Genealogy is a Journey: Finding Family Through Persistence and Community
A New Approach to Genealogy: Building Community through Neighbor History
I’ve been researching my family’s past for a long time, and like many genealogists, I’ve come across my fair share of mysteries. The biggest breakthrough I’ve had didn’t come from a lucky document or chance discovery—it came from staying persistent. Not giving up. That’s the single most valuable strategy I’ve used.
Persistence paid off when I was searching for a great-grandparent who had vanished after the death of his first wife. For years, I found dead ends. Eventually, after exploring different research angles, I discovered he had moved to another country. That led me to uncover his story—and even connect with new cousins.
But not every mystery has been solved. One family history brick wall led me to a new approach altogether: Neighbor History—the idea of researching your ancestor’s neighbors alongside your direct line. While I haven’t cracked that particular mystery yet, the method has yielded remarkable insights. It’s introduced me to new collaborators, broadened my understanding of my ancestors’ world, and helped me build relationships with others on similar journeys. That alone has been worth it.
What makes Neighbor History compelling is that it’s useful for both individual family historians and historical associations. It reframes research as a collaborative process—one that brings together independent scholars, community members, and local organizations to work collectively on shared histories.
The goal isn’t just to find answers, but to publish the work in a way that benefits the wider community. In the process, we connect not only with the people in our ancestors’ lives, but also with neighbors and peers today. That’s the heart of it: using genealogical and historical research to foster modern conversations and connections across generations and communities.
This idea came into sharper focus when I saw a call for speakers at Boston History Camp—an incredible annual gathering where independent historians come together to share their stories. I submitted a proposal built around my own Neighbor History case study. That commitment to present pushed me to refine my ideas, compile my research, and turn it into a presentation—and eventually, a self-published draft book.
At the event, I met people who resonated with the concept. We exchanged contact information and stayed in touch. Some of those early conversations led to deeper collaboration, and the following year, we presented as a team at the next Boston History Camp.
Later, I returned to my local historical association and shared the concept. Their feedback helped me rethink both the book and the idea itself. I realized something fundamental: Neighbor History isn’t just a method for family historians—it can be a powerful tool for historical societies as well.
Think about it. Most local historical associations receive two common types of public inquiries:
Questions about house histories
Questions about family genealogy
While many associations have services and resources for house histories, genealogists are often pointed elsewhere—off to the next library or archive. But Neighbor History bridges that gap. It offers a way for associations to engage genealogists meaningfully: by inviting them into shared research projects that contribute to public interpretation.
In short, it transforms the solitary act of genealogy into a collaborative, community-centered practice.