Advantage Archives — Founded on the key principle that no history should ever have to live behind a paywall. Since our formation, we have provided FREE digital access to over 120,000,000 images and partnered with over 1,000 institutions. “The Ancestor Hunt has been tracking Advantage Archives Community History Archive installations at libraries and other institutions […]
Don’t Search For An Obituary By Only Searching For An “Obituary”
In the quest to trace our roots and understand our heritage, obituaries often serve as a crucial starting point. Obituaries are undoubtedly a rich source of information for genealogists. They often provide vital details about the deceased, including their full name, date of birth, date of death, and often, the names of their relatives. However, […]
Search (The Community History Archives) Using Deliberately Misspelled Words
Most online newspaper researchers do not recognize that when searching for a word, a term, a name, etc., that they essentially are searching against a database that has been built based on whether a very small section of a newspaper is black or white. It is the formation of these dots that may look like […]
Don’t Search For An Obituary By Only Searching For An “Obituary”
In the quest to trace our roots and understand our heritage, obituaries often serve as a crucial starting point. Obituaries are undoubtedly a rich source of information for genealogists. They often provide vital details about the deceased, including their full name, date of birth, date of death, and often, the names of their relatives. However, […]
Guest Blog Series: Use Nicknames in Newspaper Research
In many genealogically related documents (especially newspapers and census records), nicknames were frequently used, as those names were more often used than the “formal” given name of the person. Your search index database is not smart enough, for example, to interpret ‘Sadie” for the formal given name of “Sarah”. Thus, you will need to use both names separately in […]
Guest Blog Series: Find Better Genealogy Results With Abbreviations
Kenneth R. Marks is the founder of The Ancestor Hunt, a comprehensive resource dedicated to assisting individuals in the exploration and discovery of their ancestry and family history. With a passion for genealogy that shines through his meticulous work, Marks has transformed The Ancestor Hunt into a cornerstone for amateur and experienced genealogists. We are […]
Using Digital Archives To Rewrite History (Lessons) For High School Students
20 years ago, a study performed by Grant, Gradwell and Cimbricz revealed that high school students who used primary sources to study historical events developed better interpretive skills and became more interested and engaged in the subject matter compared to traditional textbooks. The students also demonstrated a deeper understanding of historical events and could connect […]
Using Digital Archives To Rewrite History (Lessons) For Middle School Students
Research has extensively examined the role of primary sources in history education. One influential piece of research was conducted by Keith Barton in 2005. Barton’s study highlights several key benefits of using primary sources, like historical newspapers, in teaching history, including the promotion of critical thinking, the enhancement of understanding of historical concepts, fostering of […]
Using Digital Archives To Rewrite History (Lessons) For Elementary School Students
History is an infinite repository of stories, a fascinating confluence of narratives, and a wellspring of lessons. It offers a retrospective glance into the vibrant tapestry of human existence. To most, history might seem like a chronological record of events; to educators, it’s an invaluable toolkit that fosters knowledge, inculcates critical thinking skills, and broadens […]
Putting The Text In Context: Embracing the Challenges of Historical Newspaper Research
David McCullough is an American author who is regarded as one of the most respected and influential historians of our time. Known for his bestselling books on American history, McCullough has received numerous awards and honors for his work, including two Pulitzer Prizes. McCullough’s writing style is characterized by thorough research, vivid storytelling, and a […]
Reading Between The Lines: Helping Students Recognize Bias in Historical Newspapers
As the historian and educator Sam Wineburg stated, “Historical thinking, in its deepest forms, is neither a natural process nor something that springs automatically from psychological development.” This statement reflects the nuanced and complex nature of historical inquiry and how it is different from the intuitive way we understand our immediate world. “Historical thinking“ involves […]
Old Words, New Lessons: Helping Students Navigate the Language of the Past
Community newspapers serve as a treasure trove of information, encapsulating the essence of a period in the past. They often document everyday life and local events, making history feel more relevant and accessible to students. National and international news can be contextualized through them within a familiar local setting, heightening students’ interest and understanding. Digitization […]
Bringing History to Life: Integrating Historical Newspaper Research in the Classroom
In an era where we compete with digital screens for our children’s attention, keeping them engaged can at times, be a challenge. The teaching of history in elementary, middle, and high schools is challenging enough, and student engagement can be a complex puzzle to solve. Teachers strive to find ways to spark students’ interest and […]
