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.

Remains of the Confederate Ironclad CSS Georgia to Be Raised

It’s planned that salvage crews will work through next September in the process of raising what remains of armored Confederate ironclad CSS Georgia. The ironclad has been deteriorating 30 feet below the surface of the Savannah River for over 150 Continue reading Remains of the Confederate Ironclad CSS Georgia to Be Raised

Relative Finder – a New Website Developed by BYU Students

Students at BYU have built a website that has some great possibilities. However, it has some issues at the moment. I’m blogging about it though, as the idea is intriguing. The following teaser is from KSL.com: PROVO — FamilySearch.org recently Continue reading Relative Finder – a New Website Developed by BYU Students

Eight Semifinalists Announced for the Annual Innovator Challenge

RootsTech has announced the eight semifinalists in the annual Innovator Challenge. Out of 51 entries, eight were selected by a panel of independent judges to move forward. According to the FamilySearch Blog, they are: Argus Search Google-like full text search Continue reading Eight Semifinalists Announced for the Annual Innovator Challenge

Thoughts on the Elimination of the Indiana State Library #Genealogy Department

I posted a blog about the elimination of the genealogy department at the Indiana state archives earlier, but didn’t comment much on it. In reading further, it looks to me like the money is available to save the library budget Continue reading Thoughts on the Elimination of the Indiana State Library #Genealogy Department

75 Years Ago, Ida May Fuller Got the 1st Social Security Check – Number 00-000-001

On January 31, 1940 (Seventy-five years ago) the U.S. government cut a check for then 65-year-old Ida May Fuller. That check was number was 00-000-001 — the first Social Security check to be sent out. Ida Mae lived in Ludlow, Continue reading 75 Years Ago, Ida May Fuller Got the 1st Social Security Check – Number 00-000-001

Philyaw Family Bible Donated to the Onslow County Museum

More than a century ago, near Comfort, John Robert Philyaw wrote his name in his Bible. He added his second wife’s name, Susan Jones Philyaw, and as they were born, the names of their 15 children. Today, the 98 grandchildren, Continue reading Philyaw Family Bible Donated to the Onslow County Museum

Bill Belichick & Pete Carroll Both Have Croatian Roots

A few million of us are awaiting this weekend’s Superbowl with anticipation – myself included. Being a die-hard Seahawks fan for several decades has been hard at times. Life has been good lately. I ran across an interesting tidbit about Continue reading Bill Belichick & Pete Carroll Both Have Croatian Roots

Court to Hear Arguments Dealing With Citizenship of American Samoa Residents

The following excerpt is from an article posted in the January 30, 2015 edition of guampdn.com/: A federal appeals court in the nation’s capital is scheduled to hear oral arguments Feb. 9 in a case related to the citizenship rights Continue reading Court to Hear Arguments Dealing With Citizenship of American Samoa Residents

Portugal Approves Giving Jewish Inquisition Victims’ Descendants Citizenship – #Genealogy

The following teaser is from an article posted in the January 29, 2015 edition of israelnationalnews.com: The Portugese Cabinet on Thursday approved a new law giving dual citizenship to the descendants of the Jews expelled or forcibly converted to Christianity Continue reading Portugal Approves Giving Jewish Inquisition Victims’ Descendants Citizenship – #Genealogy

Family Chronicle Gets a Name Change

According to Ed Zapletal, my friend, and the publisher at Moorshead Magazines Ltd., the venerable Family Chronicle Magazine is getting a name change. Beginning with the March/April 2015 edition, the magazine is titled Your Genealogy Today. The magazine website will Continue reading Family Chronicle Gets a Name Change

Scots-Irish Genealogy Research Bundle of 2 Quick Reference items at 20% Off + a FREE eBook Download!

Scots-Irish research is extremely popular in the United States. It should be, considering that there’s a good chance that if we have colonial ancestry, we may very well have Scots-Irish ancestry. These two quick reference guides – one being Scots-Irish Continue reading Scots-Irish Genealogy Research Bundle of 2 Quick Reference items at 20% Off + a FREE eBook Download!