In this forward-looking educational session, Ancestry Corporate Genealogist, Crista Cowan, introduces The Story of US, an initiative leading up to the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 2026. The primary objective of this event is to inspire family historians to move beyond mere names and dates on a pedigree chart to uncover the millions of individual narratives that define the American experience. Crista highlights how government requests during the 1876 centennial and 1976 bicentennial prompted counties to publish local histories and biographies, which now serve as essential genealogical bridges for researchers.
This event provides a technical walkthrough of Ancestry’s card catalog, demonstrating how to filter through over 33,000 databases to find social, place, and county histories. Crista explains practical methods for organizing these discoveries, such as using tree tags to identify Revolutionary War patriots and utilizing private notes to synthesize research before sharing it. The session concludes with a guide on crafting compelling narratives, emphasizing three core tips: treating the geographic location as a character, focusing on a specific main character rather than the researcher's journey, and developing a hook to engage family members.
Chapters:
- Introduction to The Story of US
- The Legacy of County Histories
- Mastering the Card Catalog
- Strategies for Finding Stories
- Tools for Sharing Your Story
Search the Ancestry card catalog for your ancestors' county histories and use the Gallery feature to start sharing your family's unique contribution to the American story.