Megan Smolenyak, Author at Megan Smolenyak

5 Things You Didn’t Know about Melissa McCarthy’s Family Tree
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5 Things You Didn’t Know about Melissa McCarthy’s Family Tree

Celebrities, Family History, Human Interest, Research

5 Things You Didn’t Know about Melissa McCarthy’s Family Tree

By Megan Smolenyak|2016-07-14T12:55:48-04:00July 14th, 2016|Celebrities, Family History, Human Interest, Research|

Easily one of the most popular and reliable box office performers today, actress, comedian, producer, and now fashion designer Melissa McCarthy has a lot to be proud of. Following a string of hits, she’s now part of the long-anticipated Ghostbusters dream team of Leslie Jones, Kate McKinnon, and Kristen Wiig. While they’re all ghostbusting, I thought I’d do a little ghost-searching – that is, for the ancestors who populate McCarthy’s family tree – and here’s what I learned.

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Genealogy Roundup, July 13

By Megan Smolenyak|2016-07-13T17:41:51-04:00July 13th, 2016|Celebrities, Family History, Genealogy Roundup, History, Human Interest|

This week we rounded up an analysis of and tribute to Lin-Manuel Miranda, incredible trompe l’oeil facades in France, an 86-year-old grandmother celebrating her birthday with her 86th great-grandchild, and much more . . .

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Genealogy Roundup, July 6
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Genealogy Roundup, July 6

Celebrities, Genealogy Roundup

Genealogy Roundup, July 6

By Megan Smolenyak|2016-07-06T12:16:07-04:00July 6th, 2016|Celebrities, Genealogy Roundup|

This week's Roundup explores the Barack Obama Plaza in Moneygall, Ireland, a project which was one of the largest single investments in a decade in Ireland’s Midlands region and has become the main job provider for the village, as well as the largest employer for miles around.

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Genealogy Roundup, June 29
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Genealogy Roundup, June 29

Celebrities, Family History, Genealogy Roundup, History, Human Interest

Genealogy Roundup, June 29

By Megan Smolenyak|2016-06-29T10:27:36-04:00June 29th, 2016|Celebrities, Family History, Genealogy Roundup, History, Human Interest|

In this week's Roundup, check out the story of a "quiet and self-effacing" Marine who chose to stay silent about his role in the 1945 flag raising on Iwo Jima, quirky and interesting stories about microfilm and time capsule homes, more on VP Biden's visit to Ireland, and more . . .

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Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Revolutionary Ancestors
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Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Revolutionary Ancestors

Celebrities, Family History, History, Human Interest

Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Revolutionary Ancestors

By Megan Smolenyak|2024-09-18T15:55:22-04:00June 27th, 2016|Celebrities, Family History, History, Human Interest|

In climbing the branches of Lin-Manuel Miranda's family tree, I found myself following the trail of an early nineteenth century, interracial love story, peppered by war and rebellion, all interwoven with a decades-long struggle to outrun slavery that began in Virginia and ultimately unfolded under a handful of flags even though most of it occurred in one place – Nacogdoches.

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Q2 2016 Seton Shields Genealogy Grant: Cecilia Chien, West Chester, PA
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Q2 2016 Seton Shields Genealogy Grant: Cecilia Chien, West Chester, PA

Family History, Grants

Q2 2016 Seton Shields Genealogy Grant: Cecilia Chien, West Chester, PA

By Megan Smolenyak|2016-06-23T09:57:20-04:00June 23rd, 2016|Family History, Grants|

Cecilia Chien was told by her father that her family was descended from a king of the 10th century. She began investigating her roots in 2002 and discovered that she is a 38th generation descendant of King Chien (852-932) who founded a prosperous kingdom in the Yangzi delta. Her goal is to write an account, “1,000 Years of a Chinese Family,” an odyssey back to the land of her parents. She will be visiting China this year to further her research. Cecilia requested and received funding to cover half of her round-trip airfare to Shanghai for her fieldwork.

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Genealogy Roundup, June 22

By Megan Smolenyak|2016-06-22T11:06:21-04:00June 22nd, 2016|Celebrities, Family History, Genealogy Roundup|

This week's Roundup serves up a look at VP Biden's tri-generational trip to Ireland, a dramatic chapter from the 1830's that continues to send ripples into the present, the demise of cursive, and more.

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Q2 2016 Seton Shields Genealogy Grant: Terry Cemetery Fund, Victor, WV
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Q2 2016 Seton Shields Genealogy Grant: Terry Cemetery Fund, Victor, WV

Family History, Grants, Human Interest

Q2 2016 Seton Shields Genealogy Grant: Terry Cemetery Fund, Victor, WV

By Megan Smolenyak|2016-06-20T13:49:41-04:00June 20th, 2016|Family History, Grants, Human Interest|

Becky Shuff, one of the Q2 2016 Seton Shields Genealogy Grant recipients, undertook the role of caretaker for Terry Cemetery in Victor, WV. She was approved by a local correctional facility for the provision of six inmates and one guard to help with the upkeep of this cemetery, with her responsibility being the provision of equipment and meals for the inmates and guard. So for the first time ever, this grant is for a lawnmower.

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Q2 2016 Seton Shields Genealogy Grant: Daughters of Zion Cemetery, Charlottesville, VA
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Q2 2016 Seton Shields Genealogy Grant: Daughters of Zion Cemetery, Charlottesville, VA

Family History, Grants

Q2 2016 Seton Shields Genealogy Grant: Daughters of Zion Cemetery, Charlottesville, VA

By Megan Smolenyak|2016-06-16T10:16:22-04:00June 16th, 2016|Family History, Grants|

The goal of The Preservers of the Daughters of Zion Cemetery, one of the Q2 2016 Seton Shields Genealogy Grant recipients, is to restore and preserve a historic African American burial ground. The grant will be used to assist in repairing a damaged grave marker.

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Genealogy Roundup, June 15
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Genealogy Roundup, June 15

Celebrities, Genealogy Roundup, History, Human Interest, Research, Videos

Genealogy Roundup, June 15

By Megan Smolenyak|2016-06-15T10:17:01-04:00June 15th, 2016|Celebrities, Genealogy Roundup, History, Human Interest, Research, Videos|

This week: Explore a mystery mansion for sale in London, watch a suspense trailer for the New York Public Library (somebody had fun making this and it's fun to watch, too!), TLC announces that Who Do You Think You Are? will return for a ninth season, and much more . . .

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