Family History

Genealogy Roundup, January 18

By |2017-01-18T11:49:27-05:00January 18th, 2017|Celebrities, Family History, Genealogy Roundup, History, Human Interest, Immigration, Military|

This week: Commemorating the 125th anniversary of Annie Moore and Ellis Island, a hoard of gold found inside a donated piano, two genealogy-themed TV series to air soon, and much more!

Genealogy Roundup, December 7

By |2016-12-07T11:22:18-05:00December 7th, 2016|Family History, Genealogy Roundup, History|

In this week's Roundup: Discover Central Park before it was Central Park, when the site housed a village where African-Americans "had a rate of property ownership four times as great as New Yorkers as a whole". Also enjoy the story of the 75th baby in his family to wear a baptism gown made from his great-great-grandmother's wedding dress!

Genealogy Roundup, November 30

By |2016-11-30T11:17:59-05:00November 30th, 2016|Celebrities, Family History, Genealogy Roundup, Human Interest|

This week: A look at some of the highlights from Who Do You Think You Are? over the years, in which "participants often come away with a deeper understanding of themselves and their place in their world". Various guests explore the appeal of genealogy on The Why Factor.

Genealogy Roundup, November 2

By |2016-11-02T11:32:22-04:00November 2nd, 2016|DNA / Genetic Genealogy, Family History, Genealogy Roundup, Human Interest, Orphan Heirlooms|

This week: The oldest existing Ellis Island ferry to be sold at auction, two formerly missing soldiers laid to rest, an adoption mystery solved, and more...

Genealogy Roundup, October 26

By |2016-10-26T11:36:40-04:00October 26th, 2016|Celebrities, DNA / Genetic Genealogy, Family History, Genealogy Roundup|

Get ready to time-travel this week: past, present, and future! To start, cemeteries face special challenges in densely-populated urban areas. Check out the fascinating history of a Hong Kong cemetery where lie diplomats, missionaries, opium smugglers, soldiers, revolutionaries and local Christian converts and then concept art for a light-filled potential cemetery in New York City. Next, enjoy a story in which DNA plays a role in introducing two half-siblings to each other. Round off this week's exploration with more on the 2016 Ellis Island Family Heritage Awards.

Genealogy Roundup, October 12

By |2016-10-12T10:44:22-04:00October 12th, 2016|DNA / Genetic Genealogy, Family History, Genealogy Roundup|

In this week's Roundup, explore the long-vacant custodian's apartment at the Fort Washington branch of the New York Public Library (including the "death chute"!) and read about a sad motivation for DNA testing (fortunately the exception, rather than the norm).

Genealogy Roundup, September 21

By |2016-09-21T11:05:08-04:00September 21st, 2016|Books, Celebrities, Family History, Genealogy Roundup, Human Interest|

Lots of inspiration this week! Start with a look at a memorial which had as its genesis this thought: "The character of a nation as a people of great deeds is one, it appears to me, that should never be lost sight of." Explore the story of Lucy Lee Shirley, a woman who transcended the shadows of slavery and domestic abuse and who, among other things, was able to educate herself and her family and leave her children more than $23,000 in today’s money; check out the update on the DNA of long-lived Italians which was previously reported as stolen, and more.

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