Author Archives: Lorelle VanFossen

About Lorelle VanFossen

Lorelle VanFossen hosts Family History Blog covering her ancestors and related family members. She is one of the top bloggers in the world, and host of the Lorelle on WordPress, providing WordPress and blogging tips for bloggers of all levels. A popular keynote speaker and trainer, she is also editor, producer, contributor, and official disruptive thinker for Bitwire Media which includes WordCast, Making My Life Network, Stories of Our Journeys, Life on the Road, WordCast Conversations, and the very popular WordCast Podcast.

The Myths and Mysteries and Hunt for Nicholas Knapp

The Myths and Mysteries and Hunt for Nicholas Knapp

A source I return to every few years as I dive into my Knapp family history is Sandie’s Genealogy Pages site by Sandra L. Reynolds-Owens. While my family Knapps closer to my generation came from hardy loggers, she traces the … Continue reading


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The Perpetual Calendar

In 1995, Toke Nørby of Denmark uploaded The Perpetual Calendar to the r.c.p-h newsgroup and changed the lives of genealogists everywhere. While it was created for his own stamp collecting hobby, it is useful not only to genealogists or anyone … Continue reading


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GenSmarts: Reminder to Not Assume

GenSmarts: Reminder to Not Assume

In a recent article on using Gensmarts to research a research facility more effectively, I began to look at GenSmarts Genealogy Software differently. Part of my goal in researching my genealogy, and that of others, is to tell the story … Continue reading


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Gensmarts Saves Your Family History Research Life

Recently in Salt Lake City for RootsTech, I had only two days to explore and research my genealogy at the Family History Library. Imagine a major city library and you have the Family History Library – physically. What you may … Continue reading


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Digging Through Historical Newspapers Online

As my research into the mysteries in and around the conception and birth of Howard W. West Sr., and confirmation of his parents, Walter Ellsworth West and Lula Bell Pinder, I’ve recently discovered that all of the major players, save … Continue reading


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RootsMagic and Ancestry: Perfect Marriage

I was thrilled to get the news in my RootsMagic genealogy software program that RootsMagic has partnered with Ancestry to finally connect with their API. What does this mean? Oh, get excited. Currently, RootsMagic connects with two APIs, MyHeritage and … Continue reading


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Choosing Between RootsMagic and Personal Historian

When the news came that The Master Genealogist was being discontinued, I waited with the rest of the fans of one of the world’s best genealogy research and tracking programs to see what would happen. While there is noise of … Continue reading


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Sharon Knapp Lee 1944-2014

It is with great sadness that I share the news of the death of my dear cousin, Sharon Knapp Lee. The following is her obituary from the Skagit Valley Herald. Sharon Mae Lee of Mount Vernon, born, Sharon Mae Knapp, … Continue reading


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When Family Gets in the Way of Family History

Family gets in the way, even for a family history researcher. Recent family events have taken the heart out of my family history blogging efforts, and I’m slowly struggling to put the emotional aspects of living family aside and get … Continue reading


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Library of Congress Railroad Maps Collection

The Geography and Map Division, Library of Congress, has put together the Railroad Maps Collection, an amazing collection of more than 600 maps of railroads across the United States. Compiled by Andrew M. Modelski in 1975, these maps go back … Continue reading


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