Ancestors on the Move: Migration from Farms to Cities, 1870–1920

In this engaging webinar, professional genealogist Annette Burke Lyttle explores a pivotal yet often overlooked migration pattern in American history: the movement from farms to cities between 1870 and 1920. While genealogists frequently focus on westward expansion, this session highlights how millions of Americans—and newly arrived immigrants—shifted to urban centers in search of opportunity. Through a combination of historical context, case studies, and research strategies, Lyttle demonstrates how understanding this migration enriches family history and uncovers valuable records that tell the real stories of ancestors’ lives.

Key Takeaways:

• Economic Push and Pull Factors: Financial crises, droughts, falling crop prices, and mechanization drove farmers and tradesmen away from rural livelihoods. At the same time, industrialization, technological advances, and factory jobs pulled millions into cities, reshaping families and communities.

• Researching Urban Ancestors: Beyond vital and census records, resources such as city directories, want ads, union archives, church registers, Sanborn fire insurance maps, and newspapers can reveal ancestors’ occupations, neighborhoods, and even working conditions. Lyttle illustrates this with a detailed case study of a Pittsburgh bricklayer, showing how layered sources tell a fuller story.

• Social History and Daily Life: Tenement living, factory dangers, child labor, and union activity were defining features of urban life. By examining contemporary reports, photographs, and accident statistics, genealogists can gain insights into the challenges and resilience of ancestors who left the farm for city streets.

This webinar is a valuable resource for anyone tracing families during this transformative era. Viewing the full session offers deeper insights into methodology, case studies, and record sets that can enhance genealogical research. Attendees are encouraged to explore the rich array of additional resources provided in the syllabus, which expand on strategies and collections introduced in the presentation.