Genealogy Gold by Ancestral Findings

Latest Episodes:

AF-1112: Showgirls and Spotlight: The Hollywood Cabaret on Broadway | Postcards from the Past Jun 24, 2025

Show notes

This one caught my eye for a completely different reason than most of the postcards I've written about. It's not a quiet street scene or a charming old building—it's people. A whole lineup of them. Dancers, performers, maybe a few singers too, all standing in formation in front of a dramatic backdrop. They're dressed in full costume—fringe, sequins, feathers—ready to perform, or maybe just wrapping up another night's set.

The caption at the bottom reads: The Ensemble of "The Famous Hollywood Cabaret" Restaurant, Broadway at 48th St., New York City. It says a lot in just a few words. This wasn't just a restaurant—it was a place where dinner came with a full night of entertainment. And this postcard doesn't just show a building or a business—it captures a whole slice of nightlife in one of New York's most legendary neighborhoods.

Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/hollywood-cabaret-new-york/

Ancestral Findings Podcast: https://ancestralfindings.com/podcast

This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: https://ancestralfindings.com/lookups

Genealogy Giveaway: https://ancestralfindings.com/giveaway

Genealogy eBooks: https://ancestralfindings.com/ebooks

Follow Along: https://www.facebook.com/AncestralFindings https://www.instagram.com/ancestralfindings https://www.youtube.com/ancestralfindings

Support Ancestral Findings: https://ancestralfindings.com/support https://ancestralfindings.com/paypal

#Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips

AF-1111: The Little Church Around the Corner, New York City | Postcards from the Past Jun 22, 2025

Show notes

Some postcards you flip past quickly. Others make you stop. This one made me stop. It's not flashy—there's no massive landmark or postcard-perfect sunset. Just a simple church nestled among a few trees, with a neat little gatehouse and a quiet street. What caught my eye was the caption: The Little Church Around the Corner. That name alone makes you want to find out more. It sounds like something you'd say if you were giving directions in a familiar neighborhood—only this neighborhood happens to be in the middle of New York City...

Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/little-church-around-the-corner-nyc/

Ancestral Findings Podcast: https://ancestralfindings.com/podcast

This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: https://ancestralfindings.com/lookups

Genealogy Giveaway: https://ancestralfindings.com/giveaway

Genealogy eBooks: https://ancestralfindings.com/ebooks

Follow Along: https://www.facebook.com/AncestralFindings https://www.instagram.com/ancestralfindings https://www.youtube.com/ancestralfindings

Support Ancestral Findings: https://ancestralfindings.com/support https://ancestralfindings.com/paypal

#Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips

AF-1110: The Real History of Father's Day: From 1910 to Today | Ancestral Findings Podcast Jun 15, 2025

Show notes

Every June, many of us pause to honor the fathers in our lives—the ones who taught us how to change a tire, tied our fishing lines, and maybe even showed us how to be brave in the quietest of ways. But for all the neckties and backyard barbecues, few people know the full story of how Father's Day came to be. The holiday didn't spring up as easily as Mother's Day, nor was it without its share of controversy, setbacks, and surprising twists. The roots of Father's Day reach deep into early 20th-century America—and they begin not with a celebration, but with a tragedy...

Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/the-real-history-of-fathers-day-from-1910-to-today/

Ancestral Findings Podcast: https://ancestralfindings.com/podcast

This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: https://ancestralfindings.com/lookups

Genealogy Giveaway: https://ancestralfindings.com/giveaway

Genealogy eBooks: https://ancestralfindings.com/ebooks

Follow Along: https://www.facebook.com/AncestralFindings https://www.instagram.com/ancestralfindings https://www.youtube.com/ancestralfindings

Support Ancestral Findings: https://ancestralfindings.com/support https://ancestralfindings.com/paypal

#Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips

AF-1109: 1925 New York State Census: A Final Glimpse Between the Federal Counts Jun 13, 2025

Show notes

The 1925 New York State census holds a prominent place in the lineup of state enumerations. This is not only because it was the last one conducted by the state but also because of the historical moment it captured. Taken just five years before the 1930 federal census, the 1925 enumeration offers researchers a final glimpse of New York families as they transitioned from the post–World War I years into a new, modern era marked by rapid change.

By the mid-1920s, New York State had evolved into a complex and dynamic region, shaped by industrial expansion, immigration, and cultural shifts. Therefore, the 1925 census becomes an indispensable resource for those seeking to understand the people and communities during this pivotal period...

Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/exploring-the-1925-new-york-state-census/

Ancestral Findings Podcast: https://ancestralfindings.com/podcast

This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: https://ancestralfindings.com/lookups

Genealogy Giveaway: https://ancestralfindings.com/giveaway

Genealogy eBooks: https://ancestralfindings.com/ebooks

Follow Along: https://www.facebook.com/AncestralFindings https://www.instagram.com/ancestralfindings https://www.youtube.com/ancestralfindings

Support Ancestral Findings: https://ancestralfindings.com/support https://ancestralfindings.com/paypal

#Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips

AF-1108: 1915 New York State Census | Ancestral Findings Podcast Jun 12, 2025

Show notes

By the time New York took its 1915 state census, the state was in the midst of dramatic social, political, and demographic shifts. The five years since the 1910 federal census had brought even more industrial growth, continued waves of immigration, and the rise of new housing, labor, and reform movements. Capturing all of this change in the middle of a federal census decade, the 1915 New York State census stands as one of the most insightful tools available for those researching family history in early 20th-century New York.

This census was conducted on June 1, 1915, by the state's Department of Efficiency and Economy—a short-lived agency created to oversee and modernize state operations. The count included over 10.5 million residents and gave a mid-decade view of one of America's most dynamic regions. It's more than just names and numbers—it's a snapshot of what life looked like in a time of incredible transformation...

Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/1915-new-york-state-census/

Ancestral Findings Podcast: https://ancestralfindings.com/podcast

This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: https://ancestralfindings.com/lookups

Genealogy Giveaway: https://ancestralfindings.com/giveaway

Genealogy eBooks: https://ancestralfindings.com/ebooks

Follow Along: https://www.facebook.com/AncestralFindings https://www.instagram.com/ancestralfindings https://www.youtube.com/ancestralfindings

Support Ancestral Findings: https://ancestralfindings.com/support https://ancestralfindings.com/paypal

#Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips

AF-1107: Exploring the 1905 New York State Census | Ancestral Findings Podcast Jun 11, 2025

Show notes

The 1905 New York State census is a cornerstone resource for anyone researching individuals or families who lived in New York at the beginning of the 20th century. Coming just five years after the 1900 federal census and five years before the 1910 federal count, this state census captures a critical snapshot of life during a dynamic and rapidly changing time in American history...

Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/exploring-the-1905-new-york-state-census/

Ancestral Findings Podcast: https://ancestralfindings.com/podcast

This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: https://ancestralfindings.com/lookups

Genealogy Giveaway: https://ancestralfindings.com/giveaway

Genealogy eBooks: https://ancestralfindings.com/ebooks

Follow Along: https://www.facebook.com/AncestralFindings https://www.instagram.com/ancestralfindings https://www.youtube.com/ancestralfindings

Support Ancestral Findings: https://ancestralfindings.com/support https://ancestralfindings.com/paypal

#Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips

AF-1106: 1892 New York Census Records: Filling the Gap Left by 1890 Jun 09, 2025

Show notes

The 1892 New York census is an essential source for family history researchers working in the late 19th century. With the destruction of the 1890 U.S. federal census, the 1892 state count offers one of the only large-scale snapshots of life during that decade. For anyone tracing New York families through immigration, urbanization, or internal migration in the 1880s and 1890s, this record is a key substitute for the lost enumeration.

Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/the-1892-new-york-state-census-filling-the-gap-left-by-1890/

Ancestral Findings Podcast: https://ancestralfindings.com/podcast

This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: https://ancestralfindings.com/lookups

Genealogy Giveaway: https://ancestralfindings.com/giveaway

Genealogy eBooks: https://ancestralfindings.com/ebooks

Follow Along: https://www.facebook.com/AncestralFindings https://www.instagram.com/ancestralfindings https://www.youtube.com/ancestralfindings

Support Ancestral Findings: https://ancestralfindings.com/support https://ancestralfindings.com/paypal

#Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips

AF-1105: Pittsburgh's Golden Triangle and the Lost Point Bridge | Postcards from the Past Jun 06, 2025

Show notes

This postcard brought it all back. The steel-gray tones, the Point Bridge stretching across the Monongahela, and Pittsburgh's unmistakable skyline—narrow, bold, and rising up from the meeting of three rivers. I remember the first time I ever drove through the Fort Pitt Tunnel. You're surrounded by mountain, nothing but concrete—then suddenly, you burst out into the open and the whole city hits you at once. There's nothing quite like that view. And somehow, this postcard captures that feeling...

Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/pittsburghs-golden-triangle-and-the-lost-point-bridge-postcards-from-the-past/

Ancestral Findings Podcast: https://ancestralfindings.com/podcast

This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: https://ancestralfindings.com/lookups

Genealogy Giveaway: https://ancestralfindings.com/giveaway

Genealogy eBooks: https://ancestralfindings.com/ebooks

Follow Along: https://www.facebook.com/AncestralFindings https://www.instagram.com/ancestralfindings https://www.youtube.com/ancestralfindings

Support Ancestral Findings: https://ancestralfindings.com/support https://ancestralfindings.com/paypal

#Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips

AF-1104: Iowa's 1925 State Census: A Genealogist's Goldmine | Ancestral Findings Podcast Jun 05, 2025

Show notes

Among the many state censuses conducted across the United States, Iowa's 1925 enumeration stands apart. Genealogists frequently cite it as one of the most detailed and valuable non-federal census records available. What sets it apart is not just the volume of information collected but the nature of that information—specifically, its emphasis on lineage. This census doesn't simply capture who was living in Iowa at the time; it provides rare and remarkably direct insight into each resident's parentage and origins...

Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/iowas-1925-state-census-a-genealogists-goldmine/

Ancestral Findings Podcast: https://ancestralfindings.com/podcast

This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: https://ancestralfindings.com/lookups

Genealogy Giveaway: https://ancestralfindings.com/giveaway

Genealogy eBooks: https://ancestralfindings.com/ebooks

Follow Along: https://www.facebook.com/AncestralFindings https://www.instagram.com/ancestralfindings https://www.youtube.com/ancestralfindings

Support Ancestral Findings: https://ancestralfindings.com/support https://ancestralfindings.com/paypal

#Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips

AF-1103: The Value of New York State Census Records for Genealogy Jun 05, 2025

Show notes

While most genealogists rely on the federal census as a foundational tool, those researching ancestors in New York State have a distinct advantage. In addition to appearing in the federal census every ten years, New Yorkers were also counted in a robust series of state censuses. These records, taken at regular intervals between federal censuses, offer an extraordinary opportunity to fill in gaps, confirm relationships, and capture details that the federal government often overlooked.

New York conducted state censuses in the following years: 1825, 1835, 1845, 1855, 1865, 1875, 1892, 1905, 1915, and 1925. These were authorized under various state constitutional provisions, including a requirement for mid-decade population counts to support legislative apportionment and school funding decisions. While earlier censuses are more limited in scope and survival, those from 1855 onward are generally accessible and remarkably detailed...

Podcast Notes: https://ancestralfindings.com/the-value-of-new-york-state-census-records-for-genealogy/

Ancestral Findings Podcast: https://ancestralfindings.com/podcast

This Week's Free Genealogy Lookups: https://ancestralfindings.com/lookups

Genealogy Giveaway: https://ancestralfindings.com/giveaway

Genealogy eBooks: https://ancestralfindings.com/ebooks

Follow Along: https://www.facebook.com/AncestralFindings https://www.instagram.com/ancestralfindings https://www.youtube.com/ancestralfindings

Support Ancestral Findings: https://ancestralfindings.com/support https://ancestralfindings.com/paypal

#Genealogy #AncestralFindings #GenealogyClips