Let us know what you think!

Episode Overview

Hittin’ the Bricks with Kathleen is the genealogy podcast that features your questions and her answers, focusing on how place, movement, and records intersect. In this episode, host Kathleen Brandt speaks with Melissa Brown from the National Frontier Trails Museum about why Independence, Missouri became a primary jumping-off point for westward migration—and how that context changes real genealogy research.

Together, they show how to move from family lore about “going west” to documented evidence using museum resources, diaries, historic maps, and the OCTA Paper Trail index.

In This Episode, You’ll Learn

• Why Independence, Missouri became a central departure point for multiple western trails
• How river landings and shifting routes affect where records and clues appear
• How to use diaries, maps, and museum collections to verify migration stories
• Where the OCTA Paper Trail index fits into trail-based research
• Why preparation with census and other records improves on-site research results

Topics Covered

• The five major trails interpreted in Independence and why the river matters
• The Santa Fe Trail as commerce and trade, not just settlement
• Shifting river landings and movement toward Westport and beyond
• The Merle J. Mattis Research Library: diaries, letters, maps, artifacts
• Research appointments and how targeted requests save time
• Using OCTA’s Paper Trail index to search names in trail diaries
• Preparing with census and foundational records before archival visits
• Using historic maps to identify landowners, neighbors, and family connections
• The diversity of people who traveled west
• Free admission, current Santa Fe programming, and family activities

Episode Discussion & Key Moments

Kathleen and Melissa explain how understanding place-based context—especially transportation routes and economic drivers—can transform vague migration stories into traceable research paths. Independence’s role as a convergence point for trails means that records may be scattered across local, regional, and trail-specific sources, not just standard census or vital records.

Melissa outlines what researchers can expect from the Merle J. Mattis Research Library, including firsthand accounts and material culture that provide context often missing from official documents. The conversation also emphasizes preparation before archival visits, showing how prior work in census and other records allows researchers to ask more precise questions and locate relevant materials faster.

Key questions examined include:

• How do trail routes and river access shape where records are found?
• What sources move a family story from tradition to evidence?
• How can researchers use maps and diaries together to confirm identity and movement?

Resources & Research Tools Mentioned

• Merle J. Mattis Research Library (National Frontier Trails Museum)
• OCTA (Oregon-California Trails Association) Paper Trail index
• Historic maps and plat maps
• Trail diaries and letter collections
• Cen

Support the show

Be sure to bookmark linktr.ee/hittinthebricks for your one stop access to Kathleen Brandt, the host of Hittin' the Bricks with Kathleen. And, visit us on YouTube: @HTBKRB with Kathleen John and Chewey video recorded specials.

Hittin' the Bricks is produced through the not-for-profit, 501c3 TracingAncestors.org.

Let us know what you think!

Episode Overview

Hittin’ the Bricks with Kathleen is the genealogy podcast that features your questions and her answers, exploring how overlooked sources reveal deeper family stories. In this episode, host Kathleen Brandt speaks with diary collector and history writer Angie Rodesky about how journals, letters, and personal writings provide granular clues for genealogy and local history research.

Together, they explore how diaries expand your understanding of an ancestor’s world—and why preserving complete records matters for future research.

In This Episode, You’ll Learn

• How diaries and letters reveal details not found in official records
• Why different types of diaries offer different research value
• Where to find personal writings beyond common marketplaces
• How to organize names, dates, and events from narrative sources
• Why preserving original materials is critical for historical accuracy

Topics Covered

• Angie Rodesky’s path from writer’s block to diary collecting
• Types of diaries and what each can reveal
• Diaries as tools for one-place studies and community context
• Finding diaries and family “lots” beyond eBay
• The risks of dismantling originals for “junk journals”
• Digitizing options, including the Midwest Genealogy Center Memory Lab
• Organizing research with charts, timelines, and spreadsheets
• Research mindset: curiosity and following leads

Episode Discussion & Key Moments

Kathleen and Angie discuss how personal writings—often overlooked—can transform genealogy research by adding context, emotion, and daily detail to otherwise sparse records. Diaries and letters reveal relationships, routines, and events that rarely appear in official documents.

Angie shares how she began collecting diaries and the different types researchers may encounter, from daily logs to reflective journals. The conversation highlights how these materials support one-place studies, helping researchers reconstruct entire communities rather than isolated individuals.

The episode also addresses preservation concerns, including the growing trend of dismantling historical documents for craft purposes. Kathleen and Angie emphasize the importance of maintaining intact records and explore digitization options such as the Midwest Genealogy Center Memory Lab.

Key questions examined include:

• What kinds of clues do diaries provide that records do not?
• Where can researchers find personal writings outside traditional archives?
• How should genealogists balance access with preservation?

Resources & Research Tools Mentioned

• Personal diaries and letter collections
• Local archives and historical societies
• Midwest Genealogy Center Memory Lab (digitization tools)
• Charts, timelines, and spreadsheets for organizing data

Why This Episode Matters

Personal writings bring depth and humanity to genealogy. This episode shows how diaries and letters expand research beyond names and dates—revealing the lived experiences, relationships, and environments that shaped your ancestors’ lives.

About

Support the show

Be sure to bookmark linktr.ee/hittinthebricks for your one stop access to Kathleen Brandt, the host of Hittin' the Bricks with Kathleen. And, visit us on YouTube: @HTBKRB with Kathleen John and Chewey video recorded specials.

Hittin' the Bricks is produced through the not-for-profit, 501c3 TracingAncestors.org.

Let us know what you think!

SHOW NOTE UPDATE:

We would like to thank one of our listeners from Oakland, California for submitting the following clarification:

"Puerto Ricans who live on the island can’t vote in federal elections as set forth in the U.S. Constitution. Consequently, they do not have full representation in Congress."

For Clarification:

The United States Constitution does not explicitly say “Puerto Ricans cannot vote.” Instead:

• Presidential elections are determined through the Electoral College, which is tied to states (and, via amendment, Washington, D.C.), not territories.
• Congressional representation is likewise structured around states, not territories.
• Residents of Puerto Rico cannot vote in presidential elections despite being U.S. citizens.
• Puerto Ricans can vote in federal elections if they live in one of the 50 states or Washington, D.C. and are registered voters.
• Registering to vote in Puerto Rico requires the individual to be a U.S. citizen and is a resident of the island.
  
  Sources: LegalClarity, Puerto Rico Territory Authority, Thoughtco.com

Episode Overview

Hittin’ the Bricks with Kathleen is the genealogy podcast that features your questions and her answers, focusing on how law, place, and history shape the records we rely on. In this episode, host Kathleen Brandt breaks down what “territory” really means in a genealogical context—and why your ancestor’s rights, status, and documentation can change overnight when laws change.

Using examples from Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, and the Philippines, this episode explains how legal status determines where records are kept, what rights were granted, and why incorrect assumptions often create genealogy brick walls.

In This Episode, You’ll Learn

• What “territory” means and how it differs from colony status in records
• Why citizenship status affects where and how records were created
• How legal changes alter the paper trail across generations
• Where to find records across federal, territorial, and local systems
• Why assumptions about U.S. affiliation often lead to research errors

Topics Covered

• Colony vs. territory definitions and their impact on record trails
• Puerto Rico citizenship after 1917 and where to research before that date
• Key inhabited U.S. territories for genealogy research
• U.S. citizen vs. U.S. national distinctions
• Record locations: federal archives, territorial archives, naval records, church registers, civil registration
• Guam’s citizenship timeline and unequal territorial treatment
• Military service and draft records vs. proof of citizenship
• Common research mistakes tied to legal assumptions
• Using FamilySearch as a catalog and checklist tool

Episode Discussion & Key Moments

Kathleen explores how the concept of “territory” is often misunderstood in genealogy, leading researchers to expect records and rights that did not exist at the time. She demonstrates how shifts in legal status—especially under U.S. governance—can dramatically alter what records were created, where they are stor

Support the show

Be sure to bookmark linktr.ee/hittinthebricks for your one stop access to Kathleen Brandt, the host of Hittin' the Bricks with Kathleen. And, visit us on YouTube: @HTBKRB with Kathleen John and Chewey video recorded specials.

Hittin' the Bricks is produced through the not-for-profit, 501c3 TracingAncestors.org.