Category Archives: Research Tips

Tips for Researching Desmond (& other Irish Surnames)

Posted on March 13, 2018 by Patricia Desmond Biallas

Last week I received an email from a fellow Desmond named “Claire” via the GeneaJourneys blog you’re reading right now. She’s  been researching her genealogy for a fairly short time and wondered if perhaps we were related due to having … Continue reading →

Posted in Ireland, Research, Research Tips | 2 Comments

Social History: the Key to Producing Captivating Family Stories

Posted on November 1, 2016 by Patricia Desmond Biallas

How does a genealogist or family historian write about an event that he or she hasn’t actually witnessed firsthand? The Basics Back in Journalism 101—many long decades ago—I learned the key to good newspaper reporting was to cover the 5 … Continue reading →

Posted in American History, Family Stories, Research, Research Tips, Social History | 2 Comments

Fom Ship to Shore: Finding those Immigrant Passenger Ships

Posted on December 31, 2013 by Patricia Desmond Biallas

“They came in ships…how else could they get here?” That’s the rhetorical question offered by John P. Colletta in the preface to his classic volume “They Came in Ships: A Guide to Finding Your Immigrant Ancestor’s Arrival Record.” The answer, … Continue reading →

Posted in American History, Ireland, Photo Stories, Research, Research Tips | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment