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  • HTB Mailbag: Tracing Early Ports of Entry

    HTB Mailbag: Tracing Early Ports of Entry
    2026/11/07
    Let us know what you think!Episode OverviewHittin' the Bricks with Kathleen is the genealogy podcast that features your questions and her answers, helping researchers uncover overlooked records and historical clues that bring family stories to life.In this episode, host Kathleen Brandt explores one of the most challenging areas of American genealogy: pre-1855 immigration research. Many family historians assume their immigrant ancestors entered the United States through New York, but early immigration involved numerous ports, shipping routes, and entry points that are often overlooked.Kathleen explains how to research early immigrants using federal arrival requirements, National Archives databases, historical newspapers, and alternative records to establish when and where ancestors arrived in America.In This Episode, You'll LearnWhy pre-1855 immigration research requires different strategies than later passenger list researchHow the 1820 federal passenger arrival requirement provides an important research starting pointWhy New York should not be your only port of entry searchHow to use National Archives databases to locate early passenger informationWhy historical geography and changing country names complicate immigration researchHow to reconstruct an immigrant's arrival when passenger lists are missing or unavailableTopics CoveredPre-Castle Garden immigration and early American immigration recordsThe 1820 federal requirement for recording immigrant arrivalsAlternative ports of entry: New Orleans, Philadelphia, Boston, and BaltimoreImmigration routes from coastal ports to the MidwestTravel through the Mississippi River systemNational Archives AAD (Access to Archival Databases)Searching historical records by empire, region, and changing geographic boundariesIdentifying Polish, Finnish, Swedish, and Dutch ancestors in broader historical record categoriesMail ships and timber ships as sources of immigration cluesCanadian entry points for Irish famine-era immigration researchMissing passenger list years and alternative documentationCourt records, naturalization papers, church registers, and historical newspapersNewspaper signatures as evidence that an immigrant successfully reached AmericaEpisode Discussion & Key MomentsKathleen examines why early immigration research creates so many genealogy brick walls and why researchers need to look beyond the familiar passenger lists associated with New York.The discussion begins with pre-Castle Garden immigration, explaining the historical importance of the 1820 federal requirement for recording passenger arrivals. This provides researchers with a useful starting point for understanding which records might exist and where to search.Kathleen then explores alternative American ports of entry, including New Orleans, Philadelphia, Boston, and Baltimore. She explains how immigrants frequently continued their journeys inland through coastal shipping routes and the Mississippi River system, eventually reaching communities throughout the Midwest.The episode also addresses the complications of researching ancestors whose places of origin were recorded under historical empires or broader geographic classifications. Polish, Finnish, Swedish, and Dutch immigrants, for example, may appear in records under categories that do not correspond to modern national boundaries.Finally, Kathleen discusses practical alternatives when passenger lists are missing. National Archives databases, naturalization records, court documents, church registers, and newspaper evidence can help establish an immigrant's arrival and subsequent movements. Even a newspaper signature can provide an important clue that an ancestor successfully made the journey.Key questions examined include:Why might an immigrant ancestor have entered the United States somewhere other than New York?How can researchers locate passenger information from before 1855?What happens when an ancestor's country of origin no longer existed under that name?How can genealogists prove an ancestor's arrival when passenger lists are missing?What alternative records can reconstruct an early immigrant's journey?Resources & Research Tools MentionedNational Archives (NARA)Access to Archival Databases (AAD)Early federal passenger arrival recordsNew Orleans, Philadelphia, Boston, and Baltimore port recordsNaturalization and court recordsChurch registersHistorical newspapersCanadian immigration and shipping recordsHistorical maps and geographic referencesWhy This Episode MattersImmigration research before 1855 requires genealogists to think beyond modern borders, familiar ports, and conventional passenger lists.This episode demonstrates how understanding historical immigration laws, shipping routes, geography, and alternative documentation can help researchers overcome brick walls and reconstruct the journeys their ancestors took to reach America.Sometimes the record you need isn't where you expected it to be—or isn't even called what you think ...
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    23 分
  • Behind the Uniform: Military Genealogy Book Launch

    Behind the Uniform: Military Genealogy Book Launch
    2026/10/14

    Let us know what you think!

    A Conversation with Kathleen Brandt: Behind the Uniform Every Soldier Has a Story

    When: Saturday, October 24th

    2 - 4pm

    The Conference Center at MGC

    Join Kathleen Brandt for a conversation about Behind the Uniform: Every Soldier Has a Story, the first book in a new series dedicated to military family history research. Learn how to research and uncover personal stories hidden within military records and preserve them for future generations. This event will be followed by a book sale and signing.

    REGISTER HERE



    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.
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    2 分
  • Forgotten Children: Genealogy and Lost Burial Grounds

    Forgotten Children: Genealogy and Lost Burial Grounds
    2026/08/25
    Let us know what you think!Episode OverviewHittin' the Bricks with Kathleen is the genealogy podcast that features your questions and her answers, exploring the records, places, and historical context that help families uncover difficult and forgotten stories.In this episode, Kathleen speaks with Mark Schindler, Rebba Omer, and Daniel Feldman about the Forgotten Children Initiative and what happens when historical research into youth prisons leads to the discovery of children buried in neglected and forgotten cemeteries.The conversation traces a path from Maryland to the Missouri Training School for Boys in Boonville, Missouri, where research uncovered another forgotten cemetery and raised difficult questions about race, institutional history, access, ethics, and how genealogists can help reconnect families with children whose stories were nearly lost.If you would like to help with this initiative, Contact: Rebba Omer at ro295@georgetown.eduIn This Episode, You'll LearnHow historical research into juvenile institutions can lead to forgotten burial groundsWhy death certificates are an essential starting point for forensic genealogyHow annual reports, institutional archives, and facility newspapers can identify individuals when names are missingWhat racial segregation and historical disparities reveal about institutional recordsHow genealogists can assist with family identification and restorative justiceWhy access, permissions, and family involvement matter when researching burial sitesTopics CoveredThe origins of the Forgotten Children Initiative at Georgetown's Center for Youth JusticeHistorical research into youth facilities and hidden burial sites in MarylandThe Missouri Training School for Boys in Boonville, MissouriResearch into Boonville's forgotten cemeteryJuvenile justice history and its connection to the presentRacial segregation and disparities in institutional historyDeath certificates as a starting point for forensic genealogyAnnual reports, archives, and institutional newspapersIdentifying individuals when names are incomplete or missingRestorative justice, memorials, and family-guided decisionsAccess and research permissions for burial grounds on Department of Corrections propertyEpisode Discussion & Key MomentsKathleen and her guests explore how a historical investigation can grow into a larger effort to identify forgotten children, locate burial sites, and reconnect families with relatives whose lives disappeared into institutional records.The discussion begins with the origins of the Forgotten Children Initiative and research into youth facilities in Maryland. That work uncovered evidence of neglected burial grounds and created a broader effort to identify the children buried there and locate their descendants.The conversation then turns to Boonville, Missouri, where research into the Missouri Training School for Boys led to the discovery of another forgotten cemetery. The guests discuss how a seemingly simple search can open a much larger investigation involving institutional records, death certificates, annual reports, newspapers, archives, and historical patterns of racial segregation.The episode also addresses the ethical responsibilities involved in forensic genealogy and cemetery research. Identifying a person is only one part of the work. Questions of access, permissions, memorialization, and family involvement remain essential—particularly when burial grounds are located on government or Department of Corrections property.Key questions examined include:How do genealogists begin identifying individuals buried in forgotten cemeteries?What records can help when a person's name is missing or incomplete?How does institutional history reveal patterns of racial inequality?What does restorative justice look like when families are finally connected with a forgotten relative?Who should make decisions about memorials and the treatment of historic burial grounds?Resources & Research Tools MentionedDeath certificatesInstitutional annual reportsJuvenile facility archivesInstitutional and facility newspapersCemetery and burial recordsHistorical records relating to racial segregationForensic genealogy research methodsDepartment of Corrections records and property access proceduresWhy This Episode MattersGenealogy is not limited to building family trees. It can also help restore names, identities, and histories to people who were marginalized, institutionalized, and forgotten.This episode demonstrates how genealogists, historians, archivists, and families can work together to investigate neglected cemeteries and recover the stories of children whose lives were often reduced to incomplete institutional records. It also asks an important question: once these individuals are identified, how do we respectfully return their stories to the families and communities connected to them?About the PodcastHittin' the Bricks with Kathleen is the genealogy podcast that features your questions and her ...
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    39 分
  • Books, Blogs and B.S. (Better Sources)

    Books, Blogs and B.S. (Better Sources)
    2026/07/23

    Let us know what you think!

    Episode Overview

    Hittin' the Bricks with Kathleen is the genealogy podcast that features your questions and her answers, helping researchers build stronger family histories through better sources and smarter research methods. In this episode, host Kathleen Brandt shares a curated summer reading list for genealogists, featuring nonfiction books that demonstrate how historians use original records to reconstruct real lives.

    More than book recommendations, this episode explores how accomplished nonfiction authors approach research—and how genealogists can apply those same techniques to break through brick walls and create richer, evidence-based family stories.

    Episode Discussion & Key Moments

    Kathleen explores why some of the best genealogy lessons come not from genealogy books, but from well-researched works of narrative history. These authors routinely uncover forgotten stories by combining original documents, archival collections, maps, correspondence, government records, and local history into compelling narratives.

    The episode highlights several recommended books, including Obstinate Daughters by Denise Kiernan, The Indifferent Stars Above by Daniel James Brown, and The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson, demonstrating how each author reconstructs lives through careful documentation and thoughtful analysis.

    The discussion also introduces the show's blog on reform school identification projects, illustrating how ancestors often appear in unexpected record collections:
    11 Overlooked Records for Children Sent to Reform Schools.

    Obstinate Daughters by Denise Kiernan

    • The Indifferent Stars Above by Daniel James Brown
    • The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson

    Additional Resources

    • Behind the Uniform (Missouri Humanities-supported project)
    • Reform school identification:
      11 Overlooked Records for Children Sent to Reform Schools.

    Why This Episode Matters

    Excellent genealogy depends on more than finding names in databases, it requires understanding the historical world your ancestors lived in. This episode demonstrates how reading well-documented history can sharpen research skills, expose overlooked sources, and inspire more accurate, engaging family histories.

    About the Podcast

    Hittin' the Bricks with Kathleen is the genealogy podcast that features your questions and her answers, helping listeners discover overlooked records, understand historical context, and develop research strategies that bring family stories to life.



    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.
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    16 分
  • Finding Ancestors in The Congressional Serial Set

    Finding Ancestors in The Congressional Serial Set
    2026/06/16
    Let us know what you think!Episode OverviewHittin' the Bricks with Kathleen is the genealogy podcast that features your questions and her answers, helping researchers uncover records and historical context that bring family stories to life. In this episode, host Kathleen Brandt explores the U.S. Congressional Serial Set, one of the most overlooked resources in genealogy research.Far more than a collection of congressional documents, the Serial Set contains petitions, testimony, claims, investigations, and reports that can place ordinary Americans into the historical record. Kathleen explains how these records can help researchers discover ancestors, understand community issues, and add context to family histories that extend far beyond names and dates.In This Episode, You'll Learn What the U.S. Congressional Serial Set is and why genealogists should care about it How digitized federal records make searching easier than ever The types of ancestors who may appear in Congressional records How to use the Serial Set alongside other record collections Research strategies for finding ancestors when direct name searches fail Topics Covered The U.S. Congressional Serial Set and its genealogical value Searching digitized federal documents through govinfo.gov Veterans, widows, petition signers, centenarians, and community advocates Congressional petitions, testimony, claims, and investigations Using the Serial Set as both a primary source and supporting evidence Freedmen's Bureau records and federal documentation Reconstruction-era records and connections to Juneteenth Southern Claims Commission files and witness testimony Researching formerly enslaved individuals and enslavers Search strategies using ships, locations, organizations, and community events Episode Discussion & Key MomentsKathleen explains why many genealogists overlook the Congressional Serial Set, assuming it only contains information about elected officials and national politics. In reality, these volumes often document the lives of everyday Americans who interacted with the federal government through petitions, compensation claims, military matters, land disputes, and community concerns.The episode explores how digitization efforts have made these records more accessible and how researchers can use them to uncover details unavailable in local records. Kathleen discusses the value of combining Serial Set findings with sources such as Freedmen's Bureau records, military files, land records, and local histories.Special attention is given to Reconstruction-era documentation, including Southern Claims Commission files that contain affidavits, witness statements, and testimony from formerly enslaved individuals, enslavers, neighbors, and community members. These records can provide extraordinary context for understanding families during and after the Civil War.Key questions examined include: How can federal records help solve local genealogy problems? What kinds of ordinary people appear in Congressional documents? What should researchers do when a name search produces no results? How can historical events be used to uncover hidden family connections? Resources & Research Tools Mentioned U.S. Congressional Serial Set GovInfo.gov digital federal collections Freedmen's Bureau records Southern Claims Commission files Reconstruction-era federal records Military and pension records Petitions, testimony, and claims documentation Why This Episode MattersMany researchers focus exclusively on local records while overlooking federal collections that document entire communities and major historical events. The Congressional Serial Set provides access to stories, claims, testimony, and evidence that can place ancestors within the broader context of American history and reveal connections that other records miss.About the PodcastHittin' the Bricks with Kathleen is the genealogy podcast that features your questions and her answers, helping listeners navigate historical records, uncover hidden sources, and understand the larger historical forces that shaped their ancestors' lives.Support the showBe 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.
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    20 分
  • Mailbag Mania: Three Genealogy Records That Break Brick Walls

    Mailbag Mania: Three Genealogy Records That Break Brick Walls
    2026/05/26
    Let us know what you think!#genealogy #familysearch #census #bountylandEpisode OverviewHittin’ the Bricks with Kathleen is the genealogy podcast that features your questions and her answers, helping researchers uncover overlooked records and stronger research strategies. In this episode, host Kathleen Brandt answers listener questions focused on three high-impact genealogy sources that can quickly break through stubborn brick walls: Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) records, Virginia Revolutionary War bounty land grants, and Ireland’s newly free 1926 census.Kathleen explains where to search, what clues researchers often miss, and how to connect these records to broader family stories involving migration, military service, inheritance, and identity.In This Episode, You’ll Learn Why CCC records are valuable for Depression-era genealogy research How Revolutionary War bounty land files extend far beyond the first certificate What makes the 1926 Irish Census important for Irish family history How supporting records reveal widows, heirs, migration patterns, and community ties Why original files often contain clues omitted from abstracts and indexes Topics Covered Civilian Conservation Corps records and Depression-era family research CCC applications and clues about parents, schooling, work history, and migration Researching CCC records through newspapers, local societies, state archives, and National Park Service collections Virginia Revolutionary War bounty land digitization Common mistakes in bounty land research Warrants, surveys, plat maps, patents, tax lists, deeds, probate, and wills Why abstract books are not enough for complete genealogy research Ireland’s free 1926 Census and Irish genealogy research Linking Irish census records to passenger lists, naturalization records, and church documents Episode Discussion & Key MomentsKathleen walks listeners through three record groups that frequently contain overlooked genealogical evidence. The episode begins with CCC records, explaining how applications and related files reveal personal details about family structure, education, employment, and migration during the Great Depression.The conversation then shifts to Virginia Revolutionary War bounty land grants, where Kathleen explains why researchers should never stop at the initial certificate. Supporting documents—including surveys, deeds, probate files, and tax lists—often identify widows, heirs, neighbors, and land relationships that deepen family reconstruction.Finally, Kathleen explores the release of Ireland’s 1926 Census, discussing how researchers can connect census findings with U.S. immigration records, naturalization paperwork, and church records to build more complete Irish family histories.Key questions examined include: What records are researchers most likely to overlook? Why do original files matter more than abstracts? How can one record group lead to multiple generations of evidence? Resources & Research Tools MentionedNational Archives of Ireland 1926 Census Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) applications and records Newspapers and local historical societies State archives and National Park Service collections Virginia Revolutionary War bounty land records Plat maps, tax lists, deeds, probate, and wills Ireland’s 1926 Census Passenger lists, naturalization records, and church registers Why This Episode MattersMany genealogy breakthroughs come from looking beyond indexes and pulling the full record set surrounding an ancestor. This episode demonstrates how layered research across military, land, labor, and immigration records creates stronger and more accurate family histories.About the PodcastHittin’ the Bricks with Kathleen is the genealogy podcast that features your questions and her answers, helping listeners navigate historical records, research challenges, and overlooked sources to uncover deeper family stories.Support the showBe 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.
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    21 分
  • Genealogy Road Trip: Research Beyond the Internet

    Genealogy Road Trip: Research Beyond the Internet
    2026/05/12

    Let us know what you think!

    #genealogy #genealogytips #rootstrip #FamilyHistoryTravel
    Episode Overview

    Hittin’ the Bricks with Kathleen is the genealogy podcast that features your questions and her answers, helping researchers move beyond online databases and into the archives, collections, and communities where deeper family stories live. In this episode, host Kathleen Brandt gets honest about what researchers cannot afford to forget on a summer genealogy road trip—from choosing the right repositories to asking better questions than simply “Do you have my ancestor’s name?”

    Using examples from research trips to Detroit and Ann Arbor, Kathleen explains why offline records are often the key to understanding the motivations, conflicts, migrations, and community ties that shaped ancestors’ lives.

    In This Episode, You’ll Learn

    • Why online genealogy databases rarely tell the full story
    • How to identify repositories worth visiting in person
    • What kinds of offline records reveal context and motivation
    • How archivists and advance preparation improve research results
    • Why community history matters as much as individual records

    Topics Covered

    • The limits of online genealogy databases
    • Researching letters, manuscripts, minutes, and special collections
    • Prioritizing repositories by time period, topic, and community relevance
    • Using AI tools to build realistic genealogy research itineraries
    • Why calling ahead and consulting archivists saves time
    • Detroit Public Library’s Burton Historical Collection
    • Labor archives and society minutes as sources of conflict and motivation
    • Ethnic community research and migration patterns
    • Common genealogy road trip mistakes
    • Avoiding unnecessary travel for records already available online

    Episode Discussion & Key Moments

    Kathleen explains why many genealogy researchers reach a plateau when they rely only on searchable online databases. While digitized records provide access and convenience, they often miss the documents that explain why families moved, joined organizations, changed occupations, or became part of specific communities.

    Drawing from research experiences in Detroit and Ann Arbor, Kathleen discusses how repositories containing manuscripts, labor records, organizational minutes, and ethnic community collections can uncover motivations and social context absent from census and vital records. She also highlights the importance of preparation—using AI tools, targeted planning, and archivist guidance to make research trips more productive.

    The episode emphasizes that successful genealogy travel is not about visiting the largest number of libraries, but about identifying the repositories most connected to a family’s time period, occupation, migration path, or community network.

    Key questions examined include:

    • What records are worth traveling to see in person?
    • How do community archives change genealogical conclusions?
    • Why do offline collections often explain migration and identity better than databases?

    Resources & Research Tools Mentioned

    • Detroit Public Library Burton Historical Collection
    • Labor archives and organizational records
    • Manuscript collections and society minutes
    • Ethnic community archives
    • AI-assisted research itinerary planning
    • Archivist consultations and repository finding aids

    Why This Episode Matters

    Genealogy research often becomes more meaningful when researchers move beyond names and dates into the broader social world their ancestors inhabited. This e

    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.
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    29 分
  • Tracing Ancestors Who ‘Went West’: Hidden Records Along the Trails

    Tracing Ancestors Who ‘Went West’: Hidden Records Along the Trails
    2026/04/21

    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
    • Census and foundational records for research preparation

    Why This Episode Matters

    Westward migration is often reduced to broad narratives, but real genealogy depends on specific routes, locations, and records. This episode shows how understanding trail systems and using targeted research tools can convert family stories into verifiable history.

    About the Podcast

    Hittin’ the Bricks with Kathleen is the genealogy podcast that features your questions and her answers, helping listeners connect place, records, and histor

    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.
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    29 分