The best Family History Finds this week:

Family Stories

Migration Stories: Explore the Paths by Barbara Tien on Project Kin

Unique in my family tree – My Loyalist Robert Carlisle defended while my Patriot Robert Wilson of Camobello Island attacked with the American forces:
250th Anniversary of Siege of Fort Cumberland by Brian McConnell UE on UE Loyalist History

The Heroes History Almost Forgot by Paul Chiddicks on Stories Behind the Records

Introducing the Glassmire Brothers by Maureen Taylor on The Photo Detective News

The Calumet, Michigan Italian Hall Disaster by Kimberly Mannisto on Vita Brevis

Research Note: Detroit’s Grand Old Man by Patrick Lacroix on Query the Past

Hiram Cronk: The Last Soldier of 1812, Part 2 by Lori Olson White on The Lost & Found Story Box

Inheritance from Great Grandmother: Pes Planus by Joy on Joy Neal Kidney

Research Resources

An OMPF Mini Reconstruction File – A Source I Want to Understand Better by Kirsten M. Max-Douglas on Our Growing Family Tree

Thanks to Some Genealogical Kindness by Jacqi Stevens on A Family Tapestry

Tech News

A Free, New Family Tree Tool for Map Lovers by DiAnn Iamarino Ohama on Fortify Your Family Tree

Ancestry Smart Search: Old Wine, New Bottle? by Marian B. Wood on Climbing My Family Tree

Free ChatGPT Users Will Get a Huge Upgrade Next Week by Jake Peterson on Lifehacker

Genetic Genealogy

X-DNA Matters: Following the Trail from Mississippi Through South Carolina to Virginia by Melvin Collier on Roots Revealed

Methodology

We often don’t “research” ourselves:
Our Memories Are Family History, Too by Doris Kenney on A Tree With No Name

What to Do about Multiple Sources for One Event by Lisa S. Gorrell on My Trails into the Past

Following the Evidence: Finding Martin Morris, Son of Amie Nalle by Cathy Meder-Dempsey on Opening Doors in Brick Walls

Be a Better Genealogy Helper by Ken McKinlay on Family Tree Knots

Education Is for Everyone

Wake Up! Back Up! Don’t Lose Your Blog Content by Nancy Gilbride Casey on Leaves on the Trees

Citing Your Sources by Janice Heppenstall on English Ancestors

Ask AI: “Describe 20 Free or Low-Cost Genealogy Education Opportunities” by Randy Seaver on Genea-Musings

Writing a Case Study for Publication: 7 Tips for Success by Diana Elder on Family Locket

When a Census Hides As Much As It Shows: The 1891 Census of Victoria, BC by Linda Yip on Past Presence

Three New Videos on International Institute of Genealogical Studies’ YouTube Channel by Gail Dever on Genealogy a la Carte

Keeping Up with the Times

Computer Generated Family Trees Ignore the Heart and Soul of Genealogy by James Tanner on Genealogy’s Star

AI Can Save Your Life by Roberta Estes on DNAeXplained – Genetic Genealogy

The best Family History Finds this week:

Family Stories

The Casket in the Attic by Misty Hamilton Smith on Appalachian Genealogy & History

Sandals in the Snow: The Gift of Not Fitting In by Paige on Dirt & Yellow Flowers

Oh Sugar! Corrections and Connections by Zoe Pullman on The Family Archives Substack

Jane’s Illness: What Did Acute Mania Look Like in the 19th Century? by Nancy Gilbride Casey on Leaves on the Tree

Just Returned from Vietnam, the Airlines Refused His Personal Check by Joy on Joy Neal Kidney

Research Resources

A Connection Between the Past and the Future: The Local History & Genealogy Web Archive on The Signal

New Brunswick Archives Updates Birth, Marriage and Death Registrations, Expands Historical Photo Collection, and Adds New Vital Statistics Search Platform by Gail Dever on Genealogy a la Carte

The Record That Names the Father When the Birth Entry Won’t by Chris on Scottish Genealogist

Three Free Tools for Finding Historical Newspapers by Marcia Crawford Philbrick on Heartland Genealogy

Interactive Map of Ontario Patent Plans Now Available Online by Gail Dever on Genealogy a la Carte

Tech News

10 Snipping Tool Hacks Every Windows 11 User Should Know by Pranay Parab on Lifehacker

Under Certain Conditions, Quick Edit Can Quietly Delete a Death Fact by Doris Kenney on A Tree With No Name

Checking Out Jason Duncan’s “Ancestor Map Builder 2.0” by Randy Seaver on Genea-Musings

The Family Historian’s AI Brief: August 2026 by Denyse Allen on Chronicle Makers

Five Weeks of AI-Assisted Genealogy: Discoveries and Disappointments by Lisa Rex on Ancestor Audit

Here’s Why Microsoft Is Encouraging Users to Stay Off Public Wifi Networks by Emily Long on Lifehacker

Genetic Genealogy

An Explosion of New Tree Tools by Jonny Perl on DNA Painter Blog

Methodology

How to Use Hints Without Making a Mess by DiAnn Iamarino Ohama on Fortify Your Family Tree

Finding Judith’s Family: Tracing a Trail from Tennessee Back to North Carolina by Cathy Meder-Dempsey on Opening Doors in Brick Walls

An Evidence Timeline for Sarah Larkin by Teresa on Writing My Past

Education Is for Everyone

Ask AI: “Describe 20 Hacks That Every Genealogist Should Know and Use” — Google Gemini’s Response by Randy on Randy Seaver, Geneaholic

Revisiting My Roots: My System by Cari Taplin on Genealogy Pants

How to Read a Book on Culture Explorer

Ask AI: “Describe 20 Genealogy Pitfalls While Researching and Building a Family Tree” – Gemini Response by Randy Seaver on Genea-Musings

Keeping Up with the Times

The Dangerous, Dark Side of AI, and How to Protect Yourself by Roberta Estes on DNAeXplained – Genetic Genealogy

A Fundamental Flaw Leaves LLMs Strikingly Vulnerable to Attack by Will Douglas Heaven on MIT Technology Review

AI Note-Taking Apps Are Violating User Privacy by Ritoban Mukherjee on Lifehacker

Real Genealogy Threatened by Illiteracy by James Tanner on Genealogy’s Star

AI Bots Can Steal Your Login Credentials, but You Can Protect Yourself by Ritoban Mukherjee on Lifehacker

The best Family History Finds this week:

Family Stories

A Ceremony in Munich by Kitty on Kitty Cooper’s Blog

The Holy Cards They Saved by Lynda Heines on Heines Sight

A Little Something for Their Final Journey by Roberta Estes on DNAeXplained – Genetic Genealogy

Adopted Ancestor – Elizabeth Birdwistle by Cari Taplin on Genealogy Pants

Orville Wright Signed His Pilot’s Certificate by Joy on Joy Neal Kidney

Research Resources

“My Ancestor Isn’t in the Records” — Why You’re Almost Certainly Wrong by Chris on Scottish Genealogist

The Poor School Laws of Appalachia by Misty Hamilton Smith on Appalachian Genealogy & History

Access Some Articles Directly from PERSI for Free by Nancy Gilbride Casey on Leaves on the Tree

Finding Your Ancestral Town: Your Go-To Resource by Michelle Chubenko on Have Questions? Get Answers for Research in Galicia

Tech News

How to Stop Browser Fingerprinting, the Latest Method for Tracking Your Activity Across the Internet by Ritoban Mukherjee on Lifehackeer

Revamped BLM-GLO Website by Myrtle on DearMYRTLE’s Village Square

Ask AI: “Describe 20 AI Use Cases For Genealogists and Family Historians” – Anthropic Claude’s Response by Randy Seaver on Genea-Musings

Adding GPS Coordinates to Your Family Tree by DiAnn Iamarino Ohama on Fortify Your Family Tree

Genetic Genealogy

None!

Methodology

Searching for Abijah LeCroy: A New Lead Through Nancy Williams by Doris Kenney on A Tree With No Name

Ask AI: 20 Record Types That Genealogists Should Search For by Randy Seaver on Genea-Musings

Finding What’s Missing by Jacqi Stevens on A Family Tapestry

The Missing Husband by Carole McCulloch on Essential Genealogy

Education Is for Everyone

Something I Learned From Chatting with AI by Lisa S. Gorrell on My Trails into the Past

Take-aways from Tracing a Neighbor’s Roots by Marian B. Wood on Climbing My Family Tree

Online Fake Genealogy — Surname Scams by James Tanner on Genealogy’s Star

What Kind of Deed Copy Is It? by Michael John Neill on Genealogy tip of the Day

Research Mistakes – Trusting an Online Family Tree Without Proof by Kenneth Marks on The Ancestor Hunt

When Searching Those Court Case Indexes by Michael John Neill on Genealogy Tip of the Day

New Videos on International Institute of Genealogical Studies’ YouTube Channel by Gail Dever on Genealogy a la Carte

Keeping Up with the Times

Your Claude Chats May Have Been Exposed on Google by Jake Peterson on Lifehacker