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.

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.

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 the Podcast

Hittin’ the Bricks with Kathleen is the genealogy podcast that features your questions and her answers, helping listeners uncover deeper meaning in records, places, and historical context.

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 stored, and how individuals were classified.

The episode highlights case examples from Puerto Rico, Guam, American Samoa, and the Philippines to show how citizenship, nationality, and governance differed across regions. Kathleen also explains why military service or draft registration does not automatically prove citizenship, and why careful interpretation of legal context is essential.

A key takeaway is the importance of abandoning assumptions—particularly the belief that being “under the U.S. flag” guarantees uniform rights or record systems. Instead, researchers must follow the legal framework in place at the time their ancestors lived.

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!

Hittin’ the Bricks with Kathleen is the genealogy podcast that features your questions and her answers, with a focus on clear reasoning, historical context, and practical research methods. In this episode, Kathleen and John Brandt sit down with guest Chelsea Clarke from the Midwest Genealogy Center to explore how a free, do-it-yourself Memory Lab helps families preserve and digitize their personal archives.

From VHS tapes and cassette recordings to slides, photographs, film reels, and even floppy disks, Chelsea explains how the Memory Lab allows patrons to convert aging media into digital files. The conversation covers real-time capture, planning digitization sessions, storage decisions, and how these tools help communities preserve family stories before fragile media is lost.

• What the Memory Lab is and how to reserve time to use it
• What formats can be digitized, including video, audio, photos, slides, and negatives
• Why many formats require real-time capture and how to plan multi-slot sessions
• How to think about file sizes, storage options, and potential cloud limitations
• What quality expectations to have when working with aging media
• How library staff help patrons inspect, prepare, and capture their materials

• Digitizing VHS tapes, film reels, cassettes, photos, slides, and negatives
• Batch scanning photographs and converting legacy media formats
• Transferring data from 3.5-inch floppy disks
• Overhead scanning tools and storytelling features such as VividPix narration
• File management, storage choices, and digital preservation considerations
• Access, equity, and the community value of public digitization resources
• A local project highlight involving tracing ancestors and birth records

Chelsea explains how the Memory Lab at the Midwest Genealogy Center gives community members access to professional-grade digitization equipment without the cost of private services. Patrons can bring their own tapes, photos, slides, negatives, and disks and convert them to digital formats using specialized equipment while receiving guidance from knowledgeable staff.

The conversation also highlights the realities of digitization: many analog formats must be captured in real time, file sizes can grow quickly, and planning storage ahead of a session is essential. Kathleen and John explore how these tools support not only preservation but storytelling—helping families transform fragile recordings and images into lasting digital archives.

Key questions examined include:

• What should researchers bring to a Memory Lab appointment?
• How can families plan ahead when digitizing large collections?
• What risks do aging tapes, slides, and disks pose if not preserved soon?

Countless family histories remain trapped on fragile analog media that deteriorates over time. This episode highlights how accessible community tools—like library Memory Labs—make it possible for anyone to preserve recordings, photographs, and documents before they disappear.

Hittin’ the Bricks with Kathleen is hosted by Kathleen and John Brandt and helps listeners turn scattered historical records into meaningful family narratives using modern research tools and practical methodology.

Do you have a genealogical question for Kathleen?
Email: hittingthebricks@gmail.com

Learn more about the Midwest Genealogy Center and the Memory Lab:
https://www.mymcpl.org/genealogy

Memory Lab contact: memorylab@mymcpl.org

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!

#oneplacestudy #genealogy #genealogybasics
Hittin’ the Bricks with Kathleen is the genealogy podcast that features your questions and her answers, with a focus on clear reasoning, historical context, and practical research methods. In this episode, Kathleen and John Brandt are joined by guest Denise Cross to explore how a one-place study transforms scattered historical records into a working model of a town—and how that model can be used to solve difficult genealogy problems.

Denise shares practical methods for defining research scope, mapping census visitation routes to historical land parcels, and linking neighbors, deeds, taxes, wills, church, and newspaper records to uncover relationships that traditional research approaches often miss.

In This Episode, You’ll Learn

• How to define a one-place study and choose a manageable scope
• How to build a full-town research spreadsheet using census, deeds, probate, church, tax, and newspaper records
• How neighbors and associates can help identify missing women in the historical record
• How to map census visitation order to historical parcel maps
• How to research frontier communities using indirect evidence
• How place-based research supports surname studies and resolves endogamy challenges

Topics Covered

• One-place studies as a genealogy research method
• Linking community networks to uncover family relationships
• Mapping households to land ownership and movement
• Frontier research with limited records
• Endogamy and surname studies through place context
• Registering and sharing one-place studies on WikiTree and research directories
• Resources, webinars, and collaboration strategies

Episode Discussion & Key Moments

Denise explains how building a place-based research framework allows genealogists to move beyond individual ancestors and instead understand entire communities. By organizing census, tax, probate, land, and church records into a town-level model, researchers can identify patterns, relationships, and identity clues that would otherwise remain hidden.

The conversation also highlights how mapping census routes to historical land parcels helps clarify neighbor relationships, track movement over time, and provide indirect evidence—especially in frontier eras or communities with thin documentation.

Key questions examined include:

• How can a one-place study help solve identity problems?
• What role do neighbors and associates play in genealogical proof?
• How do researchers work effectively in communities with limited documentation?

Why This Episode Matters

When records are incomplete or identities unclear, understanding the place can be just as important as understanding the person. This episode demonstrates how community-level research strengthens genealogical conclusions and supports evidence-based reasoning.

About the Podcast

Hittin’ the Bricks with Kathleen is hosted by Kathleen and John Brandt and helps listeners turn scattered historical records into meaningful family narratives using modern research tools and practical methodology.

Subscribe & Connect

Visit https://hittinthebrickswithkathleen.buzzsprout.com
for more episodes and resources.

Do you have a genealogical question for Kathleen?
Email: hittingthebricks@gmail.com

Hittin’ the Bricks is produced through the not-for-profit 501(c)(3) TracingAncestors.org.

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.