A DNA Technique is Finding Women Who Left Their Babies for Dead

Genetic genealogy is identifying the mothers of deceased newborns found abandoned, shedding light on crimes that went unsolved for years. Women now may face lengthy prison sentences for decades-old chapters of their pasts.

News
See Historical Records Documenting the Pope’s Creole Roots in New Orleans

The documents, including census records, baptismal rolls and marriage certificates, trace the story of Pope Leo’s mother’s family and their diverse background before moving to Chicago.

News
Pope Leo XIV’s Creole Roots Tell a Story of New Orleans

“This is like a reward from God,” a local parishioner said, as researchers unearthed more details about the lives of Leo XIV’s ancestors in the heart of the city’s Afro-Caribbean culture.

News
To Identify Suspect in Idaho Killings, F.B.I. Used Restricted Consumer DNA Data

New records show that the F.B.I. identified Bryan Kohberger as a potential murder suspect after tapping consumer databases that were supposed to be off limits.

News
Discovering Family Roots in Brooklyn Slavery

“Trace/s,” an exhibition at the Center for Brooklyn History, highlights the borough’s neglected story of slavery — and the Black genealogists helping to unearth it.

News
Jimmy Carter and Motown Founder Berry Gordy’s Surprising Connection

According to a detailed family history compiled by one of the former president’s sons, the two men shared a common ancestor in 19th-century Georgia.

News
How to Trace Your Ancestry Using Your Phone’s Free Tools

Everyday tools and free apps on your mobile device can help you collect, translate and digitize new material for your family-tree files.

News