Who are we, and where do we come from? The fundamental drive to answer these questions is at the heart of Finding Your Roots, the companion book to the hit PBS documentary series. As scholar Henry Louis Gates Jr. clearly demonstrates, the tools of cutting-edge genomics and deep genealogical research now allow us to learn more about our roots and look further back in time than ever before. In the second season, Gates's investigation takes on the personal and genealogical histories of more than twenty luminaries, including Ken Burns, Stephen King, Derek Jeter, Governor Deval Patrick, Valerie Jarrett, and Sally Field. As Gates interlaces these moving stories of immigration, assimilation, strife, and success, he provides practical information for amateur genealogists just beginning archival research on their own families' roots and details the advances in genetic research now available to the public. The result is an illuminating exploration of who we are, how we lost track of our roots, and how we can find them again.

Finding Oprah’s Roots will not only endow readers with a new appreciation for the key contributions made by history’s unsung but also equip them with the tools to connect to pivotal figures in their own past. A roadmap through the intricacies of public documents and online databases, the book also highlights genetic testing resources that can make it possible to know one’s distant tribal roots in Africa. For Oprah, the path back to the past was emotion-filled and profoundly illuminating, connecting the narrative of her family to the larger American narrative and “anchoring” her in a way not previously possible. For the reader, Finding Oprah’s Roots offers the possibility of an equally rewarding experience.

The distinguished scholar examines the origins and history of African-American ancestry as he profiles nineteen noted African Americans and illuminates their individual family sagas throughout U.S. history.

The acclaimed genealogist and New York Times–bestselling author reveals how she solved some of the most fascinating mysteries of family lineage. Part forensic scientist, part master sleuth, Megan Smolenyak has a unique way of digging up our historical roots. She discovered Barack Obama’s Irish ancestry—and his relation to Brad Pitt. She revealed the true story of Ellis Island’s first immigrant, Annie Moore. And she shed light on a startling link between politicians Al Sharpton and Strom Thurmond. In Hey America, Your Roots Are Showing, the “Indiana Jones of genealogy” reveals how she cracked these and other news-making cases. Along the way, she shares her own story of becoming genealogy’s celebrity face. She even explains why her name is squared (Buzzy Jackson, author of Shaking the Family Tree). Whether she's scouring websites to uncover the surprising connections between famous figures or using cutting-edge DNA tests to locate family members of fallen soldiers dating back to the Civil War, Smolenyak's historical sleuthing is as provocative, richly layered, and exciting as America itself. “Megan is a genealogist's dream, a forensic investigator who can also tell a great story.” —Sam Roberts, The New York Times

A librarian and authority on genealogical research offers advice and encouragement to those who are eager to uncover their family history in this guidebook. Getting started, research techniques, interviewing tips, and effective use of the library and internet are all discussed in detail in this book that is ideal for beginners and novices. The benefits and importance of genealogical research are also explored. Also included is a discussion on how a person's own identity is linked to their ancestors, and knowledge of forebearers can contribute to a sense of security and family pride that is missing in many mobile and disjointed modern families. Showing how a soundly researched family history can also enhance an individual’s understanding of war, hardship, and larger historical events, this work grants insight into the personality traits and health issues of one’s descendants.

Accompanied by step-by-step instructions, a comprehensive guide shows readers how to identify, locate, and interpret land records in order to trace their early ancestors.

This rich and challenging book explores the roots or ancestry of the Churches of Christ and others who stand as heirs to the Stone-Campbell movement of the early nineteenth century. It asks, Where did we come from? How did we get this way? Why do we read the Bible the way we do? What has been the heart of our movement? And it asks further, What can we learn from those who have viewed restoration of apostolic Christianity in ways quite different from our own? The authors begin their story in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries - the age of Renaissance and Reformation. They isolate the stream of restorationist thought that arose in that age and then follow that stream through the Puritans, the early Baptists in America, the frenzy of pure beginnings in the early decades of American nationhood, and down to the Stone-Campbell movement.