Ologies with Alie Ward

Genealogy (FAMILY TREES) Encore with Stephen Hands

February 4, 2026

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  • Genealogy research, especially before digitization, heavily relied on 'old school' methods like visiting physical archives to examine microfiche and paper records, such as the National Archives in Seattle for Pacific Northwest history. 
  • The fundamental rule of genealogy is to work backward from what you currently know (present day) to what you do not know (the past), rather than attempting to work forward from unknown ancestors. 
  • The arrival of consumer DNA tests is profoundly impacting genealogy by validating paper trails and uncovering unexpected connections, even revealing that race is a fluid classification, as evidenced by the high likelihood of shared ancestry between individuals of different racial backgrounds. 
  • A casual breakfast conversation led genealogist Stephen Hands to discover a surprising genetic link to his sister-in-law's children through a shared 'Grantham' ancestor, highlighting how genealogy can reveal unexpected family connections across racial lines. 
  • The act of asking questions and documenting details, like a relative's maiden name, is crucial in genealogy, as demonstrated by the discovery that turned a joke about being related into a confirmed fact. 
  • The most frustrating aspect of modern genealogy research is when individuals take DNA tests and share data but fail to respond to outreach from confirmed genetic relatives, undermining the collaborative nature of the field. 
  • Stephen Hands finds the greatest joy in genealogy by tackling 'brick walls'—research dead ends—and successfully breaking through them to uncover new ancestral information. 

Segments

Genealogy Origin and Guest Introduction
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(00:00:59)
  • Key Takeaway: Genealogy derives from the root word ‘gena’ (to give birth to) and is distinct from genetics, focusing on tracing family origins rather than DNA mechanics.
  • Summary: The episode, an encore for Black History Month, introduces genealogist Stephen Hanks, author of 1619 – Twenty Africans. Genealogy is defined as the tracing of family origins, stemming from the root word ‘gena’ (to give birth to), and is separate from genetics, the study of DNA. The guest began his passion for genealogy in 1989 after receiving an obituary listing unknown relatives.
Early Research Methods and Archives
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(00:05:51)
  • Key Takeaway: Early genealogy research in 1989 required traveling to physical locations like the Seattle National Archives to manually search un-digitized records on microfiche.
  • Summary: In 1989, research involved using microfiche readers at archives, necessitating a three-hour drive from Portland to Seattle’s National Archives, which houses records for the Pacific Northwest. A major concern is the potential sale of the Seattle building, which would move records further away, as much of the material remains undigitized. The primary rule for starting research is to work backward from known information to unknown ancestors.
Census Records and Mississippi Discovery
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(00:07:23)
  • Key Takeaway: The 1870 census was the first federal census to list all African Americans as citizens, making records prior to that date significantly harder to trace due to slavery documentation practices.
  • Summary: Stephen Hanks started research with the 1920 census, working backward to find his great-grandparents in Kansas, who had moved from Mississippi. This discovery revealed their history under slavery, a significant shock. The 1890 census was destroyed in a fire, and tracing African American ancestry beyond the 1870 census, the first to list everyone, becomes extremely difficult.
Detective Interests and Career Path
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(00:11:31)
  • Key Takeaway: Stephen Hanks’ early passion for mystery novels, particularly Sherlock Holmes, mirrors the investigative nature required for successful genealogical research.
  • Summary: Hanks enjoyed detective fiction like Sherlock Holmes and James Bond early on, which aligns with the investigative work of genealogy. He attempted to start a business, Genealogical Networking Services, but struggled with clients not paying upfront for research. He eventually found a stable job as a records clerk for a school district, which complements his research skills.
The Aki Tree and Ancestral Quest
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(00:15:10)
  • Key Takeaway: The title The Aki Tree refers to a West African native tree whose fruit, if eaten unripe, causes Jamaican vomiting sickness, symbolizing the painful truths uncovered in deep ancestral research.
  • Summary: The book The Aki Tree took ten years of research and was initially narrative fiction before being revised to nonfiction. Hanks’ goal expanded from learning about his immediate family to tracing roots further back, leading him to discover his ancestors were in Mississippi prior to emancipation. The 1870 census was the first time African Americans were listed as regular citizens following the Civil War.
1619 Africans and Indentured Servitude
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(00:18:49)
  • Key Takeaway: The first 20 Africans arriving in Virginia in 1619 were indentured servants, not slaves, and were free after serving their time before formalized slavery laws were enacted in 1705.
  • Summary: Hanks’ second book details the arrival of 20 Africans in Hampton, Virginia, in 1619, who were taken from a pirate-attacked slave ship and traded for food. These individuals were indentured servants, like English arrivals, and gained freedom after their term, allowing for generations of free African Americans who intermarried with Irish, Native American, and German populations before strict slavery laws solidified.
Emotional Impact of Genealogy and Healing
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(00:27:14)
  • Key Takeaway: Uncovering painful historical truths through genealogy initially causes discomfort because the US has not fully grappled with the period immediately following the end of slavery.
  • Summary: Hanks compares the need to acknowledge historical problems to the first step in addiction recovery: acknowledgment and discussion lead to healing. He suggests America could benefit from a Truth and Reconciliation Commission process similar to South Africa’s to foster understanding and compassion. Genealogists must compartmentalize emotion to focus on the objective history being uncovered.
DNA Testing and Paternal Lineage
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(00:30:29)
  • Key Takeaway: To trace paternal lineage accurately using DNA, females often need a brother or father to take a Y chromosome test, as standard tests primarily highlight maternal lines via mitochondrial DNA.
  • Summary: Stephen Hanks validated DNA technology by finding expected results on 23andMe, but noted that results update as more people join databases, necessitating testing across multiple companies for comprehensive results. Mitochondrial DNA traces the maternal line (Mitochondrial Eve), while Y chromosome testing is necessary to trace the paternal line, which is often obscured by surname changes.
Starting Genealogy Research
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(00:48:41)
  • Key Takeaway: The best starting point for genealogy is interviewing living relatives, documenting names, birth/death locations, and crucially, how grandparents met, as these details provide vital clues for later record searches.
  • Summary: Begin by assembling a family tree on paper, starting with living parents and grandparents, noting locations and marriage details. Always ask older relatives how couples met, as the location of their meeting can reveal where their families originated. Consult the family member who holds historical documents like photos and birth certificates, and ask permission to record interviews.
Adoption and Forensic DNA Use
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(00:53:15)
  • Key Takeaway: Individuals with adopted family members should pursue genealogical research on both the adopted and biological family lines if they feel a desire to know both histories.
  • Summary: For adoptions, it is recommended to trace both the biological and the family that raised the individual, as both histories contribute to one’s overall background. Regarding forensic genealogy, while it offers closure for cold cases, there is an ethical dilemma concerning the privacy of individuals who submit DNA data without consenting to law enforcement searches.
Unexpected Family Discovery
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(01:02:31)
  • Key Takeaway: A casual conversation over breakfast revealed a shared ancestor named Grantham between the host’s family and his sister-in-law’s children, confirming a genetic link found years earlier via a 23andMe test.
  • Summary: The speaker’s sister-in-law’s daughter mentioned her paternal grandmother was ‘Grandma Grantham’ from Jackson, Mississippi. This name matched a surname Stephen Hands had previously encountered in his own research and via a genetic cousin match from a 2011 DNA test. This discovery validated the connection, emphasizing how personal conversation can unlock genealogical puzzles.
Race and Shared Ancestry
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(01:04:07)
  • Key Takeaway: The realization that the newly discovered family connection existed despite the joke about racial differences underscores the fundamental genealogical truth that ‘We are all related.’
  • Summary: Stephen Hands referenced his book, 1619 – Twenty Africans, when noting the initial joke about being related despite racial differences (‘I was black and they were white’). He concluded that learning about genealogy makes everyday conversations more interesting and reinforces that racial classifications are merely superficial classifications.
Black History Month Context
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(01:05:06)
  • Key Takeaway: Black History Month serves as a necessary, though limited, opportunity to educate everyone about history, acknowledge past injustices, and promote healing and unity.
  • Summary: The discussion touched upon the origins of Black History Month, conceived by Carter Woodson and recognized by Gerald Ford, and the need for continuous education beyond a single month. Stephen Hands cited Martin Luther King Jr.’s vision of brotherhood and stressed the importance of embracing one another as a human family, acknowledging the historical mistreatment of both African Americans (since 1619) and Native Americans.
Genealogy Frustrations and Joys
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(01:07:31)
  • Key Takeaway: The most annoying part of genealogy is receiving no reply from a confirmed genetic match who opted to share their DNA data, while the greatest joy is solving a research ‘brick wall.’
  • Summary: Stephen Hands expressed irritation when users provide contact information on DNA sites but refuse to correspond with relatives who reach out. Conversely, he loves the challenge of taking on a research ‘brick wall’—a point where research stalls—and successfully finding the missing information or connection.
Podcast Credits and Secret
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(01:09:50)
  • Key Takeaway: The host shared a personal, slightly thrilling anecdote about trespassing to steal Meyer lemons from an ex-boyfriend’s property years later, confirming the tree still bore fruit.
  • Summary: After thanking the production team, Alie Ward revealed her secret: driving late at night to retrieve Meyer lemons from a tree at an ex-boyfriend’s former apartment complex, finding the tree still heavily laden with fruit years later. She noted that fruit overhanging a fence is technically legal to pick.