause of liberty. These were men who risked everything—their lives, fortunes, and sacred honor—not for gain, but for the enduring hope of a free and virtuous republic. Their words, written in the heat of war and the uncertainty of revolution, are more than historical relics. They ...
Jul 05, 2025•6 min•Season 11Ep. 1118
Coal built the modern world. It powered trains, lit homes, fueled factories, and kept furnaces burning during the coldest winters. But that power came at a steep cost. For every train that ran and every hearth that glowed, miners were working deep underground, chipping away at rock, swallowing dust, and risking their lives with every shift. Mining was one of the most dangerous and physically demanding jobs your ancestors could have held. For many, it wasn’t just a job—it was the only option. In ...
Jul 02, 2025•8 min•Season 11Ep. 1117
Before the comforts of indoor plumbing and municipal sewage systems, someone had to do the dirty work. And by dirty, we mean truly revolting. The Night Soil Man was the one tasked with removing human waste from privy pits, outhouses, and cesspools—usually under cover of darkness when the smell might be slightly less offensive and when the public eye wouldn’t witness the mess. The term "night soil" refers to human excrement that was collected before the days of flushing toilets. It piled up in ba...
Jun 30, 2025•6 min•Season 11Ep. 1116
As we continue our journey through The Forgotten Seconds , we pause to examine the life of Schuyler Colfax—a name once associated with optimism, eloquence, and the future of the Republican Party. He was Vice President under Ulysses S. Grant , a former Speaker of the House, and one of the most prominent political figures of his time. But Colfax’s career was later marred by scandal, and his name, once linked to presidential potential, was swept away in the tide of changing political winds. Let’s s...
Jun 28, 2025•7 min•Season 11Ep. 1115
As we continue our series, The Forgotten Seconds , we take a closer look at those vice presidents who, despite standing one heartbeat away from the highest office, never became president themselves. Today’s spotlight is on Hannibal Hamlin, Abraham Lincoln’s first vice president—a name that once carried national significance but has since faded from common memory. Hamlin’s life tells the story of New England grit, political courage, and quiet conviction in a turbulent era... Podcast Notes: https:...
Jun 27, 2025•9 min•Season 11Ep. 1114
I found this old postcard the other day, and something about it pulled me right in. It shows a dimly lit room, heavy with shadow and curiosity. There’s a man standing with a bird—maybe a parrot—perched on his arm. A woman leans against the back bar. You can just make out a bartender. There’s a large wooden chest in the corner, chains hanging from the wall, and rough-hewn beams that look like they’ve seen more than a century of stories. This isn’t just a bar. It’s something else. It feels like a ...
Jun 26, 2025•5 min•Season 11Ep. 1113
This one caught my eye for a completely different reason than most of the postcards I’ve written about. It’s not a quiet street scene or a charming old building—it’s people. A whole lineup of them. Dancers, performers, maybe a few singers too, all standing in formation in front of a dramatic backdrop. They’re dressed in full costume—fringe, sequins, feathers—ready to perform, or maybe just wrapping up another night’s set. The caption at the bottom reads: The Ensemble of “The Famous Hollywood Cab...
Jun 24, 2025•5 min•Season 11Ep. 1112
Some postcards you flip past quickly. Others make you stop. This one made me stop. It’s not flashy—there’s no massive landmark or postcard-perfect sunset. Just a simple church nestled among a few trees, with a neat little gatehouse and a quiet street. What caught my eye was the caption: The Little Church Around the Corner. That name alone makes you want to find out more. It sounds like something you’d say if you were giving directions in a familiar neighborhood—only this neighborhood happens to ...
Jun 22, 2025•5 min•Season 11Ep. 1111
Every June, many of us pause to honor the fathers in our lives—the ones who taught us how to change a tire, tied our fishing lines, and maybe even showed us how to be brave in the quietest of ways. But for all the neckties and backyard barbecues, few people know the full story of how Father’s Day came to be. The holiday didn’t spring up as easily as Mother’s Day, nor was it without its share of controversy, setbacks, and surprising twists. The roots of Father’s Day reach deep into early 20th-cen...
Jun 15, 2025•8 min•Season 11Ep. 1110
The 1925 New York State census holds a prominent place in the lineup of state enumerations. This is not only because it was the last one conducted by the state but also because of the historical moment it captured. Taken just five years before the 1930 federal census, the 1925 enumeration offers researchers a final glimpse of New York families as they transitioned from the post–World War I years into a new, modern era marked by rapid change. By the mid-1920s, New York State had evolved into a co...
Jun 13, 2025•8 min•Season 11Ep. 1109
By the time New York took its 1915 state census, the state was in the midst of dramatic social, political, and demographic shifts. The five years since the 1910 federal census had brought even more industrial growth, continued waves of immigration, and the rise of new housing, labor, and reform movements. Capturing all of this change in the middle of a federal census decade, the 1915 New York State census stands as one of the most insightful tools available for those researching family history i...
Jun 12, 2025•7 min•Season 11Ep. 1108
The 1905 New York State census is a cornerstone resource for anyone researching individuals or families who lived in New York at the beginning of the 20th century. Coming just five years after the 1900 federal census and five years before the 1910 federal count, this state census captures a critical snapshot of life during a dynamic and rapidly changing time in American history... Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/exploring-the-1905-new-york-state-census/ Ancestral Findings Podcast: h...
Jun 11, 2025•8 min•Season 11Ep. 1107
The 1892 New York census is an essential source for family history researchers working in the late 19th century. With the destruction of the 1890 U.S. federal census, the 1892 state count offers one of the only large-scale snapshots of life during that decade. For anyone tracing New York families through immigration, urbanization, or internal migration in the 1880s and 1890s, this record is a key substitute for the lost enumeration. Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/the-1892-new-york-...
Jun 09, 2025•7 min•Season 11Ep. 1106
This postcard brought it all back. The steel-gray tones, the Point Bridge stretching across the Monongahela, and Pittsburgh’s unmistakable skyline—narrow, bold, and rising up from the meeting of three rivers. I remember the first time I ever drove through the Fort Pitt Tunnel. You’re surrounded by mountain, nothing but concrete—then suddenly, you burst out into the open and the whole city hits you at once. There’s nothing quite like that view. And somehow, this postcard captures that feeling... ...
Jun 06, 2025•5 min•Season 11Ep. 1105
Among the many state censuses conducted across the United States, Iowa’s 1925 enumeration stands apart. Genealogists frequently cite it as one of the most detailed and valuable non-federal census records available. What sets it apart is not just the volume of information collected but the nature of that information—specifically, its emphasis on lineage. This census doesn’t simply capture who was living in Iowa at the time; it provides rare and remarkably direct insight into each resident’s paren...
Jun 05, 2025•8 min•Season 11Ep. 1104
While most genealogists rely on the federal census as a foundational tool, those researching ancestors in New York State have a distinct advantage. In addition to appearing in the federal census every ten years, New Yorkers were also counted in a robust series of state censuses. These records, taken at regular intervals between federal censuses, offer an extraordinary opportunity to fill in gaps, confirm relationships, and capture details that the federal government often overlooked. New York co...
Jun 05, 2025•8 min•Season 11Ep. 1103
If you’ve spent any time researching your family history, you’ve probably developed a familiar rhythm. You track your ancestors through the federal censuses, taken every ten years like clockwork. It’s a comforting structure: 1850, 1860, 1870… they show up like old friends, giving you names, ages, occupations, and places of birth. For many researchers, these are the backbone of American genealogy. But then something strange happens... Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/lost-in-between-t...
Jun 02, 2025•7 min•Season 11Ep. 1102
In this episode, we’re talking about ten meaningful genealogy projects you can take on during June. This time of year brings a lot of opportunities—warmer weather, Father’s Day, family gatherings—and all of it pairs perfectly with digging deeper into your family history. Whether it’s researching summer traditions, hosting a vintage-style picnic, or discovering how your ancestors celebrated Father’s Day, these projects are fun, hands-on ways to bring your research to life. So grab a notebook, may...
Jun 01, 2025•7 min•Season 11Ep. 1101
I pulled this one from the stack and couldn’t look away. Moss hangs low in the scene, soft and heavy like it’s weighed down by memory. A quiet glade in City Park, dappled in sunlight—until you notice the duel. Two men, swords drawn, captured mid-motion. The postcard tells us it’s the De Lissau–Le Bouisque duel of 1841. But that’s only the beginning. What you’re seeing is more than just a stylized illustration. This postcard opens a window into one of New Orleans’ more haunting traditions: duelin...
May 30, 2025•4 min•Season 11Ep. 1100
William Rufus DeVane King was born on April 7, 1786, in Sampson County, North Carolina. His ancestry reached back to some of the earliest European settlers in the Southern colonies. His father, William King, was of Irish descent, with ancestors believed to have emigrated from Ulster to the American colonies in the early 1700s. The King family settled in North Carolina, became landowners, and took part in the political and agricultural life of the region. His grandfather, also named William King,...
May 29, 2025•8 min•Season 11Ep. 1099
George Mifflin Dallas, who served as the 11th Vice President of the United States from 1845 to 1849 under President James K. Polk , is one of the quieter figures in American history. Though the city of Dallas, Texas, may or may not be named after him, his influence was far greater in his own time than the legacy we associate with his name today. He was a man of learning, diplomacy, and political acumen, with roots that reached deep into the early fabric of American life. Podcast Notes: https://a...
May 28, 2025•7 min•Season 11Ep. 1098
This time of year always stirs up reflection, and not just because summer is starting to peek around the corner. Memorial Day is here—a day that means different things to different people. For some, it’s a long weekend. For others, it’s deeply personal. But beyond the cookouts and parades, there’s a story to tell. A history worth remembering. A reminder of sacrifice, and why it matters. So today, I want to take you on a thoughtful walk through the meaning, history, and personal connections behin...
May 26, 2025•9 min•Season 11Ep. 1097
I pulled this card from the stack and instantly felt the spray of seawater and the tension of a harpoon rope straining against the power of something far too large to control. This is no tourist snapshot. It’s a painting—an artist’s concept of a whaling scene, likely imagined from stories passed down, museum displays, or old journal entries. The men are mid-chase in a longboat, bearing down on the massive, thrashing tail of a whale. Behind them, the tall masts of their ship rise from the sea lik...
May 24, 2025•5 min•Season 11Ep. 1096
The 1960 U.S. Census sits just over the horizon, scheduled to be released to the public on April 1, 2032. It’s a highly anticipated snapshot of American life during a time of rapid change: the rise of suburbia, the baby boom cresting, the Cold War in full effect, and the Civil Rights Movement gaining national attention. For genealogists, it promises to unlock new details about ancestors who lived in the modern era—but for now, it remains sealed under the federal 72-year privacy law. So, what can...
May 23, 2025•6 min•Season 11Ep. 1095
The 1950 U.S. Census is the most recent one released to the public, and it marks the end of an era and the beginning of another. Taken just five years after the end of World War II , it captures a nation in transition—from wartime sacrifice to peacetime prosperity. Suburbs were growing, baby carriages were rolling down sidewalks, and television sets were beginning to flicker in living rooms. If the 1940 census shows a country on the brink, the 1950 census shows what happened after the leap. This...
May 22, 2025•9 min•Season 11Ep. 1094
The 1940 U.S. Census gives us a remarkably detailed portrait of America just before everything changed. In a few short years, the United States would enter World War II, and millions of lives would be transformed. But in 1940, Americans were still in recovery mode. The Great Depression had taken its toll, but new programs like the New Deal had started to shift the tide. This census captures that fragile balance: a nation still scarred but beginning to look ahead. This is the most recent census a...
May 21, 2025•7 min•Season 11Ep. 1093
I pulled this one from the box the other day—a postcard that’s more than just a snapshot. It’s a whole afternoon, frozen in place. I’ve looked at it a dozen times now, and I keep finding new things. The light on the red brick, the ivy climbing the walls, the quiet blur of someone mid-stride. It’s not a staged photo. It feels lived in, like if I stood still long enough, I might hear the hum of a saxophone or catch the smell of espresso drifting out from a corner café. This is Greenwich Village, N...
May 18, 2025•6 min•Season 11Ep. 1092
The 1930 U.S. Census captures America in an unsettled moment. The Roaring Twenties were winding down, but the Great Depression was just beginning to take hold. It’s a census taken in the calm before the storm fully broke. A generation that had just emerged from the trauma of World War I and the 1918 flu pandemic found itself navigating economic boom—and, soon after, one of the most devastating financial collapses in history. This makes the 1930 census especially valuable to genealogists and fami...
May 17, 2025•8 min•Season 11Ep. 1091
We’ve now arrived at the 1920 U.S. Census—the first one taken after the end of World War I. This moment in history holds a lot beneath the surface. If your ancestors were alive during this time, they had just come through a pandemic (the 1918 flu), experienced wartime hardship, and were witnessing a country beginning to shift from rural traditions into a modern age. The census taken in January 1920 captures Americans right as the Roaring Twenties were warming up. I always find this census one of...
May 16, 2025•8 min•Season 11Ep. 1089
