Ancestry can match your ancestor's life details to curated newspaper collections and bring relevant results directly to their profile page. Instead of searching on your own, you'll see a recommendation tile that connects you to local events, milestones, and personal details from your ancestor's life.
This feature is currently available using a browser only.
Get started
- You need an Ancestry account. Registered users and subscribers can see the recommendation tile.
- To view newspaper article content, you need any Ancestry Membership to view the index and a Newspapers.com or All Access Membership to view the newspaper image.
- Your ancestor's profile must include timeline facts like birth dates, death dates, and locations.
- Stories and Events collections are currently available for ancestors connected to the United States, Canada, England, Wales, Scotland, Ireland, and Australia.
How to use newspaper search recommendations
The recommendation tile appears in the Sources column on your ancestor's Person Page when their timeline facts match an available collection.
View recommended newspaper results
- Go to an ancestor's Person Page in your tree.
- Look in the Sources column for a "Hint Through Headlines" recommendation tile below your saved sources. The tile appears when your ancestor's dates and locations match an available newspaper collection.
- Select the recommendation tile. A search results page opens with results from the matching newspaper collections. The search is already filled in with your ancestor's name, dates, and locations.
- Browse the search results to find articles about your ancestor's life.
![An Ancestry family tree profile page with a highlighted suggested box that says, Hunt through the headlines, see if Oliver’s story awaits in Newspapers.com.”> <h1><br>Refine your search</h1> <p><br>You can adjust the pre-filled search to narrow or broaden your results.</p> <p> </p> <ol> <li>On the search results page, select the edit icon (pencil). An overlay opens with the name, dates, and places used in the search.</li> <li>Update any of the fields — you can change the name, dates, or locations.</li> <li>Select <strong>Search</strong> to run the updated search. New results appear based on your changes.</li> </ol> <p>[Screenshot: Edit overlay with pre-populated name, date, and location fields]</p> <h1><br>Dismiss a recommendation</h1> <p><br>If a recommendation isn't helpful, you can remove it.</p> <p> </p> <ol> <li>Select <strong>Dismiss</strong> on the recommendation tile. The tile is removed from the Sources column.</li> <li>If your ancestor matches other collections, a new recommendation tile may appear automatically.</li> </ol> <h2><br>Tips</h2> <ul> <li><strong>Add dates and places to your ancestor's profile.</strong> The more timeline facts you include, the more likely recommendations will appear. Birth dates, death dates, and locations all help the system find matches.</li> <li><strong>This feature does not use AI.</strong> Recommendations are based on rule-based matching between your ancestor's timeline and available newspaper collections.</li> <li><strong>Recommendations won't appear for every ancestor.</strong> The tile only shows when your ancestor's life details match an available collection and the person lived past age 18.</li> </ul> <p> </p> <h1>Frequently asked questions</h1> <p><br><strong>Does this appear for every person in my tree?</strong><br>No. The recommendation tile only appears when an ancestor's timeline facts (dates and locations) match an available Stories and Events collection. The person must also have lived past age 18.</p> <p><strong>Do I need a membership to use this?</strong><br>You can see the recommendation tile with any Ancestry account. To view the full newspaper content, index records and images, you need a <a href=](https://www.ancestrycdn.com/support/images/newspaper1.png)
Refine your search
You can adjust the pre-filled search to narrow or broaden your results.
- On the search results page, select the edit icon (pencil). An overlay opens with the name, dates, and places used in the search.
- Update any of the fields — you can change the name, dates, or locations.
- Select Search to run the updated search. New results appear based on your changes.
Dismiss a recommendation
If a recommendation isn't helpful, you can remove it.
- Select Dismiss on the recommendation tile. The tile is removed from the Sources column.
- If your ancestor matches other collections, a new recommendation tile may appear automatically.
Tips
- Add dates and places to your ancestor's profile. The more timeline facts you include, the more likely recommendations will appear. Birth dates, death dates, and locations all help the system find matches.
- This feature does not use AI. Recommendations are based on rule-based matching between your ancestor's timeline and available newspaper collections.
- Recommendations won't appear for every ancestor. The tile only shows when your ancestor's life details match an available collection and the person lived past age 18.
Frequently asked questions
Does this appear for every person in my tree?
No. The recommendation tile only appears when an ancestor's timeline facts (dates and locations) match an available Stories and Events collection. The person must also have lived past age 18.
Do I need a membership to use this?
You can see the recommendation tile with any Ancestry account. To view the full newspaper content, index records and images, you need a Newspapers.com or All Access Membership.
What are Stories and Events collections?
These are curated sets of newspaper articles organized around local events, milestones, and everyday life in specific communities. They help you find the stories that shaped your ancestor's daily life.
Can I edit the search after selecting the tile?
Yes. Select the edit icon (pencil) on the search results page. An overlay opens where you can change the name, dates, or locations, then re-run the search.
What happens if I dismiss the recommendation?
The current tile is hidden. If your ancestor matches other collections, a different recommendation may appear in its place.
Does this use AI?
No. This feature uses rule-based matching. It compares your ancestor's timeline facts to available newspaper collections, no artificial intelligence is involved.
What if my ancestor lived in multiple places?
The system searches across multiple collections at once. If your ancestor's timeline includes several locations that match different collections, the search covers all of them.