Ologies with Alie Ward Genealogy (FAMILY TREES) Encore with Stephen Hands
6 snips
Feb 4, 2026 Stephen Hanks, genealogist and author who uncovers early African American family histories. He talks about starting research with obituaries and census records. He explores tracing enslaved ancestors, using DNA to confirm lines, detective-style sleuthing in archives, surprising cross-racial family links, and the emotional work of confronting and healing from the past.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
From Obituary To Lifelong Quest
- Stephen Hanks discovered his grandparents on 1920 census microfilm after driving to Seattle's National Archives.
- That obituary letter from a cousin sparked his three-decade genealogy career and detective-style research.
Start With What You Know
- Work your way back from what you know to what you don't know when researching family history.
- Avoid starting with unknown ancestors because you won't know the correct path of inquiry.
Meeting Descendants At The Old Plantation
- Stephen drove to Duck Hill, Mississippi, met descendants of the family his ancestors worked for, and visited plantation sites and cemeteries.
- That 1994 meeting unlocked more generations and records, letting him trace ancestors back to the 1730s.
