The Legal Genealogist

As a genealogist with a law degree, Judy's background is fascinating and inspiring: "newspaper reporter, trade association writer, legal investigator, defense attorney, federal prosecutor, law editor and law school professor." Trying to keep up with the legal concepts and terminology of the family history/genealogy environment can be overwhelming, but Judy's articles are interesting and easy to understand, and always complete with a "sources" section for further research. For example, Judy posted an article on Wiggles and Squiggles — That curly thing on documents (August 26, 2019) about "scrolls" or, in some states they are referred to as "scrawls" — "A mark intended to supply the place of a seal, made with a pen or other instrument of writing." Judy has an "Ask TLG" section for questions she answers in her blog.

Amy Johnson Crow

Oh, my goodness, Amy Johnson Crow is amazing! I first came across her on Twitter when I saw a retweeted notice of her free 52 Ancestors in 52 Weeks series of weekly prompts designed to get you writing about your family history. This was the inspiration for transforming my teaching website to a family history site. Her services are a mix of free resources and premium services that include resources, advice, research tips, a podcast, and her Generations Connection.

The Ancestor Hunt

I am a big fan of Kenneth R. Marks, author of The Ancestor Hunt. He has a great collection of newspaper, birth, death, marriage, obituary, and yearbook links — and so much more! Check out his subscription options for updates on new collections and resources.