A Nation of Descendants

“Genealogy and its use can be quite political in nature. In this latest work, Morgan explores how genealogy in the Unites States has evolved over time, especially with its increased popularity in the 21st century. . . . Recommended for historians and students of information and cultural studies for its expansive overview of a niche field.”—Library Journal

“Morgan does an excellent job of tracing the history of genealogy in the United States over more than two centuries. Her diligent primary source work is invaluable, and her knowledge of applicable secondary sources is itself a treasure to those interested in this topic. Academic historians, genealogists, public historians, and the general public will all find this work useful.”—Public Historian

“A Nation of Descendants provides a long-needed overview of this significant but neglected part of American culture. . . . Hopefully this extensive research will serve as a solid beginning in [the history of American genealogy’s] understanding.”—North Carolina Historical Review

“[Morgan] offers professional genealogists an excellent history of the field while providing a cautionary tale for those pursuing the history of their family.”—Southwestern Historical Quarterly

“Very impressive…this is an important book.”—Honor Sachs, author of Home Rule: Households, Manhood, and National Expansion on the Eighteenth-Century Kentucky Frontier

“Drawing on prodigious archival research, Francesca Morgan traces Americans’ fascination with genealogy from the early republic to the present day.”—Scott E. Casper, President, American Antiquarian Society