Descent Detective

Ken Salazar's History Colorado contributions shine light on Borderlands - History Colorado ❤️❤️❤️

Ken Salazar embodies southern Colorado history. He just gave boxes of it to History Colorado’s Borderlands project. Ken Salazar embodies southern Colorado history. He just gave boxes of it to History Colorado’s Borderlands project.

🧐 Did you know census records can uncover more than names and ages? Look closely, and you might spot an unexpected family member - or a missing one!
In this case, the wife, whose name is missing, was not the mother of the children and had only been in the household for less than a year. The husband or the wife would have easily known her name and age. But what about the children? While it is possible that the youngest daughter might not know how old her stepmother was, she most definitely was old enough to know where she was born. While the 1920 census doesn't ask if the children were in school, we can assume that no one was at home and that a neighbor provided the information on this household. So, how much weight do we give this evidence in our analysis?

What’s the most surprising find you’ve uncovered in a census record?

More than margaritas and mariachi, Cinco de Mayo commemorates the 1862 Mexican victory at the Battle of Puebla—a moment of resistance, pride, and resilience.

For many families, especially in the American Southwest, it’s also a day to celebrate cultural heritage and honor the stories of those who came before.

🌿 If you're exploring Mexican or Hispanic family history, start with oral histories, church records, and local traditions—they’re often the keys to the past.

🍌✨ Happy National DNA Day! ✨🍌

Did you know we share over 60% of our DNA with bananas? 🍌 That means your great-great-grandmother and a bunch of fruit have more in common than you’d think! 😆

But it’s that other 40%—the twists and turns of your unique genetic code—that holds the clues to your family’s story. From eye color to health traits to the deep roots of your ancestry, your DNA is a living link to the past.

What surprising family traits or connections have you discovered through DNA? 🧬🍌👇