February has always been about women for me—but not in a grand, sweeping way. In a quieter, more personal way. When I think about why Her Story matters so much, I think about my great-great-grandmother, Amelia VonPhul Bird. She’s my favorite. If I could sit down with any ancestor for a conversation, it would be her. I don’t need dramatic stories or perfect timelines—I just want to know what her days felt like. What she carried. What made her her….
January always feels like a quiet reset for me. Not a dramatic overhaul—just a chance to take stock, clear a little space, and set myself up for the year ahead. Why January Starts with a Spreadsheet For my family history work, that reset almost always starts with a spreadsheet. I genuinely love spreadsheets. I love the order they bring to my research, the way they let me see everything at once, and the calm that comes from knowing I can…
My 2026 Monthly Family History Challenges One of the questions I hear most often is, “Where do I even start?” And honestly? I’ve asked myself that same question more times than I can count. Family history often feels bigger than we expect—full of unfinished threads and quiet pressure to do more. I created these monthly challenges to slow that feeling down. They’re not a checklist, but a rhythm: one small focus each month, taken at an unhurried pace. I built…
Finding Family in Old Holiday Letters Every December in the late 1800s, newspapers across America printed pages of “Dear Santa” letters—tiny time capsules written in crooked handwriting, full of wish lists, hopes, and sometimes heartbreak. For genealogists, these little notes are far more than Christmas nostalgia. They’re unexpected sources of family history. In one 1895 issue from Snow Hill, Maryland, the editor regretfully explains that some children’s letters arrived too late to print. You can feel the sting of disappointment…
After creating books with multiple platforms—some easy, some frustrating, some downright limiting—there is one that consistently stands out as the clear winner for me: Storied.Hands down. As someone who loves to write family stories, organize family archives, and create books that feel intentional and complete, Storied gives me the most flexibility, the best tools, and the most seamless overall experience. Here’s what makes it the platform I return to again and again. The Companion App: A Game-Changer One of my…
A Frustrating Journey from Start to Finish After trying multiple family story platforms over the years, I’m no stranger to learning curves, quirks, and the occasional hiccup. But my experience creating a book with Remento was, unfortunately, one of the most frustrating I’ve had. I always go into these projects with optimism—I love making family history books, and I’m always eager to explore new tools. But from the moment I placed my order, the road ahead was rocky. The Trouble…
I love to write family history books. Love it. I’ve written quite a few over the years, each with its own personality and purpose, and I’ve experimented with several book-making companies along the way. Every platform has its quirks—some delightful, some frustrating—and I’m always curious to see how each one handles the delicate balance of storytelling, design, and usability. For this post, I’m sharing my personal experience with Storyworth. If you’re considering using it for your own family story project,…
I adore old newspapers. Whether I’m looking for an ancestor or researching something for work, I always find something intriguing. This week was no exception. I especially love advertisements. They really give me a sense of what life was like during a certain time period. Case in point…this 1895 advertisement for French Crepons. That’s not what initially caught my eye, but being me, I had to look it up to see precisely what kind of fabric it was. Crepon is…
William Lee Bird: An Ancestor Profile Born: Around 1855, Baltimore, Maryland, USA What was Baltimore like when William was born?In 1855, Baltimore, Maryland was a thriving port city and a major economic hub. It was the second largest city in the United States at the time, with a population of approximately 200,000 people. The city’s strategic location on the Chesapeake Bay and its extensive railroad network made it a vital center for trade and commerce. Baltimore was known for its…
Birth Born – March 27, 1854, in Cincinnati, Ohio. What was Cincinnati like in 1854?In 1854, Cincinnati was a thriving metropolis on the banks of the Ohio River. Known as the “Queen City of the West,” it was a hub of commerce, industry, and culture, with a growing population of over 150,000 people. The city’s strategic location made it a vital link between the East and the expanding American frontier, shaping its development and prosperity in the mid-19th century. Marriage…