Background Image

“Everything is relative except relatives,
and they are absolute.”

-Alfred Steiglitz

Family history is a way to bring our ancestors to life.

This blog details my journey as a genealogist and is a means to record my notes, recent discoveries, and the stories of my ancestors. The goal of Relatively is to inspire other family historians to preserve and share their own family stories.

RECENT POSTS

collage of Viola and her vital records

Viola’s Vital Records Vitally Misleading

Vital records are often the first documents researchers turn to when investigating family history. These records are crucial to genealogical research because they document significant…

Harold Ewart's passport photo

Just the Facts: Harold Ewart

A brief look at the life of my maternal grandfather, Harold Ewart (1915-1917), merchant mariner of Brooklyn, New York.

Desiree at Christmas with safari outfit.

On the Hunt for that Holiday Spirit

Now that the holidays are here, it’s hard to shake the feeling that something’s missing. I’m sitting on my patio in sunny Florida, everything’s green,…

1950 Census Enumeration Map

Mom and Dad in the 1950 U.S. Census

Every ten years, the U.S. Census Bureau conducts a federal census to gather the names and other details of every person living in the country.…

James Joseph McKnight

Poppy

On my last trip to New York, I visited a family member whom I hadn’t seen in a long time. Before I left, she handed…

Carlton Hendrickson

Memories of Dad

Ten years ago today my father Carlton Hendrickson passed away. Instead of remembering his death, I would much rather remember some of the things that…

Subscribe

Stay up to date. Receive an email when a new blog post is published.