She's hit a problem common to a lot of people. At Family History Day, there will be basic classes on searching Scandinavian, English, Hispanic, German and African American roots. A lot of African American families have trouble tracing anything before 1870. It's really fascinating because you're not just looking at names, you're getting a history lesson. They're history lessons that also can help verify or dispel family lore.
Every family has stories.
Tales, passed down from generation to generation, about distant relatives. Mary Anne Smith heard such a story. And she decided to see if it was true. For as long as she can remember, Smith heard about a great-grandfather who was part of the team that rescued the Donner Party. For years, she looked for documentation but couldn't find anything.