For more than twenty-five years, Barbara J. Starmans, PLCGS has been researching her own family history and doing research for clients. She is an instructor at the National Institute for Genealogical Studies in Toronto, Canada, and contributes regularly to such publications as Who Do You Think You Are? Magazine, Family Tree Magazine and Discover Your Ancestors. Visit her online at thesocialhistorian.com, a longform story website featuring social history themed articles from across the centuries and around the world.