Poet Elizabeth Alexander, who composed and read the poem at President Barack Obama's inauguration, chef Mario Batali, comedian Stephen Colbert, novelist Louise Erdrich, writer Malcolm Gladwell, cellist Yo-Yo Ma, film director Mike Nichols, Her Royal Highness Queen Noor, actress Eva Longoria Parker, actress Meryl Streep and figure skater Kristi Yamaguchi will all appear in a new PBS television series FACES OF AMERICA airing in the U.S. next month. Hosted by Harvard scholar Henry Louis Gates Jr. of African American Lives and African American Lives Two, Faces of America turns again to the latest tools of genealogy and genetics to explore the family histories of 11 renowned Americans.

The Faces of America series airs Wednesdays, February 10 - March 3, 2010 from 8:00-9:00 p.m. ET on PBS and includes the following four episodes: Read more...

I often receive emails from people who love genealogy research (hard to resist, isn't it?) and want to know how to go about turning their passion into profit. Yes, it is possible to earn a living doing what you love (I do!), but it takes a bit more than just hanging out your shingle. Learn how to start your own genealogy business with these simple steps.

In 2009 I organized some of my genealogy files, continued to scan some of my old family photos and slides, took a few online genealogy classes, attended a genealogy conference, and collected new information from a few of my relatives. My goals for 2010 include more of all of the above (don't they always?), plus there's a family history book I'd really like to get finished for my Koth relatives (still on my list from the last several years), some more family history items I'd like to rescue from antique stores to return to their owners, and a new goal this year of collecting DNA from my older living relatives. Plus, I'd really like to finally find the time to apply for certification through the Board for Certification of Genealogists. Which of these genealogy resolutions are on your list for 2010?

Whether it's looking at old pictures, listening to stories of elderly relatives, or the fact that someone got you a genealogy software program for Christmas, the holidays are a popular time for people to first become interested in tracing their roots - making genealogy a popular January resolution. For those of you relatively new to the hobby of genealogy, How to Get Started With Your Family Tree provides the basic steps to start you on your family tree adventure. For more genealogy basics, including a variety of tutorials, free family tree charts, and genealogy software reviews, visit Genealogy 101.