I don’t know if this is true for everyone, but I have found that searching out my family’s genealogy invariably leads me to questions of obscure history.  I want to know why so many branches of family were migrating from Vermont to Pennsylvania in the same three decades.

My genealogy experience also lead me to another slightly crazy, if I do say so myself, project trying to trace the history and popularity of the name LeEtta.  I mapped it out with publicly available census’ and did the math to find that no, the increase in LeEttas was not simply in line with the general population increase.  All of this lead me, again, to the question: why are these people and cultures migrating the way that they do.

I can’t say that I’ve got the whole answer (regarding my Vermont ancestors or the LeEttas), but I did find a fabulous resource along the way.  The Animated Atlas of American History does a lot to clarify some of the why and how, and it moves and speaks to me, which I really like.  It reminds me of junior high and history timelines and bright colors.