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AncestrySeeking Newsletter June 2025
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Hello Genealogy Seekers!
Welcome to the June edition of the Ancestry Seeking newsletter! As summer blooms around us, it’s the perfect season to nurture the roots of our family trees. This month, we’re exploring meaningful ways to honor the fathers and grandfathers in our lives, celebrating the legacy of Juneteenth, sharing practical tips for making the most of family reunions, and DNA research. Whether you're just starting out or deep in the archives, there’s something here to inspire your next discovery.
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Honoring Fathers & Grandfathers
Through Family History
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A Father’s Day Tribute from the Heart of Your Family Tree
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Father’s Day isn’t just about ties, tools, and BBQs, it’s a powerful opportunity to honor the men who shaped our families and remember those who came before them. Whether your father is still with you or part of your ancestral past, this day can be a meaningful moment for reflection, remembrance, and discovery.
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As genealogists and family historians, we hold a unique key to preserving these legacies. This Father’s Day let’s take time to celebrate the lives, stories, and lessons passed down through generations of fathers and grandfathers.
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3 Ways to Pay Tribute to Fathers in Your Family Tree
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1. Record Their Stories
Sit down with your father, grandfather, or an elder male relative and ask them about their life and the men who raised them. These conversations can spark cherished memories and uncover details that might otherwise be lost.
Read More
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Events Worth Digging Into
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Institute of Genealogy & Historical Research (IGHR)
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When: July 27–August 1, 2025
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Format: Virtual institute
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What: Week-long program featuring courses and seminars across a variety of genealogy topics.
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“Did You Know?”
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Did you know that the 1940 U.S. Census includes questions about employment and income? It’s now fully indexed and searchable for free on several platforms!
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DNA Match Tip - Start a "Leeds Log" with 1 New Match
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Choose one DNA match—just one! from your match list and start a simple “Leeds Log” (a spreadsheet or notebook will do). Record the following:
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Match’s name and testing platform
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Estimated relationship (e.g., 3rd–4th cousin)
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Shared DNA amount (cM)
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Any known surnames or locations
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Whether they have a family tree
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One next step (message them, build a quick tree, etc.)
Why this matters: It’s easy to get overwhelmed by hundreds of matches. Starting with just one helps build research momentum and gives you a focused way to track progress over time.
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Genealogy Tip of the Month!
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Family Reunion Interview Guide
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Tips & Conversation Starters for Preserving Family Stories
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Family reunions are more than just cookouts and catching up, they’re golden opportunities to record memories, wisdom, and untold stories. With multiple generations gathered together, it’s the perfect time to interview relatives and preserve your family’s legacy.
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🎤 Tips for Interviewing Family Members
1, Be Respectful and Relaxed
2. Bring the Right Tools
3. Choose a Quiet, Comfortable Spot
4. Ask Open-Ended Questions
5. Focus on Themes or Eras
Download the complete guide for all the tips on topics to talk about and questions to ask.
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Honoring Juneteenth: A Time for
Remembrance, Reflection, and Research
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June 19th, known as Juneteenth, marks a pivotal moment in American history, the final enforcement of the Emancipation Proclamation in 1865, when Union troops arrived in Galveston, Texas, and freed the last enslaved African Americans. Though the Emancipation Proclamation had been issued more than two years earlier, it wasn’t until this day that freedom was realized for all enslaved people in the United States.
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Now recognized as a federal holiday, Juneteenth is a time for celebration, remembrance, and education. For family historians and genealogists, it’s also a powerful moment to explore the legacies of African American ancestors and preserve the stories of their resilience.
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Why Juneteenth Matters in Family History
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The legacy of slavery, emancipation, and freedom is deeply interwoven into the genealogical fabric of countless American families. Tracing African American ancestry can be particularly complex due to the scarcity of named records before 1870, but breakthroughs are possible and incredibly meaningful.
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" HOW TO CONVERT TO VHS & CASSETTE RECORDINGS
INTO DIGITAL FILES" and more
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Do you have old family videos or voice recordings sitting in a box somewhere? If so, they could be at risk of deterioration! VHS tapes and cassettes degrade over time, meaning that your family’s precious memories could be lost forever.
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Luckily, with today’s technology, you can digitize these old formats to ensure they’re preserved for future generations.
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In this guide, I’ll show you how to convert old VHS tapes and cassette recordings into digital files so you can save, share, and relive family history anytime.
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Why You Should Digitize Old Family Videos & Recordings
- VHS tapes degrade over time – Even if they were stored well, VHS tapes start losing quality after 10–20 years.
- Cassette tapes can become unplayable – Magnetic tape can deteriorate, snap, or warp, making audio recovery difficult.
- Digital files are easier to share – Once digitized, you can save them to cloud storage and send them to family members.
- Prevents permanent loss – Fires, floods, and accidents could wipe out these tapes forever.
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If you have old home movies, interviews, or voice recordings, digitizing them ensures they’re never lost.
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How to Convert VHS Tapes to Digital Files
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Join me!
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Learn more by following my Weekly Blog Posts on Facebook, Linkedin, & Pinterest
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Want More Resources
Visit Ancestryseeking.com
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ENJOYED THIS NEWSLETTER?
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If you found something helpful or inspiring, I’d love it if you forwarded this newsletter to a friend who’s also passionate about family history. Let’s grow the community of curious minds preserving the past!"
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In my next newsletter, learn about
"How to Use Metadata to Organize Your Digital Family Photos"
Thank you for being part of this journey!
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Wishing you success in search,
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4info@ancestryseeking.com
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Have a topic you’d like to learn more about or a family history story you’d like to share with other readers? I’d love to hear from you! Feel free to reach out and don’t forget to visit my website: AncestrySeeking.com.
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