Tracing Ancestors — A 501c3 Dedicated to Serving Your Community
Every Family Has a Story.
Tracing Ancestors is a Kansas City-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to preserving American military history, family records, and community heritage to provide a better understanding of our past.
Our mission is to restore names, stories, and dignity to families whose histories were erased, overlooked, or forgotten.
We are a nonprofit organization based in Kansas City, Missouri. Through genealogy research, military history, and community partnerships, we give families the evidence they need to reclaim their heritage.
Preserve the Records
Digitizing and safeguarding birth certificates, military records, and family documents that might otherwise be lost forever.
Honor Military Service
Uncovering the stories of soldiers and veterans — from the Revolutionary War through modern conflicts — whose service and sacrifice deserve to be remembered and honored.
Connect Families to Their Past
Providing the research tools, books, and community resources that help families discover who they are and where they come from.
Books & Historical Records
Behind the Uniform
Every Soldier Has A Story
by Kathleen R. Brandt
Behind the Uniform is a comprehensive 416-page guide for genealogists and family historians seeking to uncover the records and stories that extend beyond a veteran's name, rank, and service dates. Packed with real-world…
Dr. A. Porter Davis
Birth Record Preservation Series · KCK & KCMO
Dr. A. Porter Davis was a prominent historical leader in Kansas City, Kansas and Kansas City, Missouri. Tracing Ancestors was donated a collection of birth certificate records connected to his life and work — 81 documents spanning 1920–1962 — which we are preserving and making searchable as a local genealogical project. Additional records, including adoption papers, are forthcoming.
Discover His StoryWhere Your Support Goes
Every donation directly funds one of three program areas that form the core of our work.
Education & Research
Funding education and research projects that allow for deeper analysis of family histories — connecting communities to the records that tell their story.
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Military & Veterans
The Eternal Valor Network (EVN) is a collaborative consortium committed to preserving the memory of military service — working with community organizations, state agencies, and veteran advocacy groups.
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Technology & Infrastructure
Donations help fund the technology and infrastructure that powers our research databases, website, and digital preservation efforts.
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Help Us Keep These Stories Alive
As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, Tracing Ancestors depends entirely on the generosity of people who believe that every family deserves to know their history. Your donation funds research, digitization, education, and community programs.
All donations are tax deductible.
Fee-free ways to give
Our Partners & Programs
The organizations and resources we collaborate with to advance genealogy education and research.
a3Genealogy
Kathleen Brandt's genealogy blog — a go-to resource for family history tips, research strategies, and insights from one of the most respected voices in the genealogy community.
Visit the Blog
Hittin' The Bricks
A DIY educational genealogy podcast produced by Tracing Ancestors and a3Genealogy volunteers. Hittin' the Bricks with Kathleen takes listeners from foundational research skills to challenging brick-wall cases, using real questions, records, and research strategies.
Listen to the Podcast
DNA for Genealogists
A free resource for anyone wanting to stay current on the technical side of DNA genealogy. Curating articles and how-to guides in one accessible spot.
Explore DNA ResourcesHittin' the Bricks with Kathleen
Contact Us
Drop us a line!