Author Archives: Crystal Burton

        Newspapers haven’t always had armies of journalists on the hunt for interesting stories to publish.  Prior to the last few decades, many newspapers filled their columns and enticed their readers with stories taken from other newspapers.  This … Continue reading →

Some see family history as just a list of names and even genealogists can be trapped in that view when it comes to the women in a lineage.  After all, for centuries women were told that their best possible contribution … Continue reading →

I recently spoke with a woman who had an interest in researching her family tree but was worried about what she might find out. She knew she was adopted and that her conception was the result of an extramarital affair. … Continue reading →

I hesitate to call the subject of this post a ‘BSO’ because it’s not so bright and shiny, but it did catch my eye just the same.  I was researching my own family, looking for death records in Halifax County, … Continue reading →

I found this little nugget in the American Advocate out of Kinston, NC, courtesy of Newspapers.com.  It was tucked away at the bottom of the 4th column on the second page of the 25 August 1858 issue and somehow it … Continue reading →

“Ok, I get the ‘genealogical news and random thoughts part, but BSO?  What the heck is a BSO?”  BSO stands for Bright Shiny Object.  Similar to a Rabbit Hole, or…’Oooh, Squirrel!’  It’s one of those little findings or ideas that … Continue reading →