Suncoast Genealogy Society – Last minute reminder that I’ll be talking #genealogy – in person for the first time in a long time! – this Saturday (Nov 22nd) in Palm Harbor, FL! Hope you can join us!

Photo: Robert LeRoy Knudsen, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

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Thinking of my grandfather, James V Shields, today and pulled up this letter he wrote home from France during WWI. Never spoke of his service in later days, so feel very fortunate to have this trace. He’s the fellow standing in the middle in the photo. #VeteransDay

New Jersey State Archives – For those with NJ roots! #genealogy

Suncoast Genealogy Society – Just a reminder that I’ll be talking #genealogy – in person for the first time in a long time! – on Nov 22nd in Palm Harbor, FL! Hope you can join us!

Photo: Osioni, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons

The post Genealogy Roundup, November 12 appeared first on Megan Smolenyak.

NGS Culture Conversation with Michael O’Malley – This upcoming NGS talk caused me to run out and snag the book.

Photo Credit: Caroline Davis2 under Creative Commons license

The post Genealogy Roundup, October 15 appeared first on Megan Smolenyak.

We Assist Slovak-Americans & Rusyn-Americans to Reconnect with Their Roots – For my fellow Rusyn- and/or Slovak-Americans! If you need help in Slovakia with genealogy research (in archives or on-site in your villages of origin), finding your cousins, with translations, getting photos/videos of your family homestead, tombstones, etc., I can HIGHLY recommend Martin Hyross!

He’s a recently retired business executive who has been SO helpful with my efforts in Slovakia, especially on the two occasions when we brought 40 Americans who had roots in Osturňa over there. He worked side by side with me on the world’s first geographical genetic genealogy project, serving as an actual translator, but more to the point, a cultural translator. He also helped with all the troubleshooting that comes along with large group travel in a foreign country (this person missing their flight, that car accident, this person going in the hospital, etc.).

I promise that if you’ve been thinking of hiring someone on the ground in Slovakia, you’ll be more than happy if you choose to work with Martin!

Weird Relative At Family Reunion Knows How Everyone Related To Each Other – #Genealogy

PFC Vincent A. Vega – For reasons alluded to in this obituary, this family was daunting to find. Welcome home, PFC Vincent Angelo Vega. #KoreanWar #Hero

Photo by Barefoot Beach Designs on Unsplash

The post Genealogy Roundup, October 8 appeared first on Megan Smolenyak.

“I, Genealogist”: Using First-Person Voice in Family History Narratives (members only) – I found this article by Sunny Morton on the use of the first person in genealogy in National Genealogical Society’s Magazine really interesting as I wrestled with this when writing “The Quest for Annie Moore of Ellis Island.”

Top Image Credit: EpicTop10.com under Creative Commons license

The post Genealogy Roundup, July 16 appeared first on Megan Smolenyak.

I Was Mortified When I Found Out My Parents Are Cousins but They Don’t Seem To Care – Kind of surprised people are still getting surprised by this stuff. Kissing cousins are so much more common than many grasp.

Supercentenarian and remarkable age records exhibit patterns indicative of clerical errors and pension fraud – While the results aren’t all that surprising, it interesting that someone took such a deep dive into this topic! You might have noticed in your research that when people get older, they get sometimes much older. Many elderly, for instance, keep rounding up over time across census records so that someone who’s, say, 89 winds up looking as if they’re 101. Well, this explores that issue. #genealogy

Shadow Boxes of Almudena Cemetery – Wish shadow boxes were more common in cemeteries. Would be interesting to see what ancestors (and their survivors) decided to include.

Parents are finding baby name ideas by visiting cemeteries – “I am a gravestone baby.”

The post Genealogy Roundup, June 13 appeared first on Megan Smolenyak.

The Most Colorful Cemetery in Guatemala – I’ve been to Chichicastenango, Guatemala, but unfortunately not to this cemetery.

The man who turned his dead father into a chatbot – Bit of a double-edge sword, eh? Part of me loves this and part of me fears for future genealogists who will have to sort out what’s real and what isn’t. Regardless, it’s interesting to learn about “death tech” and I only wish something like Settld had existed back when my sister and I handled our mother’s estate.

The post Genealogy Roundup, May 22 appeared first on Megan Smolenyak.

On the Prowl for Bruce Springsteen’s Irish Roots – Since Bruce Springsteen is back performing in Ireland, now seems a good time to re-share this.

National Archives and Ancestry team up to digitize millions of records – I know there will be mixed feelings about this in the genealogical community, but still, great news that these records will be more accessible! And NARA’s site is getting an overhaul as well!

Bodkin: The first thing Barack Obama said when I met him was “You know I’m Irish right?” – Looking forward to Bodkin & raising my hand to take credit for discovering Barack Obama’s Irish heritage! Tickled that he said this and that he and Michelle undertook this series in Ireland!  

UK toddler has hearing restored in world first gene therapy trial – 16 minute surgery and she can hear! Amazing! #DNA

The post Genealogy Roundup, May 15 appeared first on Megan Smolenyak.

I’m happy to announce that the first of two grant recipients in the fourth quarter of 2019 is Tami Mize of ConferenceKeeper.org.

ConferenceKeeper is a free online calendar of genealogy events. Events of all kinds – from conferences, seminars, and institutes, to local fairs, family history days and library lock-ins – are submitted by both societies and individuals. In addition, Tami spends time each week searching for and adding interesting genealogy events. Events are listed on the website on a main calendar and on individual pages by specific location (US State, Canadian Territory, etc.). Additionally, there are specific pages for Contests, Calls for Papers, Grants & Scholarships, Volunteer Opportunities and more.

Grant funds will be used to help cover the costs of running the ConferenceKeeper website. These include upkeep, web hosting, and automation software fees. If you’d like to join me in supporting ConferenceKeeper, you can donate an amount of your choice using the donate button on the website’s home page (you’ll find it in the left-hand sidebar).

Watch for an announcement about the second grant recipient shortly. Meanwhile, though, you can apply for a Seton Shields grant here. Don’t miss checking out the cool projects I’ve had the opportunity to contribute to over the years, plus an article that will give you a behind-the-scenes peek into my grants program (and might help you increase your odds of being selected when you apply). The clock is ticking, so don’t delay!

The post Seton Shields Genealogy Grant #215: ConferenceKeeper.org appeared first on Megan Smolenyak.

The Scott Brothers (HGTV’s Property Brothers) Will Keynote RootsTech 2017 – So the Property Brothers are going to keynote RootsTech, eh? You just know they’re going to be rocking their kilts!

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