National Genealogy Hall of Fame – Just learned this from National Genealogical Society’s newsletter. So well deserved for everything Donn Devine did for the genealogical community! I well remember him being one of the first pros who recognized the potential in genetic genealogy, and even that was just a sliver of all he contributed.

Also delighted to see Randy Seaver (Geneaholic) receive an award for his pioneering and enduring blog that covers every genealogical topic imaginable!

Image: screenshot of Historic Irish counties (johngrenham.com)

The post Genealogy Roundup, June 3 appeared first on Megan Smolenyak.

Understanding Reclaim the Records – An Interview with Brooke Schreier-Ganz and Alec Ferretti – Podcast for those who want to learn more about Reclaim the Records, a #genealogy hero!

Honored to have researched 1776 heroes’ families as of the 250th anniversary of America, the country they gave their lives to defend. These are the men who have been identified since last Memorial Day. #NoManLeftBehind

Photo Credits: rychlepozicky.com under Creative Commons license and University of Michigan SEAS under Creative Commons license

The post Genealogy Roundup, May 27 appeared first on Megan Smolenyak.

Ancient DNA and 23andMe Are Rewriting the Story of Some of America’s Earliest Colonists – cool application of genetic genealogy

Why Rob McElhenney Changed His Name to ‘Rob Mac’ – Wrexham Owner’s Decision Explained – Oh, no! Wrexham partners with Ancestry and Rob McElhenney (aka Rob Mac) is still spreading the name-changed-at-Ellis-Island myth. Mind you, I love Wrexham, but c’mon!

Photo by Stephen Walker on Unsplash

The post Genealogy Roundup, May 20 appeared first on Megan Smolenyak.

These Rare Italian Surnames Are on the Verge of Extinction – I’ve always found the extinction of surnames fascinating, but please, someone rescue these Italian ones!

Old’aVista – Wanna time travel online? Check out Old’aVista.

Photo by A Perry on Unsplash

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

Henry Johnson (World War I soldier) – So frustrating! I researched (William) Henry Johnson, a WWI hero, for his posthumous Medal of Honor award in 2015. Someone emailed today saying Ancestry told them they were a cousin. I checked. There are 25 trees for this man on Ancestry and ALL of them are wrong. ALL have an incorrect spouse and parents.

Marleka Identity Labs – I can’t believe that what I’m about to share is a thing, but there’s now a company focused specifically on analyzing *Rusyn* DNA! Yes, really!

Here’s a portion of my Dad’s results (and FYI – he’s got pan-Rusyn roots that include villages in present-day Slovakia, Ukraine and Poland).

They have an excellent website that explains everything you need to know (and will even offer some Rusyn merch soon ).

Photo by: PhilipRomanoPhoto, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

The post Genealogy Roundup, May 6 appeared first on Megan Smolenyak.

Rob Mac travels back to the 1700s for Ancestry.com commercial – So here’s a partnership I didn’t see coming: Ancestry and Wrexham AFC.

The Quest for Annie Moore of Ellis Island – Kind words from Mags Gaulden for “The Quest for Annie Moore of Ellis Island.”

Photo by danyl russo on Unsplash

The post Genealogy Roundup, April 29 appeared first on Megan Smolenyak.

Searching for Sisters: A Guide to Researching Catholic Nuns in the United States – All genealogists with any Catholic heritage will want to swallow this book as soon as possible. In “Searching for Sisters,” Sunny McClellan Morton unlocks the key to the long-neglected treasure trove of records pertaining to sisters and nuns. You’ll learn how to find and request them, what to expect, and how to use what you’ve discovered to both tell their stories and push your family’s research forward. A handful of case studies walk you through the process and reveal the kind of gems that can be uncovered. Add it to your library today!

80 million people globally claim Irish ancestry – why the release of 1926 Irish census records is so momentous – Countdown!

Photo Credit: Public Domain

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

How Artemis 2 commander Reid Wiseman saved the mission’s moon mascot: ‘It’s hard not to love this little guy. I can’t let Rise out of my sight’ – This has nothing to do with #genealogy, but I can’t resist sharing it.

Glencastle Irish Dancers performing Annie Moore – Could not love this more! Look what Annie Moore of Ellis Island inspired! And how talented are these young dancers?!

Virtual Reading Room at the Library of Virginia – Very cool!

Idris Elba thought he knew who he was… – Idris Elba reacts to his DNA test results.

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

Airman Accounted For From World War II (Akers, L.) – Welcome home, Private Lowell Craig Akers. Honored to have researched your family

A Guide to the 1926 Census of Ireland – handy article for those anticipating the release of the 1926 Irish census

Photo by Mark Rasmuson on Unsplash

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

The Quest for Annie Moore of Ellis Island – As this is the last day of March which is both Women’s History Month and Irish-American Heritage Month, I’m sharing links for my book about Annie Moore, the Irish teenager who was the first to arrive at Ellis Island. If you enjoy sleuthing for pockets of history, I think this might appeal to you!

The Woman Who Refuses to Let History Disappear – Whoa! So grateful for this lovely profile by Christina Stanton! Henceforce, please refer to me as “the woman who refuses to let history disappear”!

Photo by Nahrizul Kadri on Unsplash

The post Genealogy Roundup, April 1 appeared first on Megan Smolenyak.