1940 Census: Life in America at a Turning Point
The 1940 census provides a snapshot of what life was like in America during the years of the Great Depression and WWII.
History
1930s Radio Shows
See the most popular 1930s radio shows. Do you recognize any? Do you know which ones were your parents or grandparents favorite?
Time Travel: New York City in 1911
See footage of New York City in 1911 taken by a Swedish company while on a trip to America. From the film collection at the Museum of Modern Art.
20th Century Inventions
Check out a list of 20th Century Inventions. How might they have impacted the lives of your parents, grandparents and great grandparents?
Ellis Island: Coming to America
Ellis Island was a turning point in many American’s Family story. Nearly 40% of all Americans can trace at least one ancestor to Ellis Island. More…
Read on to learn more about Ellis Island and the part it may have played in the life of one of your ancestors.
Games our Grandparents Played: Childhood in the 1930s
Did you know that T.V.s, cell phones and personal computers were considered science fiction in the 1930’s? What did our grandparents and great-grandparents do for fun as children?
Chicago Genealogy Resources
Is your family from Chicago? Below are a number of Chicago Genealogy Resources that can help you discover more about your roots and the lives of your ancestors in Chicago.
Our Grandparents Slang
Check out words and phrases that were popular slang in the 1930’s, 40’s and 50s. Do you recognize any?
Remembering My Great Grandmother
I recently came across a photo of my great grandmother as I was cleaning out an old box. She was standing next to a flower bush wearing a white polka dot dress. I vaguely remember her…her voice, her laughter, her smile, her personality. I must have been about 10 when she passed away. Looking at …
How To Date Old Photos – Discovering your Family History
Do you have an album or box of old family photographs? Are they labeled? Unfortunately, most were not as it was assumed families knew the person in the photo. All is not lost, though, as you may still be able to identify your ancestors by knowing what decade a photo is from – by learning how to date old photos.