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.

Ben Affleck Apologizes for Attempting to Conceal Slave-Owning Ancestry

A few days ago, Ben Affleck apologized for the attempt to conceal slave-owning ancestry, which turned up during research for the PBS documentary “Finding Your Roots.” Wikileaks published emails which showed the attempt – which seemed to have worked… for Continue reading Ben Affleck Apologizes for Attempting to Conceal Slave-Owning Ancestry

FamilySearch Adds Over 4 M Indexed Records & Images for Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, England, Italy, S Africa, & the USA

The following information is from FamilySearch: FamilySearch has added to its collections more than 4 million indexed records and images for the Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, England, Italy, South Africa, and the United States. Notable collection updates include 700,220 indexed Continue reading FamilySearch Adds Over 4 M Indexed Records & Images for Belgium, Brazil, Canada, China, England, Italy, S Africa, & the USA

AncestryDNA Offers Their Test for 20% Off through Monday, August 17! Just $79

AncestryDNA is once again running a supersale on their DNA test. It’s again 20% off – but only through Monday, August 17. The test is normally $99 – so you can save about $20 by buying now. The promotion is Continue reading AncestryDNA Offers Their Test for 20% Off through Monday, August 17! Just $79

Free Access to the Immigration Records at Ancestry.com this Weekend!

It’s been announced that Ancestry.com is allowing free access to their immigration records from April 16 through April 20, 2016. Click on the illustration to check it out! Search Ancestry’s extensive collection of 300 million immigration records! Immigration records tell Continue reading Free Access to the Immigration Records at Ancestry.com this Weekend!

Association of Professional Genealogists Announces Membership Discounts

The following is from APG: Support for Younger and Retiring Generations of Professional Genealogists WHEAT RIDGE, Colo., 15 April, 2015 − The Association of Professional Genealogists (APG®) today announced membership discounts for younger and retiring professionals. Individuals under the age Continue reading Association of Professional Genealogists Announces Membership Discounts

Who Do You Think You Are? to Feature Bill Paxton Sunday, April 19 on TLC

This week’s Who Do You Think You Are? features Bill Paxton – maybe best known for his lead role in the movie “Twister.” Bill always wondered if he was related to Texan hero, Sam Houston (who he just happens to Continue reading Who Do You Think You Are? to Feature Bill Paxton Sunday, April 19 on TLC

FamilySearch Adds Over 2.3 Million Indexed Records & Images for the Czech Republic, Mexico, New Zealand, Ukraine, & the USA

The following is from FamilySearch: FamilySearch has added to its collections more than 2.3 million indexed records and images for the Czech Republic, Mexico, New Zealand, Ukraine, and the United States. Notable collection updates include 771,097 images from the New Continue reading FamilySearch Adds Over 2.3 Million Indexed Records & Images for the Czech Republic, Mexico, New Zealand, Ukraine, & the USA

FamilySearch Free Historical Book Collection Online Hits 200,000th Milestone

The following news release is from FamilySearch: SALT LAKE CITY, UT, April 13, 2015 — Imagine a free virtual online library of rare historical books from all over the world to help you discover rich, unknown details about the lives Continue reading FamilySearch Free Historical Book Collection Online Hits 200,000th Milestone

Megan Smolenyak Uproots 1/4 of Hillary Rodham Clinton’s Online Family Tree

The following teaser is from an article posted by my friend, Megan Smolenyak, at the Huffington Post website. With a little digging, she proved that 1/4 of Hillary Clinton’s posted online family trees are wrong… Again, showing that just because Continue reading Megan Smolenyak Uproots 1/4 of Hillary Rodham Clinton’s Online Family Tree

Central Lunatic Asylum for Colored Insane of Petersburg, VA Records to be Digitized

April 8, 2015 – AUSTIN, Texas — Three faculty members at The University of Texas at Austin’s School of Information have received a grant from the Andrew Mellon Foundation to develop and field test a digital infrastructure for preserving and Continue reading Central Lunatic Asylum for Colored Insane of Petersburg, VA Records to be Digitized

America Ferrera To be Featured in this Week’s “Who Do You Think You?”

The upcoming Who Do You Think You Are? will feature America Ferrera. She’s best known for her award-winning role as Betty Suaraz in the ABC Comedy, Ugly Betty (2006-2010). Ms. Ferrera actually heads to Honduras in this episode. She’s looking Continue reading America Ferrera To be Featured in this Week’s “Who Do You Think You?”

Free Shipping on Purchases of $25 or More at the FRPC Website – Now Thru April 20.

All purchases of $25 or more will get now get free USA shipping at the Family Roots Publishing website through April 20, 2015. Check it out! Included in the “FREE postage over $25 in Purchases” sale are all of the Continue reading Free Shipping on Purchases of $25 or More at the FRPC Website – Now Thru April 20.