There’s something special about family photos. Recently, I came across a picture on FamilySearch of a Thanksgiving dinner at my great-grandparents’ home with family members seated around a long table. As I studied that photo taken sixty years ago, the past felt very close. Full Story
Connecting with Your Swedish Ancestry
November 12, 2018 By
What comes to your mind when you think of Sweden? Is it ABBA, the Swedish pop group that gained worldwide fame in the 70s? Or is it Sweden’s breathtaking, frigid landscapes with spectacular views of the northern lights? If you are Swedish or have Swedish ancestors, you may think of the patronymic surnames in your family tree, something that is common both in Sweden and in other Scandinavian countries. Full Story
Types of Swedish Church Records
November 12, 2018 By
Did you know that Swedish parishes have been keeping records since 1686? Although individual parishes may have a few records from earlier dates, church law required Swedish church records to be diligently recorded after this time. Full Story
Traditional Swedish Foods
November 9, 2018 By
Learn more about traditional Swedish foods from native Swedes and families with strong Swedish heritage. Recipes are included so you can try them yourself! Full Story
Swedish Surnames: What’s in a Name
November 8, 2018 By
Have you ever poked around your family tree and run across a line of people with Swedish names such as Lars Andersson, Karen Svensdotter, Britta Johansdotter, and Per Lindström? Were you confused when the family surname changed a lot? Why didn’t Nils Hansson and his father Hans Eriksson share a surname? Something must be wrong! Right? Full Story
Swedish Family History for Beginners
November 3, 2018 By
Perhaps you’ve heard that Swedish records are some of the best resources in the world to find ancestors. It’s true! If you have Swedish ancestry, then you are among the fortunate. But how do you do Swedish genealogy? Here are some simple steps to get started. Full Story
New Records on FamilySearch from October 2018
November 1, 2018 By
FamilySearch expanded its free online archives in October 2018 with over 12 million new indexed family history records and nearly 400,000 digital images from around the world. New historical records were added from Belgium, Chile, Colombia, France, French Polynesia, Germany, Ireland, Italy, New Zealand, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland, Ukraine, and the United States, which includes California, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Iowa, Kansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Montana, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Texas, and West Virginia. New digital images were added from BillionGraves and Belgium. Full Story
Día de Muertos: A Day to Honor Your Ancestors
October 31, 2018 By
How do you remember tus antepasados—your ancestors? Do you have those memories preserved so they can be passed on to future generations? Full Story
The 1940 United States Census
October 26, 2018 By
The 1940 United States census was released to the public in April 2012, and more than 163,000 online volunteers indexed millions of names in just four months. Why all this dedication and excitement? The 1940 U.S. census is the most recently released United States census to date. Because of this, it is extremely valuable to genealogy work. Full Story