Hi, Reader,

With Labor Day coming up, I’ve been thinking about work, specifically, the work our ancestors did.

When I look at my own family tree, I see a lot of farmers.

Farmer. Farmer. Farmer.

Not particularly exciting at first glance. 🙂

But an ancestor’s occupation can tell us much more than simply how they earned a living.

Their work could influence where they lived, why they moved, who they interacted with and even the types of records they left behind.

And sometimes, understanding why an ancestor chose a particular occupation gives us a whole new way to look at their life.

This week’s genealogy read:

👉 Why Your Ancestor’s Occupation Matters to Your Genealogy Research​

In this post, I walk through where to look for an ancestor’s occupation, some of the records you might not immediately think to check, and how that information can become another clue in your research.

​Read the article​

If you want to dig into your ancestor's work life a little further, Newspapers.com is one of my go-to spots for this. City directories often list occupations year by year, and old newspapers can turn up ads, notices, or write-ups you'd never find otherwise.

But don’t stop with the job title.

One of the things I enjoy most about genealogy is figuring out what an ancestor’s everyday life actually looked like.

What was happening in their community? What was expected of someone in their position? What opportunities (or limitations) did they have?

That’s where social history comes in.

🎥 Watch: Using Social History in Genealogy Research

I’ll show you how looking beyond traditional genealogy records can help you better understand the choices your ancestors made, including where they lived, the work they did and why they may have moved.

​Watch the video​

This week, take another look at one of your ancestors and ask:

What did they do for a living, and what does that tell me about their life?

Happy researching!

Lisa

P.S. A quick thank you to everyone who supported me during the Susan G. Komen 3-Day Walk, whether through a donation, attending my genealogy webinar, sending a message or simply cheering me on. Your support was very much appreciated!