About Leland Meitzler

Leland K. Meitzler founded Heritage Quest in 1985, and has worked as Managing Editor of both Heritage Quest Magazine and The Genealogical Helper. He currently operates Family Roots Publishing Company (www.FamilyRootsPublishing.com), writes daily at GenealogyBlog.com, writes the weekly Genealogy Newsline, conducts the annual Salt Lake Christmas Tour to the Family History Library, and speaks nationally, having given over 2000 lectures since 1983.

The Wages of Being in the Genealogy Book Business for 3 Decades is an Upcoming Surgery

Well – being in the book business for over 30 years finally caught up with me. I am being scheduled for surgery immediately after the Salt Lake Christmas Tour in early December. At least I’ll be able to move my Continue reading The Wages of Being in the Genealogy Book Business for 3 Decades is an Upcoming Surgery

The National Archives Announces Partnership to Digitize WWII Aerial Photography

The following is from the National Archives Press/Journalists webpage. November 2, 2015 Washington, DC… The National Archives today announced its partnership with the National Collection of Aerial Photography (NCAP) to digitize historic World War II aerial photography. For the first Continue reading The National Archives Announces Partnership to Digitize WWII Aerial Photography

Workers Discover 19th Century Burial Vault Under New York City’s Washington Square Park

An unexpected burial vault came to light under the famed Washington Square Park in New York City a few days ago. Once a potter’s field, thousands of folks are buried in the park. Following is a teaser from the November Continue reading Workers Discover 19th Century Burial Vault Under New York City’s Washington Square Park

National Endowment for the Humanities Launches Chronicling America Data Challenge

The NEH has launched an interesting contest that I believe may be of interest to genealogists. The Chronicling America site is used extensively by genealogists. What kinds of genealogy projects would fit within the guidelines of the contest? Following is Continue reading National Endowment for the Humanities Launches Chronicling America Data Challenge

MyHeritage Adds Cool New Collaboration Technology to its Search Engine – I Love This!

It looks like MyHeritage has done it again. This time they’ve used their search engine technology to help connect people who may be searching the same names. Using the new Search Connect™, I went looking for anyone searching on the Continue reading MyHeritage Adds Cool New Collaboration Technology to its Search Engine – I Love This!

CAFG Announces Scholarship Covering 50% of Tuition to the 2016 Forensic Genealogy Institute

The following was received from Leslie Lawson: Hands-on Forensic Genealogy Event More than 65% Filled; Seats at FGI Expected to Sell Out Soon FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – Dallas, Texas – November 4, 2015 – The Council for the Advancement of Continue reading CAFG Announces Scholarship Covering 50% of Tuition to the 2016 Forensic Genealogy Institute

$659K in Two Grants Given Out for Curriculums Based on PBS’ Finding Your Roots

The following excerpt is from an article posted October 31, 2015 at TheRoot.com: A new curriculum based on Henry Louis Gates Jr.’s popular PBS documentary series, Finding Your Roots, received two grants this week: one for $355,000 from the Robert Continue reading $659K in Two Grants Given Out for Curriculums Based on PBS’ Finding Your Roots

National Public Radio Has Posted a Database of American Vets Secretly Exposed to Mustard Agent During WWII

National Public Radio has posted a database of American veterans who were secretly exposed to mustard agent during WWII. I tried out the search engine and immediately located two Canfields in the database. Click on over, read the full article, Continue reading National Public Radio Has Posted a Database of American Vets Secretly Exposed to Mustard Agent During WWII

FREE Access to Native American Records at Fold3 through November 15, 2015

Alerted by a note in the November 3rd edition of ResearchBuzz, I clicked over to the latest Upfront With NGS Announcement, and on to the Fold3 blog – where I found the following information. I’ve been a Fold3 member since Continue reading FREE Access to Native American Records at Fold3 through November 15, 2015

The World War II Research and Writing Center Website

With the release of the British 1939 Register at the FindMyPast website, we’re once again discussing WWII research. When I got involved in genealogy forty years ago, WWII was a rather recent occurrence and many of us just skipped right Continue reading The World War II Research and Writing Center Website