Illuminate Your Past

Ancestry and genealogy explore the story of how people are connected across generations, weaving together family lines through historical records, DNA evidence, and shared cultural roots. By tracing family history, individuals uncover where their ancestors lived, the traditions they carried, and the migrations that shaped their identity. Modern tools—from archival documents to genetic testing—make it easier than ever to piece together these narratives, turning names and dates into a richer understanding of personal heritage.

Updated June 20, 2026
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I am nobody's slave : how uncovering my family's history set me free
Hawkins, Lee
Paper Book
"Harrowing and insightful. . . . A profound work about the Black experience and white oppression."--Kirkus Reviews (starred review) "This work is vitally important and essential to understanding the magnitude of the impact of racism and violence."--Library Journal...

305.3889 Hawkins 2024

Practical genealogy : 50 simple steps to research your diverse family history
Sheffey, Brian
Paper Book
Uncover facts and mysteries of your ancestors-a clear approach to genealogy The pursuit of family history tends to be shaped by several motives, including finding a larger familial historical picture, preserving the past for future generations, and storytelling. Practical Genealogy<...

929.1 Sheffey 2020

Genealogy basics in 30 minutes : the quick guide to creating a family tree, building connections with relatives, and discovering the stories of your ancestors
Combs-Bennett, Shannon
Paper Book
Authored by professional genealogist Shannon Combs-Bennett, this award-winning genealogy book explains the joys, challenges, and triumphs of researching your family's origins.

929.1072 Combs-Bennett 2021

French Language Lifelines for the Anglo Genealogist: Tips and Tools for Tracking Your French-Canadian Ancestors
Goodwin, Sandra
Paper Book
Are you a French-Canadian genealogist, but the language of your ancestors didn't quite make it down to you? Do you struggle with piecing together their lives when you miss important details hidden in the records? Or maybe you can't even find them in English language records because the names are so...

929.1072 Goodwin 2020

Tracing your Irish ancestors
Grenham, John
Paper Book

929.2 Grenham 2019

The stained glass window : a family history as the American story, 1790-1958
Lewis, David Levering
Paper Book
A Top 100 Book by the Schomburg Library "At once narrative history, family chronicle and personal memoir... [a] luminous work of investigation and introspection." -Wall Street Journal National Humanities Medal recipient and two-time recipient of the Pulitzer Prize...

975.0049 Lewis 2025


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