When I was about 16, I began to want to know about my family. I started writing letters asking about my family. In 1958, after I joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, I learned of the vast archives available through the LDS Church. I took classes offered at church to learn more of how to do genealogy. I was very fortunate to have wonderful relatives in far off places respond to my requests. In 1960, I took my first trip to the famous Family History Library in Salt Lake City, Utah.
For more than 60 years, I have loved family history research. I visited many libraries and archives around the world in the areas where my ancestors lived. I spent hours interviewing relatives and transcribing those interview. I copied hundreds of family photos which relatives were kind to share. I ordered documents and in the early years, I waited weeks for those records to arrive in the mail. Now, it seems a miracle that with just a click on my keyboard, I can view so many records from repositories around the world.
Now, I want to share the information I have gathered. I am posting the family history data on FamilySearch. Access to FamilySearch is free. If you wish, you can add and update or correct information on that site. I have created this personal website at MaryNews.com to share stories about the research experiences I’ve had which have been a joy and a central part of my life. I don’t want to duplicate the data that I post on FamilySearch but want to add other information that isn’t on that site.
I have been fortunate to have visited the villages where each of my immigrant ancestors lived. I plan to share information on this MaryNews.org site about those places I traveled. Those trips and memories are special to me. I know that those who have lived before us really care that we remember them and often help us in special ways in the work of family history.
Our Heritage Homestead in Ontario, Canada is featured at MaryNews.org/HeritageHomestead. This is the property where our Goergen ancestors settled and the project is a tribute to help us remember and honor all ancestors and their lives in times past. It is sometimes difficult to realize how life was without electricity or running water or automobiles (or tv, cell phones, etc.) and we hope this project will cause us to marvel at the accomplishments of our forefathers who had so little of what we consider to be necessities.
Please know that if you have family photos or documents you’d like to share, I will be glad to help you. I will arrange to copy them so we can preserve and share them with all family members. Thanks for your interest.
Please email me at Mary@MaryNews.com