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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.

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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.

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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.

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 listener

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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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

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 clear reasoning, historical context, and practical research methods. In this episode, host Kathleen Brandt unpacks the growing buzz around the term “quantum genealogy,” explaining why it functions as a metaphor rather than a research method—and why real genealogical breakthroughs still depend on careful human analysis.

The episode examines how DNA evidence, overlapping matches, and complex family structures can feel uncertain or contradictory, while clarifying where computing tools help—and where they do not decide conclusions.

In This Episode, You’ll Learn

• What people usually mean when they say “quantum” in a genealogy context
• Why quantum computing does not change biological inheritance or kinship
• How new evidence requires reanalysis and revised conclusions
• Where DNA tools assist research and where human judgment remains essential
• Why buzzwords can obscure, rather than clarify, good genealogical practice

Topics Covered

• “Quantum genealogy” as a metaphor for uncertainty and overlap
• The limits of quantum computing in genealogical research
• Overlapping DNA matches and shared ancestry
• Complexities in African American genealogy, including endogamy
• Blood quantum basics and its role in tribal enrollment
• Interpretation, context, and evidence-based reasoning
• Community conversation at the Nelson-Atkins Museum (Kansas City)

Episode Discussion & Key Moments

Kathleen breaks down how the term “quantum genealogy” has entered popular conversation and why it can be misleading when treated as a method rather than a metaphor. She explains that while computing power can accelerate comparison and sorting of data, it does not alter the realities of inheritance, kinship, or historical context.

The episode also addresses challenging areas of research, including African American genealogy, where overlapping DNA matches, endogamy, and incomplete records demand especially careful interpretation. Kathleen clarifies the role—and limits—of blood quantum, emphasizing why legal or enrollment definitions should not be confused with genealogical proof.

Key questions examined include:

• Why does DNA evidence sometimes seem contradictory?
• How should researchers respond when new evidence changes earlier conclusions?
• What role should technology play versus human reasoning?

Events & Community Conversation

• Community discussion at the Nelson-Atkins Museum, Kansas City
• Free event; light refreshments served

Why This Episode Matters

As genealogy tools grow more powerful, this episode reinforces a critical principle: technology assists research, but interpretation belongs to people. Clear thinking, context, and evidence—not buzzwords—remain the foundation of sound genealogical conclusions.

About the Podcast

Hittin’ the Bricks with Kathleen is the genealogy podcast that features your questions and her answers, helping listeners navigate complex evidence, historical nuance, and modern research tools with clarity and confidence.

Subscribe & Connect

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 a podcast focused on genealogy, local history, and practical methods for turning scattered records into meaningful family narratives. In this episode, host Kathleen Brandt shifts the focus from collecting as many names as possible to building one strong ancestral branch by revisiting familiar records with sharper questions and better research tools.

Using the guiding principle “one ancestor, one record, three questions,” this episode demonstrates how focused analysis can transform disconnected documents into a coherent and readable life story.

In This Episode, You’ll Learn

• Why choosing a single ancestor can accelerate genealogical breakthroughs
• How focusing on one record group reveals deeper patterns and inconsistencies
• What three questions to ask of every document you find
• How timelines, checklists, and re-reading notes expose overlooked clues
• Ways to turn raw data into stories your family can actually read

Topics Covered

• Selecting one ancestor to study for an extended period
• Focusing on a single record group (pensions, land, or census)
• Asking new analytical questions of familiar documents
• Building timelines and using simple research checklists
• Re-reading old notes to surface missed details
• Applying the FAN method to track friends, associates, and neighbors
• Translating research data into narrative form
• Case study: James Nelson Strader and Civil War pension records
• Setting monthly research goals and sharing progress

Episode Discussion & Key Moments

Kathleen explains how genealogists often stall by spreading their efforts too thin across many names. By intentionally narrowing the scope to one ancestor at a time, researchers can ask better questions and recognize patterns that are invisible in broad family trees.

The episode walks through practical techniques such as building timelines, using checklists, and applying the FAN method to witnesses and neighbors. Kathleen also revisits the value of re-reading old research notes, demonstrating how previously overlooked clues can emerge when viewed through a new analytical lens.

A detailed case study of James Nelson Strader illustrates how Civil War pension records can be mined repeatedly to reconstruct a fuller, more accurate life story.

Key questions examined include:

• What changes when you focus on depth instead of breadth?
• How can a single record group support long-term research?
• What makes genealogical work understandable to non-researchers?

Resources & Research Tools Mentioned

• Civil War pension files
• Census, land, and pension record groups
• FAN (Friends, Associates, Neighbors) method
• Research timelines and checklists

Why This Episode Matters

This episode encourages a sustainable and disciplined approach to genealogy—one that prioritizes understanding over accumulation. By focusing deeply on one ancestor, researchers can create accurate, readable histories that preserve meaning for future generations, not just data.

About the Podcast

Hittin’ the Bricks with Kathleen helps listeners break through genealogy brick walls by c

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 a podcast centered on genealogy, local history, and understanding how large historical events leave long shadows in family records. In this episode, host Kathleen Brandt examines how the French and Indian War (1754–1763) created ripple effects that appear decades later as mystery migrations, unexpected pensions, and land grants that confuse modern researchers.

This episode focuses on how early military service, shifting alliances, and uneven record-keeping before the American Revolution shaped family trees in ways that are often misattributed or overlooked.

In This Episode, You’ll Learn

• Why the French and Indian War explains many unexplained family movements
• How service records before 1775 differ from Revolutionary War documentation
• The distinctions between provincial troops, militias, and British regulars
• Where to find overlooked military and civil records tied to early service
• How land grants and pensions often trace back to this earlier conflict

Topics Covered

• French and Indian War timeline and geographic scope
• Fragmented colonial record-keeping before 1775
• Provincial troops vs. militia vs. British regular forces
• Native nations as military allies and the unequal rewards they received
• African American service, injury, and paths to manumission
• Muster rolls, pay lists, council minutes, and court records
• George Washington’s papers as an early name index
• Bounty land in Virginia and North Carolina
• Interpreting Revolutionary War pension files
• Population movement before formal paperwork exists

Episode Discussion & Key Moments

Kathleen traces how the French and Indian War laid the groundwork for later political revolution while quietly reshaping families across colonial America. She explains why records from this period often appear scattered, incomplete, or indirect—and why researchers must widen their search beyond standard military files.

The episode breaks down practical strategies for locating provincial troop records, militia references, council decisions, and court mentions, as well as how to use George Washington’s papers as a gateway to otherwise hidden names. Kathleen also addresses how Native nations and African Americans participated in the conflict, often receiving delayed, unequal, or poorly documented compensation.

Key questions examined include:

• Why do some ancestors appear to surface suddenly in Revolutionary records?
• How did earlier wars move families long before pensions or land grants were issued?
• What kinds of documents quietly preserve evidence of service?

Resources & Research Starting Points

• Provincial troop muster rolls and pay lists
• Colonial council and court minutes
• George Washington’s papers
• Virginia and North Carolina bounty land records
• Revolutionary War pension files (read every page)

Why This Episode Matters

Many genealogical puzzles attributed to the American Revolution actually begin earlier. Understanding the French and Indian War helps researchers cor

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.