I started research into my family history over 50 years ago, as part of an 7th grade project; the itch to find out has never left me. I welcome the speed and spread of the internet -- before that it was a matter of making guesses, writing letters to overworked (and possibly annoyed) county clerks or historical societies and hoping to get a positive reply back.

Though I was born in Chicago, I come from a Minnesota family and feel my closest ties to that state.

My lines are: Smith (and what a difficult search that has been!), Ekman (Sweden), Shaleen (Sweden), Wallmark (Sweden), Kuhnau (Germany),Thiele (Germany), Phelan (Ireland). In addition I've done my husband's family links in England where I now live: Kirby, Wood, Coates.

I started research into my family history over 50 years ago, as part of an 7th grade project; the itch to find out has never left me. I welcome the speed and spread of the internet -- before that it was a matter of making guesses, writing letters to overworked (and possibly annoyed) county clerks or historical societies and hoping to get a positive reply back.

Though I was born in Chicago, I come from a Minnesota family and feel my closest ties to that state.

My lines are: Smith (and what a difficult search that has been!), Ekman (Sweden), Shaleen (Sweden), Wallmark (Sweden), Kuhnau (Germany),Thiele (Germany), Phelan (Ireland). In addition I've done my husband's family links in England where I now live: Kirby, Wood, Coates.