Brenda Franklin

You're not alone in hitting a genealogy brick wall—when records vanish and names don’t match. I’ve been there too, and I feel your pain!

Here are some incredible things you can uncover in an obituary—and how they can help you paint a vivid, heartfelt picture of your family.

Newspapers are packed with everything from life-changing clues to juicy tidbits that make your ancestors feel, well, human.