Recent Blog Posts

The Amazing Women in Stephen Colbert’s Family Tree

Did I know anything about Stephen Colbert’s roots? Luckily for him, I had two hundred years of family history at the ready.

Genealogy Roundup, June 10

In this week's roundup, a WWII hero identified, the impact of France’s commercial DNA test ban, and more!

Genealogy Roundup, June 3

In this week's roundup, National Genealogy Hall of Fame recipients, John Grenham's Ireland research tool gets an upgrade, and more!

Genealogy Roundup, May 27

In this week's roundup, honoring our identified heroes this Memorial Day, a podcast featuring Reclaim the Records, how a DNA test solved a 75-year-old mystery, and more!

Megan Smolenyak²

Megan Smolenyak² is a real life history detective who loves to solve mysteries. You might have spotted Megan or her handiwork on Top Chef, Who Do You Think You Are?, Finding Your Roots, Faces of America, Good Morning America, the Today Show, The Early Show, CNN, PBS and NPR.

Her news-making discoveries include uncovering Michelle Obama’s family tree, revealing the true story of Annie Moore, the first immigrant through Ellis Island, and tracing Barack Obama’s roots to Moneygall, Ireland. Formerly Chief Family Historian for Ancestry.com, she also founded Unclaimed Persons.

Megan is the author of 6 books, including Hey, America, Your Roots Are Showing and Who Do You Think You Are? (companion to the TV series), and conducts forensic research for the Army, BIA, coroners, NCIS and the FBI.