Karin Wulf, "Lineage: Genealogy and the Power of Connection in Early America" (Oxford UP, 2025)

Jan 27, 2026

Karin Wulf, historian of early America who studies women, families, and politics. She explores how eighteenth-century genealogy shaped law, slavery, religion, commerce, and mourning. Short stories about Quaker recordkeeping, transatlantic family business ties, and how lineage continued to matter after the Revolution.

Ask episode

AI Snips

Chapters

Books

Transcript

Episode notes

INSIGHT

Bible, King, And Common Law Framework

Early American genealogy was shaped by Protestant religion, British monarchy, and common law rather than being a timeless universal practice.
Karin Wulf calls this framework "Bible, King, and common law" to explain genealogical priorities in the 18th century.

INSIGHT

Institutions Made Genealogy Essential

Genealogical practice drew on biblical models, legal inheritance rules, and monarchical succession to prioritize certain relationships.
These institutions made genealogy both emotionally meaningful and functionally essential in property and status claims.

INSIGHT

Context Determines Which Kin Matter

Genealogies record different relationships depending on context: law emphasizes patrilineal inheritance while slavery enforces matrilineal status.
Wulf highlights how the same genealogical system supported privilege for some and bondage for others.

Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode

Get the app

In eighteenth-century America, genealogy was more than a simple record of family ties—it was a powerful force that shaped society. Lineage: Genealogy and the Power of Connection in Early America (Oxford UP, 2025) by Dr. Karin Wulf delves into an era where individuals, families, and institutions meticulously documented their connections. Whether driven by personal passion or mandated by churches, local governments, and courts, these records appeared in diverse forms-from handwritten notes and account books to intricate silk threads and enduring stone carvings.
Family connections wielded significant influence across governmental, legal, religious, cultural, and social spheres. In the American context, these ties also defined the boundaries of slavery and freedom, with a child\'s status often determined by their mother, despite the prevailing patriarchy. This book reveals the profound importance of genealogy that was chronicled by family records, cultural artifacts, and court documents. These materials, created by both enslaved individuals seeking freedom and founding fathers seeking status, demonstrate the culturally and historically specific nature of genealogical interest.
Even as the American Revolution transformed society, the significance of genealogy endured. The legacy of lineage from the colonial period continued to shape the early United States, underscoring the enduring importance of family connections. Lineage offers a deep understanding of genealogy as a foundational element of American history, illuminating its vital role from the colonial era through the birth of the nation.

This interview was conducted by Dr. Miranda Melcher whose book focuses on post-conflict military integration, understanding treaty negotiation and implementation in civil war contexts, with qualitative analysis of the Angolan and Mozambican civil wars. You can find Miranda’s interviews on New Books with Miranda Melcher, wherever you get your podcasts.

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Support our show by becoming a premium member! https://newbooksnetwork.supportingcast.fm/new-books-network