<< How to Learn Your Ancestor's Occupation
Visit your ancestor's hometown. Especially in cases where a lot of residents of a town held the same job (a coal mining town, for example), a visit to the town can offer the chance to interview older residents and learn some great stories about day-to-day life. Follow up with the local historical or genealogical society for even more information, and look for local museums and displays. I learned much about what life was probably like for my great-grandfather through a visit to the Frank & Sylvia Pasquerilla Heritage Discover Center in Johnstown, PA, which re-creates what life was like for the Eastern European immigrants who settled the area between 1880 and 1914.
Look for professional membership societies, unions, or other trade organizations related to your ancestor's occupation. Current members can be a great source of historical information, and they may also maintain records on the occupation, and even past members.
