Dale Spaulding discovered remarkable stories when he was researching his family for over 30 years. But he got a little worried that these really uniquely American stories were going to be lost to time if he didn’t do something about it. Maybe you have some of those same fears. It was his determination to preserve that family history that was really the driving force behind why he sat down and wrote a book about it. It’s calledFortitude, Preserving 400 years of an American Family’s Faith, Patriotism, Grit, and Determination. (This affiliate link helps support this free content.)
Dale joins me to share how he went about getting started researching his family tree to prepare to write his narrative. He also shares what motivates him to keep on researching.
Dale R. Spaulding is a lifelong student of history. He’s discovered remarkable stories of his family’s long and rich past during thirty-plus years of research. Concerned that these uniquely American stories would be lost to time, he was determined to preserve them for generations to follow – one of the reasons he authored Fortitude: Preserving 400 Years of an American Family’s Faith, Patriotism, Grit and Determination.
During his career, Dale navigated the oceans and seas of the world in his twenty-two years of service in the U.S. Navy retiring as a Lieutenant Commander. Following the Navy, he was a software quality engineer and technical fellow at The Boeing Company. Dale then served as director of a national church planting organization.
Dale is a graduate of Auburn University and the U.S. Naval Postgraduate School. Now retired, Dale and his wife Nancy reside in Virginia and they have two sons and four grandchildren. He is passionate about his faith, his family and his country.
Show Notes & Video: Finding your German ancestor’s village is key to finding the genealogical records you need to go further back in your family tree. In this session you’ll learn:
How and why it is important to know the “Heimat” because many records are kept on the local level.
How to de garble a village name that is handed down to you (a common problem!)
Records to search for village names.
Resources for finding those records.
My guest presenter is James Beidler. He’s an expert on German genealogy and was gracious enough to share his expertise in the Genealogy Gems booth at Rootstech a few years ago. Visit James Beidler’s website. Get the book: The Family Tree Historical Atlas of Germany. (Thank you for using our affiliate link which supports this free content.)
Researching your ancestors deep into Germany simply doesn’t happen unless you know the name of the village of origin. This presentation goes over the sources to tie your immigrant to a Heimat and then find the village and its records! HIghlighted in this article are the strategies and resources referred to in this video.
German Methodologies Review:
Your first job is to find every document of the immigrant ancestor or that mentions the immigrant ancestor:
Prepare for surname variants
“Redundancy” is a virtue (e.g., obit may well have something tombstone does not)
Even items such as letters and diaries might give clues!
Be prepared for village names to be corrupted
Familiarize yourself with German maps / gazetteers
Look for “patterns of association” with other individuals
Process any piece of information that might distinguish the immigrant (e.g., occupation, names of other family members, etc.)
Utilize “whole family” genealogy
If specific records don’t exist for your ancestor, try others in family
Look for published sources
1700s families: Burgert / Jones / Yoder / Hacker
1800s families: Burkett / Germans to America / Emigration indexes
Search International Genealogical Index
Search for:
References to individual
References to clusters of the surname if it is not common
References to shipmates
References to “associated persons”
Look for other sources of immigrant information:
Heitmatstelle Pfalz immigrant card file
Hamburg embarkation lists
German phonebooks
Google searches
Use the “concentric circles” strategy
If a village is found for the above categories of people (surname, shipmates, associated persons) but your immigrant is not found …
… work out from that village in “concentric circles” to other surrounding villages
“Things found on the way to something else”
Machmer / Magemer / Mahomer example
Never turn away luck!
Types of records that might yield a place of origin:
Naturalizations
Declarations of intent (“first papers”) Naturalization petitions (“final papers”)
Baptisms of children
Marriage Records
Church burial records
Tombstone
Obituaries
U.S. Census
Family Bibles
Family Registers
Fraternal societies’ records
Enlistment papers
Discharge Papers
Pension documents
Letters from relatives
Postmarks on letters
Internet Websites Resources for German Research
The resources listed below can help us answer some of the most common questions we ask as genealogists. Some examples of the questions and Websites that will help:
1. What was the village of origin for my German-speaking immigrant ancestor?
Show Notes: Are you trying to work on a genealogy brick wall, and you think the records you need might be at the National Archives? In this video, I’m going to show you a new way that you can get answers and hopefully get the records quickly.
The National Archives is a great place to do that, but as I’ve mentioned before in this video, their website can be a bit daunting. However, I’ve got some good news. They have updated the website, and tucked away in that update is a special area where you can ask questions and get answers from many different sources including the staff at the National Archives.
It’s called History Hub. This updated platform is a place where the staff will actually answer your questions. You’ll also get responses from other archivists, librarians, museum curators, genealogists, and history enthusiasts. We all have areas of expertise and a wide array of experience, and the new History Hub makes it easier to help each other.
Before you can ask a question or help answer a question, you’ll need to register for a free History Hub account. To do so, click the Create your History Hub account now link on the home page. Type in the account name you want, enter your email address and a password and click the box to agree to the terms of service.
If you are a returning History Hub user, you will need to reset your password and re-accept the community Terms of Use when you first log in.
Be aware that accounts that have not been used for over 1 year are automatically deactivated. So, you can email them at historyhub@nara.gov and they will reactivate your account.
Searching History Hub
Searching for answers at the History Hub is pretty simple and easy to do. You can enter your question in the “Ask” field on the History Hub homepage, or within a specific community. And we’ll talk about communities in just a second.
Let’s first ask a question. There’s a very good chance that someone else has already asked a very similar question to the one you have and there may already be a lot of contributions that will have the information you need.
Go to History.gov and type your question or some keywords into the Ask box. Don’t click the Ask button just yet. Give it a second to show you any potential answers that are already on History Hub. They will appear as a list below the Ask box.
Again, those answers will build up over time, so if when you ask your question you don’t see a similar answer, that’s OK. Go ahead and click the Ask button now and you’ll be taken to a page called Ask a Question in Researchers Help where you can write up your question. Include any relevant information you already know, such as names, dates, and places, and also mention specifically where you’ve already looked. That’s going to help them help you.
You can also add Tags to your question so that if someone searches for a tag, your request will also pop up. And be sure to check the box at the bottom so that you’ll be notified when someone replies to your post.
There are a couple of things to understand and keep in mind. First, all questions are public. So don’t post your phone number or other personal information about you or other living people.
Second, all questions are reviewed and moderated to make sure they comply with History Hub’s Terms and Conditions which again you can read when you sign up for your account. They only moderate and answer questions on weekdays during regular business hours, so patience is a virtue here.
In addition to the Ask a Question box, you’ll find a search bar at the top of the page. This search field searches the entire History Hub website. It’s very similar to the Ask a Question search bar in that once you enter your search terms, you’ll want to wait and let it populate possible answers that are already on the website. It will show you Forums, blogs and communities where your terms are being discussed.
You’ll also find a link to Advanced Search in the bottom right corner of that prepopulated list. This gives you a place to filter down in several creative ways which is very handy if you’re looking for information on a pretty broad topic or one that has had a lot of activity on History Hub.
History Hub search example
They even give you an RSS feed for your specific query. So, if you use an RSS reader to follow blogs and podcasts, you could add this link to it to sort of bookmark this search and keep up to date on the activity on this topic. If you don’t use a Feed Reader currently, but that sounds interesting to you, check out a feed reader like https://feedburner.google.com/ or just google Feed Reader.
Browsing History Hub
Even if you don’t have a specific question, History Hub is worth browsing. There are a couple of ways to do that.
Top Questions where you can look through the most popular questions and topics. This also includes threads from related forums. Use the filters underneath the title of this section to focus even more.
Activity Stream which features the most recent conversations.
Explore Communities. History Hub currently hosts 19 communities, including “Researchers Help,” Military Records, Genealogy, and more. To see them all, click on Communities at the top of any page on the History Hub website.
At History Hub you can not only ask questions, you can also answer them. Since all of us have expertise in our own areas of genealogy, History Hub encourages everyone to share their knowledge and experience with other users who are new to archival and genealogical research. So, you can help out a fellow genealogist by clicking Reply at the bottom of their post and sharing what you know about the topic.
Notifications, Updates, and Subscriptions
As I mentioned before, this site is building up content over time. So, you’re probably going to want to follow topics, and History Hub offers a couple of ways to do that.
Forum Updates & Notifications
If you’re interested in following a particular topic, such as Census Records, or Army and Air Force Records, you can get updates by email and on the platform for all new questions and answers in that specific forum. To do that, click on any community’s Question and Answer Forum tab, then click the Turn Forum notifications on link in the sidebar of that Forum’s homepage.
Subscribe to Community Updates
You can also receive daily or weekly email updates within a specific community, including new blog posts and questions. To do that on any Community Overview page, click “Email digest options” in the right column sidebar.
Getting Help with History Hub
History Hub Help Files: Getting Started. Again, this website is newly revamped, so they are still working out the bugs. You can report any problems or ask questions in theTechnical Help and Support Forum.
(Audio Podcast) In this episode of the Genealogy Gems Podcast, Lisa Louise Cooke explores exciting developments in the world of historical newspapers, including the revival of a beloved search engine and major enhancements to a key U.S. archive. Discover the latest innovations from MyHeritage that can supercharge your family tree research and photo storytelling, along with a spotlight on Ancestry’s exclusive new membership program. Plus, Lisa shares a personal interview reflecting on the profound ways genealogy can inspire healing and connection.
Listen to the Podcast
Click below to listen or scroll down for the videos.
What was Elephind: Originally a free search engine for historical newspapers, aggregating millions of digitized pages from libraries worldwide; it was a go-to tool for genealogists hunting ancestors in old news articles, obituaries, and ads before it went offline.
Who is Veridian: A digital collections software company specializing in preserving and making accessible historical newspapers; they’ve digitized over 247 million pages, partnering with institutions to build searchable online archives.
What’s New : The announcement “It’s Official: Elephind Is Returning!” Elephind is relaunching later this year with upgrades like semantic search (for more intuitive, context-aware queries) and an AI search assistant to help refine results and suggest related content.
What’s the difference between keyword and semantic search? Keyword search relies on exact word matching. It retrieves content that includes the specific terms entered by the user—without interpreting context or intent. Semantic search uses natural language processing and machine learning to interpret the meaning behind a search query—not just the literal words used. Unlike keyword search, which looks for exact matches, semantic search can identify synonyms, related concepts, and contextual relevance–helping it better understand user intent, even when not explicitly stated.
Chronicling America’s Upgrade is Here
The URL chroniclingamerica.loc.gov will continue to be the home of the Chronicling America collection and will permanently redirect people to the new site.
Overview of the Upgrade: It now includes enhanced search tools, better navigation, and new features for browsing over 20 million digitized newspaper pages from 1777–1963. The upgrade includes an improved image viewer for zooming into details like faded text; advanced search options for filtering by state, language, or ethnicity; and title records with historical context on newspapers.
LiveMemory™ Now Features Fun New Effects and Improved AI Technology
What’s New: MyHeritage’s photo animation tool now includes fun effects (e.g., colorization, enhancements) and improved AI for more realistic animations, bringing old family photos to life with movements like smiles or head turns.
Benefits for Genealogists: Enhances storytelling by animating ancestors’ images; useful for sharing with family or in presentations—AI improvements mean better handling of damaged or low-quality photos common in heritage collections. It builds on existing tech to add emotional depth to family photos.
25 Billion Historical Records Published in June at MyHeritage
Scale of the Addition: Massive update including birth, marriage, death, census, and immigration records from various countries—boosting MyHeritage’s total to over 20 billion records. The records focus on underrepresented areas like European and U.S. collections; genealogists can search for specific datasets via the blog post for targeted family breakthroughs. This is one of the largest single-month additions.
Finding and Fixing Tree Inconsistencies – Free Webinar Replay Video
MyHeritage’s Consistency Checker identifies common tree errors like duplicate entries, date mismatches, or source conflicts. This free webinar replay video will show you how to use it.
Ancestry introduced Club 1890
Ancestry recently launched its exclusive invitation-only Club 1890, reminiscent of Disney’s Club 33. Learn more about Ancestry’s Cub 1890.
Key Features of Ancestry Club 1890:
Expert Coaching: Monthly one-on-one sessions with a genealogy expert and weekly group coaching sessions.
Advanced Learning: Access to exclusive events and personalized assistance designed to enhance research skills.
VIP Services: Early access to historical records, reserved seating at events, and priority access to customer service.
Premium Perks: Discounts on professional research, travel, and custom mementos.
Other benefits: Includes an annual All Access Family Plan, Pro Tools, four DNA kits per year, and a $100 gift card for Ancestry’s merchandise store.
Crista Cowan of Ancestry.com Interviews Lisa Louise Cooke on the Stories that Live in Us Podcast
In this interview with Crista Cowan (The Barefoot Genealogist) on her podcast “Stories that Live in Us” I share my personal story – from a childhood filled with divorces to surviving cancer. It’s been a journey that has revealed to me the ways in which family history can be a real source of healing and hope. At the center of the conversation is my story of genealogical serendipity that led to the discovery of an heirloom quilt. “My great grandmother held a deep Christian faith and wrote to my grandmother for years encouraging her to return to hers. Her quilt was her final letter, not only to my grandmother, but to my father and me.” Colossians 2:2
Come explore the capabilities of MyHeritage’s Scribe AI with me. We’ll use it to analyze and transcribe genealogical notes, generate research suggestions and strategies to add to our genealogy research plan and more. Wait until you see what it can do with cursive handwritten notes!
Watch the Video
MyHeritage has just launched Scribe AI, a groundbreaking new AI-powered tool designed to revolutionize how genealogists handle and analyze historical documents and handwritten notes. Announced in early March 2026 at RootsTech, Scribe AI uses advanced artificial intelligence to transcribe, translate, interpret, and provide deep insights into family history materials that might otherwise be difficult to read or understand.
Whether you’re dealing with faded handwriting, cryptic scribbles, or multilingual records, Scribe AI acts like a personal AI historian—extracting key details, offering historical context, suggesting research next steps, and even analyzing visual elements.
Trying Scribe AI: A Real-World Example with Handwritten Family Notes
As a dedicated genealogist, I couldn’t wait to test this new feature. Right after seeing the announcement, I headed to MyHeritage (as a subscriber, it’s easy to find under the Photos section or directly at myheritage.com/scribe-ai).
I uploaded a scanned image of a precious handwritten note my grandmother gave me when I was just eight years old. It’s the very note that sparked my lifelong love of genealogy. She jotted down family details on the back of a random piece of paper during our first conversation about her ancestors. It’s informal, with crossed-out words, abbreviations, and some hard-to-decipher handwriting.
Before proceeding, MyHeritage requires consent: You agree that uploaded documents (which may contain personal information) will be processed by MyHeritage and Google for analysis. Importantly, they advise against uploading info about living people without permission, a smart privacy reminder for all AI genealogy tools.
The upload was quick (even on launch day), and within a few moments, Scribe AI processed the image.
Here’s what it delivered:
Historical Context: It correctly identified the note as informal handwritten genealogical notes, likely from a family conversation, with roots in Germany (Gladbeck and Dortmund) and connections to the U.S. (Plankington, South Dakota). It noted the casual, dynamic style with crossed-outs. This was spot-on for how my grandmother wrote it while chatting with me!
Extracted Details and Individuals: The AI pulled out names and relationships, including:
“Mama Mikolowski” (possible maiden name uncertainty).
“Biseric” (it read a “B” where I always saw a “V” providing a new spelling variation to search!).
Adam and Carlotta Lada (noted as a couple in Gladbeck, a mining town; slight spelling variance from “Ladda,” but helpful).
Children: Richard, Greta, Margareta, Walter, and Adam.
Gustav (crossed out as “August” originally), described as the youngest of seven brothers with the mysterious phrase “me spowart in Irish.”
Other mysteries like “Elijah Maria” (possibly “Bernice Grandfather”) and “Frank.”
These insights opened new research avenues like the variations like “Biserich” or revisiting “Spowart” that I hadn’t fully explored.
MyHeritage’s Scribe AI results
Key Findings and Suggested Next Steps: Scribe AI summarized family clusters, international connections, and specific clues. It recommended:
Searching MyHeritage for census records and passenger lists for the Lotta/Lada family from Gladbeck.
Investigating “Elijah Maria” and Frank in U.S./European records.
Exploring German civil registration and church records (a great tip for newcomers or those new to German research!).
Researching surname variations like “Biserich” or “Spour.”
These suggestions are practical and encourage digging deeper, especially with MyHeritage’s ongoing record additions.
Full Transcription: The tool provided a complete, readable transcription, preserving much of the original layout (e.g., crossed-out “pediatric emergencies”—a remnant from my grandmother’s nursing career). It handled handwriting remarkably well, though minor errors appeared (e.g., misinterpreting a line as a cross-out). This highlights AI’s strength as a tool, not a replacement: Always verify and interpret results yourself.
Why Scribe AI Could be a Game-Changer for Your Genealogy
This tool tackles common frustrations such as:
illegible handwriting,
lost context,
or overlooked clues.
It speeds up analysis, sparks new ideas, and suggests record types (like German church vs. civil records) or search strategies you might miss. It’s like getting a second opinion on your documents and research.
Pro Tips When Using Scribe AI:
Always cross-check transcriptions against the original image. AI can miss nuances like text placement, underlining, or relational arrows that provide vital context.
Paste results into a word processor to recreate layout if needed.
Start free (limited uses), then subscribe for more.
The Future of Scribe AI
Scribe AI has huge potential. it’s already impressive, and as users test it, MyHeritage will refine it further. We may soon see it applied broadly across the website.
Have you tried Scribe AI yet? Share your discoveries in the comments. What mysteries did it help solve for you?
Learn More with These Resources
Check out more of my free videos on using MyHeritage. Each includes a downloadable cheat sheet pdf (premium membership required.)
